General Cycling Discussion - 2" reciever for a truck step bumper: will this work?

Hi,

I drive a Ford Ranger pickup with a topper. I'd like to be able to transport two bikes to the trailhead using a 2" receiver rack...but I lack the receiver / hitch.

Hitches are expensive, so I was wondering: would this thing (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65961) work? Though intended for ATVs, It fits the ball hitch hole on the step bumper of my truck:

http://images.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/65900-65999/65961.gif

Any risks? It's definitely beefy enough to hold the relatively light weight of two bikes and the rack itself (70-80lbs, I'm guessing), but do you think the leverage of the rack and bikes would allow it to sway-- possibly working the nut loose?

I might trust it with a Huffy, but I sure wouldn't with a Madone. I know my rack has a longer insert that would hit the bolt head. What you want is a step bumper receiver.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_43576_43576?cm_ven=Aggregates&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Towing%3EHitch%20Adapters&cm_ite=330681?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=330681

I think it would work fine. Just keep the mounting bolt tight . After you install rack & bikes, you may want to use a " bungee cord " at the outside wheel of a bike & attach it to somewhere on the frame or bumper. Without the cords , some of these racks wobble & rattle a lot & are distracting .
I would not use this to pull anything larger than a small utility trailer, though. Remember, you are still only pulling with your bumper.

My question is: Will your rack slide in far enough to fit the retaining pin through the hole? If not that would be a deal breaker for me.

If your rack will anchor in the receiver, I'm thinking that the torque spec for the receiver mounting bolt is around 140 lb/ft. That's a bunch! Grease up the threads, use a lock washer and tighten that nut as much as you can with a 15" crescent wrench.

I would probably go with something like this.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/16165.html

I trust 4 bolts more than one, but your going to need premium drill bits to drill through you step bumper. I welded a reciever to the back of my dirt bike trailer so I could take pedal and motor powered bikes with me camping and it has held fine from Tejas to Moab and up to Mena Arkansas a couple times.

yeah, I figured I'd kill a few drill bits trying to get through the chrome and all that. I ended up picking up a 2" class III hitch off craigslist for $35. now I can use any old 2" rack!

had to use a breaker bar on my bumper bolts to get it mounted, though. luckily Harbor Freight had a serviceable one for $9!