Can a 1-1/4 to 2 Inch Hitch Adapter be Used with Curt Trailer Hitch C11282 on a 2012 Chevy Cruze

Question:

I just bought a new 2012 cruze with the rs package. My current bike rack is a 2inch receiver. i kow that the hitch for the car will be 1 1/4 and I know you can get the reducers to reduce my bike rack from a 2inch down to a 1 1/4. Will this effect the rack/car?

asked by: Jay

Expert Reply:

As you have mentioned, the Curt trailer hitch # C11282 (and other brands) for the 2012 Chevy Cruze have 1-1/4 inch receivers. Because of this, to use a 2 inch accessory, you will need to use a hitch adapter, # HTAD. However, this will reduce the tongue weight capacity of the hitch by 50 percent.

The Curt hitch has a tongue weight capacity of 200 pounds, by using the adapter, it is reduced to 100 pounds. This means that the combined weight of the bike rack and bikes cannot exceed 100 pounds. Another issue is that all of the available hitches are Class I hitches. A Class I trailer hitch can only carry 2 bikes maximum. This is especially critical when using an adapter because there will already be extra stress on the hitch.

If the combined weight of the bikes and the rack is under 100 pounds, you can use it with the Curt hitch and adapter. Curt does require the use of a stabilization strap, # 18050, for their warranty. Since you will be using an adapter it is very important you use the strap to reduce the stress on the hitch.

If you would rather not risk possibly overloading the hitch and damaging the vehicle, I recommend a rack designed for use with a Class I trailer hitch like the Swagman Trailhead, # S63360. I have included links to the installation instructions for the hitch and for the bike rack for you.