Will Thule Aluminum Shank Adapter, # 853-7292, Work In A 1-1/4 Inch Hitch Receiver

Question:

Replacement Aluminum Adapter slides on to the 1-1/4 shank of the hitch mounted bike rack to allow it to work with a 2 trailer hitch. Will this work opposite? 1-1/4 hitch receiver and a 2 Thule T2 rack? thanks

asked by: Peg M

Expert Reply:

The only way to go from the 1-1/4 inch receiver to a 2 inch bike rack is to use the Brophy Hitch Adapter, # HTAD, but you will reduce the tongue weight capacity by 50 percent on the lowest rated item, either the trailer hitch or the vehicle.

For example, if your 1-1/4 inch hitch has a 200 lbs. tongue weight capacity and you use the Brophy hitch adapter the hitch tongue weight capacity will be reduced to 100 lbs.

The Thule Replacement Aluminum Shank Adapter - 1-1/4 Inch to 2 Inch, # 853-7292, will only allow you to insert the shank of a 1-1/4 inch hitch bike rack into the adapter. The inside diameter of the adapter is not large enough to accept a 2 inch bike rack.

The outside diameter of the adapter will slide into a 2 inch hitch receiver. It would be too large to use in a 1-1/4 inch hitch receiver.

The reason you will not be able to get an adapter that will allow a 2 inch bike rack to fit a 1-1/4 inch receiver is that the hitch on the smaller 1-1/4 inch receiver could be overloaded with the larger 2 inch bike rack.

I am sending a link to a review on the Brophy hitch adapter and a link to an information page on hitch classes.