Hitch Adapter to Provide 1-1/4-Inch Receiver Opening

Question:

I was looking for a 1.25 to 1.25 riser. Saw the 1.25 to 2inch but thats not what I was looking for. Do you carry the one I need?

asked by: Chuck

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you want a hitch adapter with height rise that will fit into a 1-1/4-inch hitch and also provide that same size receiver opening for a 1-1/4-inch accessory. No such item exists but I can offer what may be a workable solution.

The Brophy Trailer Hitch Receiver Adapter # HT5R does fit into a Class I or II hitch with a 1-1/4-inch receiver and provides 5-inches of height rise up to its 2-inch receiver opening. If you were to use this adapter along with a hitch reducer sleeve # HT02 installed in the 2-inch receiver opening it would then be 1-1/4-inches like your hitch.

Spoiler Alert! Here comes the qualifier...ANY hitch adapter, including the Brophy # HT5R, will cause the unavoidable loss of HALF of your hitch's rated tongue weight capacity. Hitch adapters cause this loss of capacity because they change the position of the load relative to the hitch; moving it further away increases the leverage applied to the hitch and so its rating drops to 50-percent of what the hitch safety sticker says.

If your total weight load from your installed accessory carrier does not exceed the hitch's halved capacity then you should be okay, but I do recommend in this case also using a pair of cargo straps to support the rack load and reduce its random motion. You could use an item like # SLLS18CSR.