Higher Capacity Trailer Hitch for a 2013 Lincoln MKT with Factory 1-1/4 Inch Trailer Hitch

Question:

I have a 2013 Lincoln MKT AWD with the factory trailer hitch installed. I have found nothing stating the tongue weight although I do see it is only rated for 2000 lbs. towing capacity. I regularly use a hitch mounted motorcycle carrier with the carrier being 100 lbs. and the bike being 270 lbs. for a total weight of 370 lbs. centered approximately 12 inches out from the edge of the hitch receiver. I worry that I may be overloading the hitch. I see that your after market hitch is rated for 400 lbs. tongue weight and 4000 lbs. towing capacity. Do I need to change to your hitch? What are the deciding factors for determining the tongue weight on a vehicle? Is it weight distribution, mounting bolt strength, or the strength of the frame or body that the hitch it is bolted to? I would love to be able the haul my bigger bike that weights 400 lbs. but right now I just use a trailer for it.

asked by: Tim G

Expert Reply:

If the hitch is rated for 2,000 pounds gross trailer weight then the tongue weight capacity will be 200 pounds, possibly 300 pounds. Either way the motorcycle carrier and motorcycle itself are exceeding the tongue weight capacity of the hitch.

A higher capacity trailer hitch such as # 75679 is definitely recommended (as long as the factory hitch is not welded on). It looks like in the owner's manual that the hitch itself determines the towing capacity of the vehicle. So if you switched to a Class III hitch then the vehicle itself would be rated for 4,500 pounds gross trailer weight.

This hitch is rated for 400 pounds tongue weight so the combined weight of the carrier and bike cannot exceed 400 pounds. Weight distribution is only for towing trailers and not hitch mounted carriers.

There are many factors that go into the capacities and different capacities to look at. The bottom line is that you have to go by whatever has the lowest capacity whether it be the hitch or the vehicle. In this case it looks like the hitch, rated for 400 pounds tongue weight, is the lowest rated component. It would work fine for the lighter bike but I recommend keeping the bigger one on a trailer.

You might also consider a lighter carrier such as # e98873 which weighs about 58 pounds and has a 500 pound capacity. I have linked a video review of this carrier for you.

expert reply by: Michael H