Recommendations To Allow Towing As Well As A Bike Carrier

Question:

tow vehicle has a class III reciever hitch, tongue weight rating of 350lbs, by adding a maxxtow dual hitch extender 12inch long Item # MT70070, that cuts my tongue rating to 175lbs correct? and if my trailer has 160lb tongue weight. then adding 100lbs more to the upper receiver with bikes would grossly overload the hitch on the vehicle...because as the ball hitch moves further away the weight is multiplied..am i correct on this theory?.....attached is photo of actual vehicle and set up... the bike rack is a Thule Vertex 2, 1 1/4-2 model

asked by: James P

Helpful Expert Reply:

Correct. Your MaxxTow Dual Hitch Extender MT70070 will take away 50% of your hitch's tongue weight capacity. That will take your Class III receiver rated for 350 lbs down to 175 lbs max. So, adding your trailer with a 160 lb tongue weight leaves only 15 lbs. Anything more will overload it.

Let me give you a couple options so you can use your Thule Vertex 2 along with towing your trailer.

Option 1- you don't use the MaxxTow and instead use the Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs # D210. This is not an extension, so it does not take 50% of your tongue weight rating away. Because there is less movement when towing, it does not work like an extension in regards to tongue weight, but rather works like a ball mount. The only issue with this mount is that you have to attach your trailer before you insert your bike rack because there is not enough room to add the coupler after the rack is in place.

Option 2- you don't use the MaxxTow extender and instead use the Stromberg Carlson Bike Bunk Trailer-Mounted Bike Rack Carrier for A-Frame Trailers - 2"-100 lbs # CC-275. This moves the carrier onto the A-frame of your trailer, which does add to tongue weight total but does not take away 50% of your hitch tongue weight rating.

Either option will allow you to tow how you would like to.

expert reply by: Jason S