Recommended Hitch Reducer and Lock for Thule Bike Rack

Question:

Hello. I have a trailer hitch with a 2inch receiver and a Thule bike rack meant for a 1 1/4inch receiver. I would like to buy an adapter and a lock. I have the Tow-Ready #80300 adapter in my cart, but I am having trouble figuring out which lock I want. This lock is to lock the adapter to the hitch as the bike rack has a pin/lock to lock the rack to the adapter. I have in my cart the Thule pin #THSTL2, the Draw-tite #BD580412 and the ProSeries #PS63100. Can you tell me, which, if any of these parts is best suited for my purposes? Thank you.

asked by: Seth W

Expert Reply:

Starting with the hitch adapter for the 2 inch hitch receiver on your vehicle, I actually recommend going with the Brophy Hitch Reducer # HT02 instead of the Tow Ready # 80300 that you referenced. The reason for this is that the Tow Ready adapter, when in use, is going to reduce the tongue weight capacity of your trailer hitch by 50%. Depending on the weight of your bike rack and bikes, this option may result in you overloading the capacity of the trailer hitch. For example, if the hitch on your vehicle has a tongue weight capacity of 300 pounds, it will be reduced to 150 pounds with the adapter.

Because of the sleeve design for the Brophy # HT02, there is no reduction of hitch capacity while it is in use, so you do not need to worry about exceeding its capacity.

To then secure the adapter to your hitch receiver, the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver Lock # BD580412 that you are looking at will work great. This is a simple, flush-style trailer hitch receiver lock is used in place of standard pin and clip to prevent theft of ball mount or hitch-mounted accessory.

I have included video demonstrations on these products so you can see exactly how they operate.