Hitch Adapter Recommendation for Use with a Cargo Carrier and Class I Hitch on a 2006 Toyota Avalon  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

A high low adapter that would work for your 2006 Toyota Avalon with a 1-1/4 inch receiver and be a compatible fit with your cargo carrier would be the Brophy Hitch Adapter # HT5R. This will work in a 1-1/4 inch receiver and the adapter is a 2 inch receiver opening. This adapter is designed to work with both Class I or Class II hitches. The item that you referenced is intended to be used with a 2 inch receiver hitch.

After conducting some research it looks like your 2006 Toyota Avalon has a Class I hitch with a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening, and a maximum tongue weight of 200 pounds. Class I hitch manufacturers design the hitch to only be compatible with Class I rated accessories and therefore have modified the distance that an accessory can be installed on the Class I hitch receiver opening. The Brophy Hitch Adapter # HT5R will is work for your Class I hitch I have included a couple of helpful articles that explain the different hitch classes and sizes for your reference.

Using this hitch adapter will decrease the tongue weight carrying capacity by 50 percent, and will limit the amount of weight that your cargo carrier could safely handle.

Please note that when using your hitch to carry any accessories you are limited to the lowest rated component in the system, weather that be the weight capacity of the hitch, the cargo carrier, or the adapter used. For example if your cargo carrier was rated for 300 pounds and your hitch was rated for 200 pounds of tongue weight, and the adapter used decreases the carrying capacity by half, the maximum weight that could safely be loaded on the cargo carrier would be 100 pounds. Which is half of the lowest rated component in the system (tongue weight of the hitch) when using the adapter.

If this limitation of the weight capacity is not feasible for the cargo that you are carrying on with your 2006 Toyota Avalon would be to use a different cargo carrier like the Curt 20 by 48 inch Cargo Carrier. Since you are wanting to use the adapter to provide additional rise this is the option that I would recommend for you. This provides the maximum utilization of the weight limitation of the cargo that could be loaded and transported on your cargo carrier and eliminates a potential point of weakness if using the adapter. The adapter will add a significant amount of sway, especially when the cargo carrier is loaded, and will exert additional leverage to the hitch by placing the weight of the cargo carrier further away from the hitch and vehicle.

The Curt cargo carrier # C18110 is designed for use with either Class I or Class II hitches and provides a 3-3/4 inch rise. Also the distance from the hitch pin hole is 6-3/4 inches.

I have provided links to the products recommended above for your reference.

expert reply by: Rachael H

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