Can the Draw-Tite # 75471 Trailer Hitch be Used to Carry a 400-lb Motorcycle with a 2009 Santa Fe

Question:

I have a question about the tongue weight limit for the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2. I have a 2009 hyundai sante fe and I want to be able to put a motorcycle rack on the back to carry a motorcycle of about 400lbs. Would I be able to do this with this trailer hitch or would it be two heavy for it. Also if it is to heavy for a trailer hitch attached with bolts, would a welded on trailer hitch be able to support the weight?

asked by: Tyler

Expert Reply:

The Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver # 75471 that you referenced does have a Tongue Weight (TW) rated for 525 lbs, but when I looked in an online version of the owner's manual for your 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe it said that the max TW is 350 lbs (with a 3.3L engine).

Even though the trailer hitch is rated for more than your motorcycle weight, your Santa Fe is the limiting factor at 350 lbs max. You could cause damage to your motorcycle, hitch, Santa Fe, or other motorists if you were to use your current setup.

Because of this I recommend getting a small trailer that you can use to pull your motorcycle safely.

If you go this route you will need Light Wiring, like the Tekonsha T-One # 118415, to activate basic lighting functions on your trailer, as well as a hitch ball and ball mount like the Curt # C45036 which has a 2 inch hitch ball, a shank with a 2 inch drop, and a hitch pin and clip. You will want to check out the attached article to determine if this ball mount is correct for your towing setup though.

I have also attached videos of this trailer hitch and wiring being installed on similar Santa Fe's that you can reference.