How to Tow a Trailer and Use a Hitch Mounted Bike Rack Together on a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country

Question:

We have a 2005 Town and Country minivan with a class 3, 2 receiver Hidden Hitch installed. We want to get a hitch bike rack that will also let us pull our utility trailer. I see the two dual-receiver ball hitches D210 and V75090, but some of the bike hitches e.g. Yakima Double Down Y02424 say not to use with hitch extenders. Is it ok to use these bike racks with the dual-hitch receiver? Id prefer not to have to get a towing rack e.g. S64975 because were not going to to the trailer all the time. What would work best for our needs?

asked by: Mark H

Expert Reply:

The two dual receiver you have referenced, # D210, is not technically hitch extenders. It is a ball mount with a receiver welded to the top. And it is designed for an application like yours. If the receiver was not present, it would just be a 12-1/2 inch long ball mount, which is a long ball mount, but not the longest available.

What you will need to be mindful of is the tongue weight. In addition to the trailer tongue weight, the bike rack plus the bikes will count against the tongue weight capacity of the ball mount and trailer hitch. The CURT D210 has a tongue weight capacity of 750 pounds but the Hidden Hitch trailer hitches for a 2005 Chrysler TandC are rated at 350 pounds. So you will need to stay under that 350 pound capacity.

A Yakima DoubleDown, # Y02424, loaded to capacity has a combined rack and bike weight of 150 pounds leaving only 200 pounds of available tongue weight capacity on the hitch.

expert reply by: Michael H