Bumper welds - need repair

[scottydl]

While tinkering around with our new-to-us Keystone fifth wheel last weekend, I was replacing a bumper cap (for sewer hose storage) and using a flashlight and garden hose to clean the bumper out. Seemed like something was wrong when I started seeing light and spraying water coming out the top of the bumper!

Sure enough, closer inspection revealed broken welds and small resulting gaps (into the bumper) on the top connections to the frame. See attached images. I assume this is from a previous owner attaching something too heavy (an overloaded bike rack) and stressing the connections.

I don’t plan to do anything with this bumper other than store the sewer hose inside it, so I don’t feel the need for any in depth reinforcement or repair. Wondering if a quick solution like JB Weld (the paste or putty version) would work to fill in the gaps and keep it from getting worse. Open to any ideas!

 

[Rene T]

I’d be afraid that bumping around back there, the welds on the sides would eventually start cracking. I would take it to a fabricating shop and see what they say. It would take him longer to get set up than actually weld it.

 

[Kirk]

That looks like a receiver for a trailer hitch that was bolted to the bumper so who knows what might have been connected there. Is there a spare tire that mounts on the bumper, as that is very common? I would get it welded back to what it should be. I have used JB Weld for many things but I don't think that I'd do it there.

 

[gwinger]

The hitch added to the bumper is putting undo force on the bumper. It was not made to have the extra weight of anything attached to bumper. Have it welded and get rid of the hitch.

 

[gwinger]

That looks like a receiver for a trailer hitch that was bolted to the bumper so who knows what might have been connected there. Is there a spare tire that mounts on the bumper, as that is very common? I would get it welded back to what it should be. I have used JB Weld for many things but I don't think that I'd do it there.

Kirk, we were typing at the same time.

 

[Onyrlef]

Probably had a bike rack on there. I ran some angle iron from the frame and welded it to the underside of the bumper. That made a huge difference.

 

[Derby6]

I’d re-weld. Maybe even add plates on top. Any welder could do that lickety-split it’s easy to get to and right on top.

 

[scottydl]

My rig’s spare tire is mounted at the front underbody (fifth wheel) although my prior trailer (bumper pull) had a spare mounted on the rear bumper and never had issues. My cousin has a horror story (funny now, but wasn’t at the time) of his TT’s rear bumper literally falling off during a trip, after being bent almost 90 degrees from the weight of several bikes on a rack.

Anyway I plan to remove the hitch receiver since I’ll never use it, and agree that whatever a previous owner attached likely caused the separation. Hopefully a welding repair won’t be too costly as I really don’t need any increased weight capacity.

 

[MoInEd]

Get it welded, it's not too difficult (welder has to be careful as the bumper is thin metal). It happened to our first trailer and I welded it back myself.