Using Curt Dual Hitch Receiver to Carry Bike Rack While Towing a Boat

Question

Question:

I have a Curt dual hitch. Can you mount the Swagman XC2 bike rack to the top hitch and have enough clearance to hitch your boat to the bottom hitch?

asked by: Haywood L

0

Expert Reply:

You might, it depends on which Curt product you're using. I'll assume you're using the Curt # D-192. There's 3-1/4 inches of clearance between the top and bottom receivers. The Swagman XC bike rack, part # S64650 has an angled shank that will raise the bike rack up by 4 inches. Between the dual hitch receiver and the angled shank, the bike rack will be raised up by 7-1/4 inches. Any drop of the ball mount you use would be added to that figure. You'll need to measure the area up above your trailer coupler to see if you'll have enough height. The rearmost point of the bike rack will be located 18 inches rearward of the bike's hitch pin hole, so you can measure to the rear to determine if there'll be enough clearance.

Be aware that using the dual hitch receiver # D-192 will reduce the towing and tongue weight capacity of your hitch by half, which means that the combined weight of the rack (25 or so lbs), the weight of the bikes and the tongue weight of your boat cannot exceed 50 percent of the hitch's stated tongue weight capacity.

If you were to use the Curt # D210, your hitch capacity wouldn't be reduced. The ball mount has a 2-1/4 inch drop and there's 3-9/16 inches between the ball platform and the upper receiver. When added to the 4 inch rise provided by the bike rack, you'll have almost 10 inches of height clearance. If using a ball mount with a 2-1/4 inch drop would place you close enough to level to tow your boat, this is the ball mount I'd recommend.

expert reply by: Mike L

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