Recommended Wheelchair Carrier for 1-1/4 Inch Trailer Hitch on 2002 Mercury Mountaineer

Question:

I have a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer that has a 1 1/4 hitch we have an adapter that moves it up to a 2 inch size will this work? Also how hard is it to load a mobile wheelchair onto the ramp our previous experience was the wheel chair would not go over the edge of the ramp the wheels just spun out?

asked by: Anna F

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can use an adapter like the Brophy # HTAD in order to use 2 inch hitch-mounted accessories with the 1-1/4 inch receiver on your 2002 Mercury Mountaineer. An important factor to keep in mind when using this or any other hitch adapter is that it will reduce the tongue weight capacity by 50%. This means that if the trailer hitch on your Mountaineer has a tongue weight capacity of 200 pounds, it will be reduced to 100 pounds when using the adapter.

The Flint Hill Goods 30x50 Cargo Carrier # FHG77ZR can definitely be used for a wheelchair using its 48" ramp. This # FHG77ZR that you referenced in your question weighs 80 pounds by itself. This would only allow you a wheelchair that weighs only 20 pounds. You will need to make sure that the combined weight of your wheelchair and the carrier do not exceed the reduced capacity of your trailer hitch when using the adapter.

The lightest ramped carrier that we currently have available is the Flint Hill Goods aluminum carrier # FHG67ZR which weighs 54.5 pounds. Even will this one, your wheelchair would have to weigh 45.5 pounds which is probably not possible with a motorized chair.

This ramp will sit relatively flush with the ground when extended, so there shouldn't be much issue with guiding your mobile wheelchair up and into the carrier. I have attached video demonstrations on this carrier so you can get a better idea as to how they will look and work.