Availability of Trailer Hitch for 2009 Honda Accord to Allow Use of 2-inch Hitch Bike Rack  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The size and class of hitch available for your 2009 Honda Accord is a 1-1/4-inch Class I hitch such as Curt # C11085 or # C11496. No 2-inch hitches are made for your car because its frame is not strong enough for the weight ratings of a 2-inch Class III hitch.

As you noted, there are adapters like the Brophy # HTAD and # HT5R that fit your 1-1/4-inch hitch and provide a 2-inch receiver opening for the 2-inch accessory. These are both about 7-inches long, a good bit shorter than the 12-inch adapter you used. The trouble with adapters is that they have the unavoidable side-effect of reducing your hitch's capacity by 50-percent. This means that a 200-lb tongue weight hitch like those above will only have a 100-lb capacity if used with any adapter, which means that your bike rack and bike total weight cannot exceed 100-lbs. Adapters also introduce more chance for random motion while you drive, due to the additional connection point. If you end up using an adapter, the height rise in # HT5R makes it a better choice for improving your ground clearance to avoid scrapes.

The best option is to select a new Class I bike rack that directly fits into the Class I hitch for your Accord. This avoids the loss of hitch capacity and the extra motion from use of an adapter. It also avoids the rack extending so far from the rear of the car. Please note that a Class I hitch can handle the weight of only 2 bikes.

You can click on the linked page for bike racks shown under the heading "Featured Help Information" to see all options in a 2-bike Class I hitch rack. You can click on the filters on the page to narrow down the results shown to those racks of the type you prefer, such as a tilting hanging-style rack like Swagman's Trailhead # S63360. I also linked two articles that will help you determine the best options for transporting your particular bikes.

expert reply by: Adam R

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