5-Bike Towing Rack Recommendation for Use on 2003 Explorer and 2000 Chevrolet K1500 Pickup  

Question:

Expert Reply:

We do offer specialty towing bike racks for use with 2-inch hitches that allow you to transport bikes while you tow a trailer. These racks mount on the shank of your ball mount. The link provided will let you see three such racks. Unfortunately, towing racks like these offer a maximum carrying capacity of 4 bikes.

There are also hitch adapters like the Malone Dual Hitch Extender # MPG544 that fits a 2-inch hitch and provides dual 2-inch receiver openings, the lower one for towing and the upper one for use with an accessory item such as a bike rack.

There is one issue with adapters like this; they cut your hitch capacity in half. This is due to the altered geometry for the forces applied to the hitch. If your vehicles' hitches happen to be rated high enough that when their capacity is halved they still have enough to handle the weight of your trailer and bikes, then an adapter might be a solution. You will need to check the safety/warning stickers on both hitches to determine if they are rated adequately to allow you to safely tow your trailer's weight and carry the weight of the bike rack you choose and that of your 5 bikes. If your hitches can safely be used with this adapter then you have the ability to choose a 5-bike hitch carrier for use in the upper receiver.

Another option that does NOT reduce hitch tongue weight capacity is the Curt # D210 Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks. This can handle a maximum total tongue weight (trailer tongue weight + rack weight + bike weight) of 750-lbs.

I have included a link to our page for 5-bike hitch-mount carriers.

expert reply by: Adam R

0