Ball Mount and 50mm Hitch Ball to Allow Use of European Ball-Mounted Bike Carrier

Question:

Hi etrailer team, I got a ball mount some time ago from you and it didnt fit my bike rack and hitch. I am desperate to find a solution as soon as possible. My bike rack is European bought when I lived there and the hitch was bought here and is U-haul. What the manufacturer of the bike rack is telling me I need, is the following. Do you think you can find something for me to solve my problem? Here is what they say: In order to be able to use our coupling carrier, and also your model, on a vehicle, the vehicle requires a tow bar with diameter ball head 49.5-49.9 mm. The material must be completely made of steel. Below the ball head we need for our recording a ca. 2.5 cm. long approach surface for our locking mechanism to grip. See the picture below. Unfortunately, we do not sell trailer hitches or adapters. Here you should please contact the vehicle manufacturer. These are the only information we can give you here. And then, a little bit of extra explanation as they speak German and I wasnt sure if I was understanding correctly: the ball needs a diameter 49,5 – 49,9 mm and under the ball head about 2.5 cm The distance from the bumper of the vehicle to the center of the ball must be at least 6 cm. amount see picture below.# Also a list of some producers for Hitch balls. Many thanks in advance.

asked by: Pamela

Expert Reply:

The ball mount you purchased was part C45572 and this is for a 1-1/4-inch Class II hitch. This ball mount has an integrated 2-inch hitch ball that cannot be removed and this is why it is incompatible with the towing style bike rack that I believe you have. Towing racks can either mount on the shank of the ball mount, like racks # S64664 and # C18013 or they can be like yours, which uses a hitch ball as a "bolt" to secure the rack to the ball mount.

We do offer 50mm hitch balls, shown on the linked page, that have a 1-inch diameter shank like the # EH53C-C, however, we do not have a 1-1/4" ball mount with a 1 inch hole to go with it. All of our 1-1/4" ball mounts have a 3/4" ball hole.

You photos did not make it through to us but you can re-send them to me if you need to.

expert reply by: Adam R