Using e98873 Motorcycle Carrier with 76112 Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch on 2019 Sienna

Question:

I bought and installed the Draw-Tite Class 3 Trailer Hitch 76112 on my 2019 Sienna XLE and have been using a Thule bicycle rack. All works great! I plan to buy a Kawasaki KLX 250 or something similar. Would the e98873 etrailer Motorcycle Hitch Carrier work OK with my hitch? The bike weighs about 300 lbs which the carrier would handle and the hitch tongue weight 525 lbs should handle the weight of the bike and carrier. My concern is the weight distribution and stresses on the hitch with the bike and carrier when driving and going around curves or on rougher roads since its would seem much different than a trailer. Thx

asked by: Craig B

Expert Reply:

The etrailer brand # e98873 motorcycle carrier weighs in at just below 60 lbs, so with the bike installed you'll be sitting at about 360 lbs of tongue weight which is well within the tongue weight capacity of the hitch, and is under the 380 lb tongue weight limit mentioned by Toyota, so the carrier, the dirt bike and the hitch should work well together.

Here's a couple things you'll want to keep in mind:

• You'll want to center the weight of the bike directly over the shank of the carrier that goes into the hitch. This
means that the bike itself might be slightly offset on the carrier which isn't a problem.

• You mention the term 'rougher roads'. You'll want to be aware that traveling off-road or on rough pavement
will increase the shock loads applied to the hitch and the load it carries to an unknown degree. Because of this,
you'll want to drive slowly and carefully on rough road surfaces.

If you keep those caveats in mind, the carrier will work very well for you and will be an affordable alternative to carrying the bike with a small trailer.

You'll also need some ratcheting tie-downs to safely attach the bike to the carrier. I'd recommend # SS6-SL14.