What's The Best Way To Carry Bikes While Towing Boat Trailer?

Published 03/10/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2" Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs

(231)

$78.44

Gen-Y Weld-On 2" Receiver Tube - 12" Long - Steel

(72)

$39.97

Question:

Hi I am looking at towing my boat and now be able to also use my bike rack Im looking at the Curt Multipurpose Ball Mount with 2inch Receiver for Bike Racks and Cargo Carriers - 7,500 lbs my boat with gear, 1/2 fuel ia about 7,100. lbs Im concerned about the tung weight, weight of the boat and the trailer braking stuff neer the ball...enough room for this to work see photo. my 1st thought was to put a 4x4 motor home bolt on hitch on the boat trailer and the bike would the sam direction as the truck and under the hull but the trailer beam it 2x6 Curt RV Bumper 2inch Trailer Hitch Receiver Item # E-100

asked by: Phillip B

Expert Reply:

Based on the 7,100lb weight you're boat and gear weighs it does indeed sound like the Curt # D210 will be underrated for the boat tongue weight and your bike rack/bikes.

With that said adding a ball mount to your boat trailer tongue is not something I'd recommend, as we have no way to know what the beam pictured is rated for, or how much movement that'll add to the bike rack. Should you decide to go this route anyways you wouldn't be able to use an RV hitch because your support is not the size of a RV bumper (4" x 4"), so you'd need to have a fabricator install a receiver like # 325-GH-003 on that support, but I can tell you with this installation method you'd be voiding any warranty on your bike rack should issues happen.

Instead I recommend installing a front mount trailer hitch on your tow vehicle, or a roof rack with roof mounted bike racks to avoid any possible issues.

If you can let me know the year/make/model of your tow vehicle and quantity of bikes along with their weight I'd be happy to make a recommendation for you.

expert reply by: Samuel C