Class III Hitch and 4-Bike Platform Rack for Use on 2013 Lexus RX350 and 2014 Acura MDX

Question:

Three questions for two cars 2013 Lexus RX350 and 2014 Acura MDX. 1. what is Curt vs Drawtite do you distribute both? Same quality, product? 2. Can I put a 4 mt bike platform rack on back of car or is that too heavy for either? 3. Is wielding that much better than bolting?

asked by: David J

Expert Reply:

Draw-Tite and Curt brand hitches are both quality products that we sell here. These hitches share very similar design and construction - they have to since they bolt up to the vehicles' identical mounting points. The main difference between the brands is that Curt hitches are most often still made in the USA while Draw-Tite hitches are made in Mexico. All of these custom-fit hitches are made for bolt-on installation using included hardware. They should not be welded as this heat can weaken the steel.

The two linked pages display all the hitches offered for each of the two vehicles, the 2013 Lexus RX350 and the 2014 Acura MDX. Both cars can be fitted with 2-inch Class III hitches that have the weight capacity you need for a 4-bike platform-style rack.

Weight ratings do vary from hitch to hitch so the ones I recommend are the highest-rated models for each car. For the RX350 I recommend Curt # C13143 and for the MDX # C13146. Installation videos for both are linked for your review along with the written instructions.

You can see all 4-bike platform racks that include both bike and rack locks by viewing the linked page. These include tilting aluminum racks like the excellent Kuat NV # NV22G-NA22G which can easily be converted down to a 2-bike carrier when you don't need the full capacity and high-weight-capacity carriers like the Yakima HoldUp # Y02443-2 that can handle the weight of four bikes up to 200-lbs total.

All of these racks will fit well on both vehicles.