How to Transport Power Chair on 2018 Cadillac XTS That Has Only 100-lb Allowable Tongue Weight

Question:

your website says 2018 Cadillac XTS can tow 3500 lbs with 350 lb tongue weight. Owners manual says XTS can tow 1000 lbs with no mention of tongue weight. I have a customer who needs the capability to carry his wifes power wheelchair on his lift which uses a class 3 hitch. He says total weight is approx. 450 lbs. My question is based on the information that you have listed on his website, will purchasing the tow hitch from you for the 2018 Cadillac XTS or 2018 Buick Regal Tour X to carry 450 lbs void the manufactures warranty AND do you build/sell the tow hitch for these two vehicles with a Class 3 receiver? Thank you for your assistance.

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

I checked the online edition of the owner's manual for the 2018 Cadillac XTS and it does indeed state the maximum trailer weight is 1000-lbs, just as you mentioned, but is also notes that the tongue weight of the connected trailer should not exceed 10% of that maximum, which would then be 100-lbs. This note appears on the right-hand side of page 233.

The three 1-1/4-inch Class II hitches offered for the car, such as Curt # C12115 shown on the linked page, all have the same rated maximum towing capacity of 3500-lbs but this refers to the hitch itself. Since this hitch can install on various different GM vehicles (Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet) it is rated for the highest possible capacity of all of those vehicles and their variants. When a vehicle and its hitch have different ratings, the lower of the two always determines overall capacity.

For the 2018 Cadillac XTS there is no 2-inch Class III hitch option available, so this car cannot be used to transport a power chair and its hitch -mount carrier that have a combined weight of 450-lbs. Even if such a 2-inch hitch were offered for this vehicle the car's own 100-lb tongue weight limit would still apply.

This vehicle could transport the power chair on a small utility trailer such as the Detail K2 Mighty Multi Utility Trailer # K2MMT4X6 which we sell in kit form. It has a 1295-lb weight capacity, the trailer bed measures 4 x 6-feet (plenty for most power chairs) and it also includes a folding tailgate that doubles as a loading ramp. Since this trailer weighs only 305-lbs, even when loaded with a 300-lb chair the total tongue weight would remain within the car's limit. Since the chair's exact position in the trailer can be adjusted it is easy to maintain a suitable tongue weight.

This option will also require a 4-pole wiring harness for the trailer's lights. Part # C56389 is what I recommend. The owner will also need a ball mount # C45017 and 1-7/8-inch hitch ball # 19256.

A trailer setup like what I have described above is the only way to transport a heavy power chair on this vehicle without potentially voiding the warranty or causing actual damage.