Trailer Hitch and Way To Carry 4 Bikes Recommendation for a 2014 Toyota Corolla

Question:

I am interested in purchasing a Class I receiver hitch for my 2014 Toyota Corolla, to carry bicycles or hitch mounted cargo carrier. These show to have a max tongue weight of 200 lbs. I had not expected I would be able to carry all 4 of our bikes, but I weighed them, and it turns out that bike rack and 4 bikes total only 180 lbs. It is just under max rated, but my question is this: Is that rating valid if the 180 lbs is cantilevered out up to 3 to 3.5 feet from the receiver? I will have to use a 1 1/4inch to 2inch adapter 7inch to 10, then a 30inch bike rack. So weight would be pushing down that far out from the hitch. Does that matter? I am hauling them 5,000 miles this summer, so I want to make sure I dont have it break apart far from home. Can you recommend which of your 3 hitch brands is a better buy? Thank you.

asked by: Jeff J

Helpful Expert Reply:

The thing about Class I hitches is that they can not carry more than 2 bikes at a time as the additional leverage that the 3rd and 4th bikes would put on the hitch would be too much stress. This is due to the longer distance from the hitch that those bikes would be carried.

For carrying 2 bikes the Draw Tite hitch part # 24913 would be the best choice as it does not require the stabilizer strap like the Curt and does not come with a ball mount like the Hidden Hitch.

The most popular bike rack we carry that has been confirmed to fit this vehicle is the Thule Camber 2 part # TH9058. We asked our demo and install guys to name their favorite, most easy-to-use bike racks and this one showed up in nearly everyone's top three. Check out the review video I attached for more info.

If you plan on carrying any women's or alternative framed bikes without horizontal top tubes you may also be interested in purchasing a Kuat Bike Frame Adapter Bar # UB01 to provide a horizontal top tube on your bikes to provide an attachment point. I attached a review video for this product also. This will allow the bikes to be carried more level and will provide more ground clearance.

To carry additional bikes would require a roof rack and roof bike racks. For a roof rack the Rhino Rack part # DS118B and # DK383 is the best value.

And then for a couple fork mounted bike racks we have the Rhino Rack # RBC035 that is a confirmed fit for the roof rack.