Can a Dual Purpose Ball Mount be Used to Carry a Dirt Bike and Tow a Seadoo Trailer

Question:

I have a 2005 Honda pilot and i am looking at getting this dual hitch reciever because i have a 2005 honda dirt bike weighting aproximatly 174 pounds that i am wanting to carry on a hitch mounted dirt bike carrier and a seadoo weighing aproximately 700 pounds without a trailer weight and aproximately 900 pounds with trailer. Do you think this dual trailer hitch could support the wieght of both the seadoo and trailer and the dirt bike and dirt bike carrier and if not do you have any recommendations as to what i should do or as to what product i should get?

asked by: Justin P

Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Curt and he stated that the dual purpose receivers and ball mounts are not rated for use with something like a dirt bike and carrier. The issue is not the weight but where that weight is placed. It will be too far from the receiver and can cause it to fail.

The best option, but still not ideal, is to install a front mount hitch, # 33328, and use the dirt bike carrier in it. However, my contact at Curt did state that for every foot of distance the weight is from the receiver, you loose 25 percent of the capacity of the hitch. So at a distance of 2 feet, the capacity is cut in half to 175 pounds.

You will have to be very mindful of the weight on the hitch and the front axle capacity and make sure you do not exceed them.

expert reply by: Michael H