Is It Safe to Use an RV Bumper Hitch for a Bike Rack?

Updated 05/07/2026 | Published 05/05/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Curt RV Bumper Hitch - 2"

(833)

$94.20

Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch Receiver for RVs, 22" to 72" Wide

(592)

$481.90

Question:

Use of RV Bumper Hitch for bicycle rack. I have an RV with a a bumper The descripon on your site says it can handl up to a 350lb tongue weight but many posts on the web indicated that the bumper cannot handle the load without breaking. have 30 lb bikes and a 50 lb carrier for a total of 110 lb Whats your opinion on this?

asked by: Eriks Z

Expert Reply:

Hi Erik, That’s a really good question, and you’re right to be cautious here.

Even though the Curt RV bumper hitch part # C19101 is rated for up to 350 pounds of tongue weight, that rating is for the hitch itself, not the RV’s bumper. Most factory RV bumpers are not designed to handle a lot of dynamic weight, especially once you factor in bouncing and road shock while driving, which can put much more stress on the bumper than the actual weight of your bikes and rack.

With your setup at around 110 pounds total, you’re well under the hitch’s rating, but the real concern is still the strength of your specific bumper and how it’s attached to the frame. Some bumpers are just thin steel tubes welded lightly to the RV, and those are the ones you see failing online. If your bumper is fully welded to the frame and in solid condition this hitch will work well for you. If you take a look at the video I attached, it will give a good example of a sturdy bumper that is a good match for the hitch.

I know the goal is to haul your bikes without worrying about something bending or coming loose on the road. If you check out your bumper and it doesn't look like it's fully welded to the trailer's frame. Then the most confident setup long term is a frame mounted RV hitch instead of relying on the bumper. That takes the stress off the bumper completely and gives you a much more secure mounting point. For that, I recommend the Curt Adjustable RV Trailer hitch receiver part # 13703. It mounts directly to the RV frame instead of the bumper, which is the safer way to carry bikes behind a travel trailer or motorhome. It fits frame widths from 22 inches to 72 inches and is rated for up to 350 pounds tongue weight.

If you want to send me a photo of your bumper, I can help you determine how safe the setup will be.

expert reply by: Heather A