Which Hitch Receiver Size is Better 1-1/4 inch or 2 Inch

Question

Question:

I was in a severe car accident which damaged by existing hitch and this same model Thule bike rack. When my car is repaired I need to have a new hitch installed and plan to order a new bike rack. My question is, would it be better to have a 1 1/4 or the 2 hitch installed? Is one stronger, safer?

asked by: Pat F

0

Expert Reply:

Sorry to hear about your car accident and your hitch and bike rack being damaged. As far as installing a new hitch, the first thought that comes to mind is, because of the accident, are all the necessary attachment points for a trailer hitch on the frame intact. I recommend asking the shop that is repairing the vehicle if, after it is repaired, would it be safe to install a new trailer hitch.

If the vehicle is given the green light for a new trailer hitch, I recommend a 2 inch receiver. A 2 inch Class III or higher trailer hitch will be stronger just by the nature of how much steel is used and the fact that 2 inch trailer hitches are built larger and with more towing capacity in mind.

The safety factor comes into play in terms of how much stress a 2 inch receiver can take when towing or carrying accessories, which is more than a 1-1/4 inch receiver. With a 2 inch receiver, you get the added benefit of having more options in terms of accessories like bike racks and cargo carriers, and also the type and weight of trailers you can tow. If you have the option, I would definitely go with a 2 inch receiver.

The Thule Helium Aluminum 3 Bike Carrier for 1-1/4 inch and 2 inch Hitches - Tilting - Hitch Mount, # TH9043PRO, will work in either the 1-1/4 inch or 2 inch hitch. A review of this bike rack is posted below.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Ed K.

6/17/2020

I have a 2019 Buick Encore. I’ve never had a hitch, or a rack. I will be transporting a single XL frame Specialized Roll Hybrid bike 80% of the time, and 20% with a second smaller bike. I def want easy access to my trunk hatch. What hitch and rack do you recommend? Can a handyman install it, or will I need a mechanic?

Reply

Chris R.

6/22/2020

For your 2019 Buick Encore the best hitch available is the Draw-Tite Class II # 36554, which provides a 1-1/4" receiver (there isn't a 2" option for this vehicle). It's a pretty simple bolt-on installation so a handyman should be able to take care of it without issue. For the rack itself I really like the Kuat Transfer # TS02B, which will secure the bikes by their wheels so the frames are completely untouched. Locks can be added with part # PTSCLK12.

Reply

Answer 1

The actual weight difference between the Class III hitches for your CX-5 and the 1-1/4-inch Class II hitches like #C12170 is the same 3-lb difference as between their shipping weights. The weight of the packaging for both hitch classes is…

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Answer 2

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 3

Yes, the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98848 will fit perfectly on your 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and will till allow the hands free liftgate feature to work as well if that's something your vehicle is equipped with. You'll just have to…

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Answer 4

Class I and Class II hitches both have a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. The difference is that a Class I hitch has a lower tongue weight rating, usually 200 pounds and a lower towing rating, usually 2,000 pounds. A Class II hitch usually has a tongue…

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Answer 5

We do have a 2 inch diameter hitch ball with a 1-1/4 inch shank that may work well for you. It is the Curt Hitch Ball, part #A-90. This hitch ball has a shank length of 2-5/8 inches and has a gross towing weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. I have…

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Answer 6

Yes, for your 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon we have the EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch #306-X7601, which like the models you have seen on other vehicles features a sleek hidden crosstube design that allows only the 2" receiver to be visible (see…

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Answer 7

Aside from a slight change in the appearance of the crossbar (the WingBar Evo has some boxed edges as opposed to the completely smooth front of the AeroBlade) the biggest differences are the rubber strip on top of the crossbar and the weight…

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Answer 8

I do have a solution for you, however I reached out to my contact at Yakima and he said the Universal MightyMounts #Y03590 aren't compatible with your older SpaceCase Cargo Box. The mounting hardware for the SpaceCase is a bit different and you…

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Answer 9

We estimate that a professional should be able to install the Curt #C11416 Class I hitch in 30 minutes to an hour, tops. What you're charged will depend on the hourly labor rate of the shop you use, so if you call around to a couple of shops you…

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Answer 10

The hitch is indeed a fit for your vehicle. We've had several reports that the sensor was almost completely unaffected and others that said it won't work at all once the hitch was installed, and some who have said that the feature isn't…

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Answer 11

The only available hitches for a 2010 Toyota Prius have 1-1/4" receiver openings and are Class I rated. Class I racks are limited to carrying two bikes, though there are some that have an available adapter that allow bikes to be used with either…

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Answer 12

The Kuat NV 2.0 2 Bike Platform Rack, #NV22G, and the Kuat NV 2.0 Base 2-Bike Platform rack, #BA22B. are both very similar bike racks. Both racks can be expanded to a 4-bike rack, #NA22G add-on for the NV 2.0 and #BA02B for the NV 2.0 Base, and both…

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Which Hitch Receiver Size is Better 1-1/4 inch or 2 Inch

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