Bumper generator tray

I found what looks like a possible solution to my generator transportation issues. I have an SUV and really not much room for a generator. I also have a high percentage of tongue weight and could use some weight moved to the rear. So, I have been looking at options. 

It won't work. The RPods do not have a square rear bumper to which it could be clamped. The stock factory hitch won't take that kind of stress. You don't want your generator bouncing down the highway.

There is more to the weight issue than just balancing tongue weight or having a sufficiently strong bumper. The trailer frame itself is not engineered to add heavy stuff back there. I checked the loading calcs and it's weakest point is the rear of the axle attachment bracket. It is quite marginal as it is, and at least one member here has had a frame failure at that point.

I have an SUV and keep my generator in a cookies sheet in the cargo area, as far forward as possible. Works fine.

Because there isn't a sticker doesn't mean there aren't limits, of course there are.

The frame is a cantilever structure supported by the axle attachment There is in addition a moment applied by the torsion axle at that same point. So when your trailer axle goes over a bump you get the combination of the two trying to bend the frame at that spot.

I did the load calcs on the frame and torsion axle loads (with nothing additional on the bumper) and got a safety factor under 2g at yield. 2g is not much of a bump load, most guidance is to design for around 3g or even higher. Rpods are lightly constructed, to be generous. The calcs were posted a couple of years back, you could do a search for then if you wanted to. And we have had one at least failin bending there.

That was for the 179, don't know what it would be for your trailer. Of course, you can do what you want, just be aware of the risk involved. Or, you can reinforce the frame in the axle attachment area, I've been v thinkig about doing that myself.