Trailer Hitch Receiver and Wiring Required to Carry a 64LB E-Bike With a 2005 Pontiac Vibe.

Question:

Im looking for a trailer hitch for a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. I want to hang a bike rack on it. All the hitches I see are 1 1/4 but the bike carriers are 2 inch. There adapters for thus problem but are they enough to support a 90 pound bike and the carrier ? The carrier will be aluminum with a ramp. Without the battery, seat and bags the bike is 64lbs.

asked by: Mark L

Expert Reply:

It is possible to use a bike rack like the Thule EasyFold XT # TH903202 as it is rated to carry bikes up to 65lbs and will work with a class I or class II receiver on your 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The rack itself will weigh 45lbs giving you 109lbs total for the bike and carrier weight. This would allow for you to carry a second bike if needed. The EasyFold also includes an aluminum ramp to assist with loading and unloading the bike.

If you use the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # C12234 on your Vibe, it has a tongue weight capacity of 200lbs. Be sure to not exceed the weight rating for your Vibe as given by Pontiac. If you did use the Adapter # HTAD that would give you a 100lb rating and I cannot find a carrier that is capable of that amount of weight with that low of a weight itself for your bike.

You will likely need a Tekonsha T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness # 118458 to give you a 4-way connector so that you can use Auxiliary Lights # C53201 on the carrier. The lights are necessary if your current lights on your Vibe will be impaired by your bike while it is loaded on the carrier.

expert reply by: Bud M

Mark L.

10/29/2021

The specs say TW is 200 yet your telling me its 300.What gives?

Les D.

11/1/2021

@MarkL Your question has lost its reference point. Can you please give me some more information. Is this for a hitch? Which one and what vehicle? If you are referring to a Curt # C12234 hitch, then yes, the hitches maximum tongue weight is 200 pounds. With the vehicle information I can determine its maximum allowable tongue weight and see if there are heavier duty hitches available.