Recommended Dual Hitch Adapter and Cargo Carrier for Flat Towing/Carrying Bike Rack and Cargo Carrie

Question:

Can I use a double hitch and put a cargo carrier or bike rack on top and tow a jeep behind an RV? If so which of the cargo carriers and double hitch would you recommend? I already have a bike rack.

asked by: Joyce C

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can use a Dual Hitch Adapter like # RM-077-2 so you can simultaneously carry a cargo carrier/bike rack and flat tow. There are a couple things to keep in mind, though...

Using an adapter will reduce the tongue weight capacity of the hitch by half. Therefore, if the hitch has a tongue weight capacity of 350 lbs, using the adapter will reduce that capacity to 175 lbs. That's not a big deal for the flat towed vehicle, because flat towed vehicles are a rolling load that don't exert any tongue weight on the hitch, but the bike rack and bikes on it, or the cargo carrier plus what's carried on it cannot weigh more than 50% of the hitch's tongue weight capacity.

Also, although it's permissible to use the adapter for flat towing, it should not be used for towing a trailer.

Here are the dual hitch adapters we offer. You'll want to choose the one that has a rise/drop that would place your tow bar within 3 inches of level.

• # RM-077-8, 8 inch drop/rise
• # RM-077-2 2-1/4 inch drop/rise
• # RM-077-10 10 inch drop/rise
• # RM-077-6 6 inch drop/rise

The Reese # 63153 cargo carrier you'd looked at would be an excellent choice. The carrier features an angled shank that increases the ground clearance by 2-1/2 inches so you'll have lots of clearance above the tow bar. The carrier weighs just under 60 lbs.

I've linked to a demonstration video for the # 63153 cargo carrier.