Hitch Adapter to Carry a Bike Rack on the Back of a Motorhome While Also Flat Towing

Question:

Hi Etrailer. You have assisted me a few times in the past THANK YOU and I have another question. As a typical camper I am always looking to upgrade and make the camping experience easier. I will try to lay out as many details as I can: I have a 2016 Coachmen Concord Class C w/Ford E450. My toad is a 2021 Jeep Cherokee Latitude curb weight 3800 lbs. The MH has a 7500 lbs hitch. I have a Swagman XC2 bike rack that I would like to attach to the MH while towing the Cherokee behind. My concerns are mostly centered around the bikes coming in contact with the front end of the jeep while making turns. I am at a loss when deciding on which dual hitch adapter to use. I have estimated that I have approximately 25 to 30 clearance from the swagman tire bracket to the end of the blue ox mounting bracket that connects to the jeeps bumper. Towing the jeep with a blue ox does not require any down or rise. The jeep sits perfectly level as is. Should I purchase your Malone 2 Dual purpose hitch, or RM 2 and 8 /rise, or is there any other options. Again, my concern is the contact from bike rack to jeep while making a turn. Thank you very much and I apologize for being long winded.

asked by: Marc

Expert Reply:

There are a few thing to take into consideration when using a bike rack and flat towing. Those would be the clearance of the rack and vehicle, the weight capacity of the hitch for both the tongue weight and tow weight and the level of your tow bar set-up. Given these things to keep in mind, there is not a perfect answer for which adapter you should use because each provides different challenge.

The Malone 2" Dual Purpose Hitch Receiver # MPG544 is going to keep your flat tow set-up as level as it is now which is ideal since you said it was level. It will also provide a 7-1/2" rise for the rack to help with clearance of your vehicle. The main issue with the Malone is that is has a max tow rating of 4,000 lbs. With the curb weight of your Jeep sitting at 3,800 lbs. that leaves you with very little room for error. Only having 200 lbs. of wiggle room is worrisome because that does not include any cargo that may be carried.

The Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter # RM-077-8 was designed for flat towing with this purpose in mind, the only downside to the Roadmaster adapter is the 2" drop. That being said, your flat tow just needs to be within 3" of level. So, if you are currently sitting at level then you can drop 2" and still be ok. It also provides 8" of rise to help with clearance.

Between the two adapters, both would cut the tongue weight by 50% but with your 750 lbs. of tongue weight on your hitch that should not be a problem. I would recommend the Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter # RM-077-8 because it was designed for flat towing with a tow rating of 10,000 lbs. so you would be able to use the complete 7,500 lbs. your hitch is rated for.

With either adapter, I would recommend taking your set-up out with the towed vehicle and bike rack on and making some slow speed turns having someone there to watch the clearance of the rack and Jeep so you can learn your limitations (if there are any).