Trailer Hitch Recommendation for a 2014 Honda CR-V

Question:

Ill be getting a 2014 Honda CR-V this summer. I figured on buying a Class 1 hitch to use with my 2 bike tray style rack. The rack itself is probably 40 pounds and my road bikes are about 18. Someone told me that using a Class 1 hitch like this also required adding a strap to the rack and attaching it to the back of the car because the hitch could not take the load. Im in a bike club with over 400 members. Ive never seen anyone add a strap. Can you provide some guidance on this? I prefer to stay with a 1-1/4inch Class 1 because I do take the rack off and on and adding the 2inch adapter makes the rack much heavier.

asked by: Sheldon

Expert Reply:

Only certain Curt trailer hitches require the use of a stabilization strap, # 18050, for non-trailer loads such as a bike rack. If you go with a Draw-Tite hitch # 36520 then you will not have to worry about that.

The purpose of the strap is to reduce some of the stress on the trailer hitch. It does what it is supposed to do and wouldn't hurt to be used with any hitch if you wanted.

The Draw-Tite hitch listed above is actually a Class II trailer hitch with a 1-1/4 inch receiver so it is a little more stout than a Class I hitch. Please note that the tongue weight capacity of the hitch will be greater than the tongue weight capacity of the 2012 Honda CR-V (which is 150 pounds I believe). The combined weight of the bike rack and bikes cannot exceed that 150 pound limit. It sounds like that won't be a problem.

expert reply by: Michael H