Carrying Motorcycle on Hitch Mounted Carrier on Mercury Grand Marquis

Question:

Hi, Im thinking about getting a motorcycle carrier to carry my dirtbike Item # e98873. But, i wanted to confirm if im making my calculations for tongue weight probably. I need to use an adapter, which i thought about using Item MT70355 to have little more ground clearance or I will just use Item # 80303 A: 1991 Grand Marquis CLASS 2 Hitch -Image Attached- On the end of Class I hitches, there is no metal collar surrounding the receiver opening. seems like my hitch is class 2 ? wanted to confirm, because there is no evidence of sticker on it. maybe it came off... B: My Car specs are more than enough. I did check my door for overall weight rating -image attached- C: Item # e98873 58 lbs ? Motorcycle weight 235 lbs gas + accessories on the bike 25 lbs Total 318 lbs This is my straight forward calculation, but i do need an expert opinion before i go ahead with my purchases. i can cruise slow with my car, but i dont wanna damage anything or put myself in to danger. But from my calculation it seemed fine to use a carrier on my car. One detail i dont know is when i mount the motorcycle carrier, it will be extend a bit. Which means that it will create a extra load or not ? Im not sure about that calculation and how much it will effect. I would appreciate the help, Thanks in advance

asked by: Sena

Expert Reply:

Your 1-1/4 inch receiver on your Grand Marquis is most likely a Class II, but without an ID sticker or part number to confirm, I couldn't say for sure. This means that your hitch likely has a tongue weight capacity (maximum amount of downward force that can be applied to hitch without damaging it) ranging from 200-350 lbs. The fact that there's a reinforcing ring around it would lend credence to the fact that it's a Class II, but there are a few manufacturers that have made class I's with the reinforcing collar as well, so unfortunately its presence doesn't confirm anything.

The class rating of the hitch is a moot point, though. Using an adapter like the # 80303 will lower the tongue weight capacity of the hitch by half, which means the weight of the bike plus the carrier will exceed the capacity of the hitch, regardless of if it's a class I or II, so you cannot go that route.

What I'd recommend you do is to remove the existing hitch and replace it with the US made Curt # 13707 Class III hitch which has a 400 lb tongue weight capacity. This way, you could use the # e98873 etrailer motorcycle carrier without needing an adapter, so you'd retain the entire tongue weight capability of the hitch.

I've linked installation instructions and an install video for the hitch I recommended as well as to a demonstration video for the etrailer motorcycle carrier.

expert reply by: Mike L