Front-Mount Hitch for 2004 Toyota Tacoma for Use with Hitch-Mount Cargo Carrier

Question:

I am towing a Jayco Baja 154bh travel trailer 2400 lbs. I was hoping to use a weight distribution hitch as well, but would like to have the additional reciever for cargo. Can the D210 be used in conjunction with a weight distribution hitch? I know hitch extenders cannot be used with WD, but I read on your site that The Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount # D210 is the only such item we offer that does NOT reduce your trailer hitch capacity. I assume this is because it is not an extender...therefore will it work for my application?

asked by: Channing

Helpful Expert Reply:

Neither the Curt # D210 nor the similar dual-receiver extender # D-192 can be used with a trailer weight distribution system. Makers of WD systems warn against this practice; use of any type of hitch extender/adapter is unsafe with a WD system since it will shift the point where the trailer tongue weight is applied and could result in hitch damage. Hitch capacity is only reduced if the receiver portion only is used on D210.

There may be a front-mount hitch made for your tow vehicle and this would be a much safer way to use a hitch-mount cargo carrier. I see you referenced a 2004 Toyota Tacoma as you viewed our website. We do have front hitches for this vehicle, Draw-Tite # 65041 which is rated for 500-lbs and Curt # C31013 which is rated for 350-lbs. Naturally I suggest the higher capacity hitch from Draw-Tite.

With this installed you can use a hitch carrier like the Curt # C18151 to carry up to 430-lbs of cargo. You need to deduct the carrier's 70-lb weight from the hitch rating to determine how much actual cargo weight you can load (500 - 70 = 430).

expert reply by: Adam R