Effects on Tongue Weight Capacity from Using Hitch Adapter/Extender
Question:
I have a vehicle with a 500# TW rating and need it to carry a Vespa 150 245# using a Versahaul VH-55 RO 95#. To keep from dragging when entering parking lots, etc. Im looking at your Roadmaster 6inch offset High/Low Adapter, but it has a 200#TW rating. Please advise if my load will exceed the capacity of your adapter or if Im missing something. Thank you.
asked by: N. E
Expert Reply:
Any hitch adapter/extender, including the Roadmaster # RM-076 which is intended primarily for flat towing a vehicle with a tow bar, will cause a loss of half of your hitch's rated tongue weight (TW)capacity. This occurs due to the load being further away from the hitch, which applies more leverage on the hitch tube.
If your hitch's safety sticker says, for example, that it has a 500-lb TW rating then this instantly becomes 250-lbs if an adapter/extender is used. This item itself carries a TW rating of 200-lbs; the lowest-rated components in a system determines overall capacity, so even if your hitch were rated high enough this adapter is not able to handle the combined 340-lb weight of the carrier and scooter.
If your hitch's halved capacity is still enough for the 340-lb total load then Curt adapter # D210 would be a better choice since it has a TW rating of 750-lbs.
Products Referenced in This Question
Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs
- Trailer Hitch Ball Mount
- Fixed Ball Mount
- No Ball
- 1 Inch Ball Hole Diameter
- Steel Shank - Gloss Black
- Drop - 2 Inch
- Rise - 0 Inch
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 7500 lbs GTW
- Class III
- Built-In Dual Hitch
- CURT
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Roadmaster High-Low Adapter for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 6" Rise/Drop - 6K GTW, 200 lbs TW
- Accessories and Parts
- Tow Bar
- Hitch Adapters
- High-Low Adapter
- Fits 2 Inch Hitch
- 6 Inch Rise/Drop
- Roadmaster
more information >
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