What Determines the Tongue Weight for Carrying a Dirt Bike with a 2011 Toyota Highlander

Question

Question:

Does the tounge weight of the hitch alone determine whether I can use a motorcycle ramp, or are there other factors to consider? I have this hitch installed on my 2011 Highlander, and am considering purchasing a hitch mounted ramp for my dirt bike. The combined weight would be less than the tounge weight. Thanks in advance.

asked by: Matt

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Expert Reply:

The other weight capacity that must be taken into consideration when determining what you can tow/carry is the weight capacity of the vehicle itself.

Even though the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # 13534 is rated for 5,000 lbs Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) your 2011 Toyota Highlander is only rated for 1,500 lbs - 2,000 lbs without the towing package and depending on your engine size. You can consult your owner's manual or a dealer to determine which one you have.

The reason why knowing the GTW rating for your vehicle is because typically manufacturers say that the max TW is about 10% of the GTW. If this is true for your Highlander then that means your Highlander has a TW of 150 lbs - 200 lbs which is a big difference than the 750 lb TW rating for the Curt trailer hitch.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

4 bike platform racks are generally pretty heavy but there is one rack that's not too terrible when it comes to that. The Saris Freedom SuperClamp #SA4026F is one of the nicest platform 4-bike racks and weighs in at 63 lbs. Which is roughly 30-40…

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Answer 2

The Swagman Dispatch #S44FR measures 12 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the nearest part of the rack so it will clear the bumper by 2 inches. The nearest wheel tray is 18 inches so you should not have an issue loading the closest bike…

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Answer 3

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 4

To me it makes the most sense to put a Bike Rack #HLY64FR on the flat towed vehicle rather than above the tow bars. Especially on heavy e-bikes as they are difficult to lift that high onto the rack, but also as it only makes sense to have the rack on…

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Answer 5

The old version of the #HBA-CAM used 4 wires, but the product was updated awhile back and now uses only two wires as shown in the photo on the product description page. The white wire from the HBA-CAM would tap into the white ground wire and the blue…

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Answer 6

There are some subtle difference between the Kuat Piston Pro Bike Rack for 2 Bikes #KU76ZR and the Kuat Piston Pro X Bike Rack for 2 Bikes #KU98VR. Overall the two racks are very similar, there are just some subtle differences/upgrades on the Piston…

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Answer 7

Hello Jody, There is indeed a bike rack capable of carrying a pair of ebikes and a pair of road bikes at the same time, so long as you have a 2 inch hitch. That said, it really depends on how much your ebikes weigh, but a good option to start with is…

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Answer 8

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 #SH22G and the NV 2.0 #NV22G that you referenced are both excellent platform-style racks that will hold your bikes by the front wheels with no frame contact. These are top-of-the-line carriers and you really would not go wrong…

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Answer 9

I have a solution for you. Here at Etrailer, we strongly discourage using wheel-mounted bike racks like the Kuat NV 2.0 #NV22B for bikes with fenders. Mounting wheels with fenders can cause the fenders to crack or become damaged, especially with the…

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Answer 10

Hey Dave, so the best option for carrying your carbon frame bike and e-bike is the Swagman Escapee part #S39SR with the ramp #S59SR . It has the capacity for carrying an e-bike, is rated for travel trailer use, only touches the bikes by the tires…

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Answer 11

Class I and Class II hitches both have a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening. The difference is that a Class I hitch has a lower tongue weight rating, usually 200 pounds and a lower towing rating, usually 2,000 pounds. A Class II hitch usually has a tongue…

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Answer 12

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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