How to Carry a Bike Rack and Tow a Trailer At the Back of a Tow Vehicle

Question:

Hello In the attached image, you will see that I am installing a dual purpose Hitch, planning on mounting 2 eBikes and also pull a small trailer. Using a 12 inch hitch extender, my calculations are that I can roughly pull a 1,373 pound loaded trailer, if I pull out the eBike batteries. Did I look at this correctly using the 25 rule ?

asked by: Glenn O

Expert Reply:

What you're wanting to do can be accomplished, but we'll need to get you some different equipment because you never want to use 2 adapters, and from my experience all of the dual receiver options using the style you're showing in your diagram, similar to the Malone # MPG544, will actually reduce the weight ratings by 50% instead of 25%. (plus each accessory that reduces the weight rating will be reducing the original weight rating of the hitch - not the "new" weight rating achieved by using an initial adapter)

For your application I recommend using the following parts:

- Replacement Shank for Gen-Y Adjustable Ball Mount # 325-GH-304
- 15-3/4" Long Hidden Hitch Ball Mount # 80232

This solution gives you the higher and lower initial receivers and then a longer ball mount that will help with clearance from your bikes to your trailer. The nice thing about these is that they are built differently than the parts you're looking at so they aren't going to reduce the weight capacity of your trailer hitch like the parts you're looking at were going to.

If you don't already have a bike rack then I recommend using a hanging-style rack if you're able since they don't stick out as much as platform racks do. I'm linking our selection of hanging racks for you to check out, but if you need some assistance just let me know and I'll be more than happy to help you out!