Do Adapters Reduce The Tongue Weight Rating of Hitch Carrying A Wheelchair Cargo Carrier

Question:

I have a 97# mobility scooter that I would like to carry on a 65# carrier with my 3013 Cadillac ATS. All the carriers I have researched have 2inch receivers. All the trailer hitches that fit a 2013 Cadillac ATS have 1.25inch receivers. So is using the adaptor to mate th hitch and carrier a viable solution without damaging the car? Is there a tongue load reduction when using the adaptor.

asked by: Mick Z

Expert Reply:

You are correct the only hitches available for the 2013 Cadillac ATS are 1-1/4" openings like Curt Class I hitch part # C11311 because the vehicle is not rated to carry a lot of weight so the hitches available for it are only designed to carry 200 lbs tongue weight. The use of a hitch adapter would reduce the tongue weight rating by half.

You want to make sure you are not exceeding the maximum vehicle weight capacity of the Cadillac. There is a loading information label attached the vehicle's center pillar. That will tell you the figure you do not want to exceed including the combined weight of the occupants in the vehicle, cargo and tongue weight on the hitch.

The only hitch adapter that would work with a class I hitch is the Hitch Adapter 1-1/4" to 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver part # HTAD and it does reduce the tongue weight rating of the hitch in half. For example, the Curt hitch part # C11311 would have a 100 lb tongue weight capacity with the use of an adapter. The weight of the scooter and the carrier would exceed this number so I cannot recommend using the adapter without damage to the vehicle's frame.

You may be able to use a small lightweight trailer to pull the scooter, but you would want to be sure not to exceed the gross vehicle weight rating I mentioned earlier.

expert reply by: Heather A