Hitch & Motorcycle Carrier for 2014 Kia Sportage EX

Question:

Im looking for the proper hitch kit for my 2014 Kia Sportage EX model. Im looking to buy the kit to carry my dirt bike with a hitch carrier. Thank you

asked by: Devin

Expert Reply:

For the 2014 Kia Sportage EX we offer both 1-1/4-inch Class II and 2-inch Class III hitches, all of which are shown on the linked page.

For transporting a dirt bike on a hitch-mount carrier you will definitely want a 2-inch hitch which will give you higher tongue weight (TW) capacity for handling the combined weight of the carrier and bike. It is important that the two items together do not weigh more than the hitch's rated capacity, nor the vehicle's. Your owner's manual should indicate the car's own TW capacity. The lower of the two ratings becomes the overall limit for the hitch/car system.

I recommend the Draw-Tite hitch # 75717 for its substantial 525-lb TW rating and for its no-drill installation. The written instructions and an installation video are linked for you. Installation will be slightly easier than with the Curt hitch # C13120 and the Draw-Tite costs a bit less too.

The linked page displays all hitch-mount motorcycle carriers for 2-inch hitches. Select one that is rated appropriately for your bike's weight. The etrailer Motorcycle Carrier # e98873 can handle a 500-lb bike but it weighs only about 58-lbs.

Chances are that your bike may block your taillights so you'll probably do well to add a set of magnetic lights like # TL21RK. These require a 4-pole harness to operate them; if you do not have one on the Sportage you can use kit # 118526. An install video is linked for you.