Will a Loading Bike Carrier and Trailer Towing Together with Dual Receiver Cause Rear Vehicle Sag

Updated 09/01/2015 | Published 08/31/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Ball Mount 3/4" Rise or 2" Drop - 12-5/8" Long

(3907)

$34.14

2" Hitch Ball - 1" Rise - 1" Diameter x 2-1/8" Long Shank - 6,000 lbs

(3930)

$30.64

MaxxTow Ball Mount w/ 2" Accessory Receiver - 2" Hitches - 2-1/4" Drop - 5,000 lbs

(1)

$42.03

Question:

I’m combining the following two items to accommodate a bike rack to my hitch when towing my pop up. Item #MT70070 - MaxxTow Dual Hitch Extender for 2inch Trailer Hitches - 12inch Long Item # D-26 - Ball Mount 3/4inch Rise or 2inch Drop, Extra Long I currently have a mount with 3/4inch rise turned the 2” upside down when no bike rack is in use, and the trailer is level towing. I realize the additional bikes and bike rack weight approx. 150 will affect this. But, should I expect some additional drop in my setup because of the combined overall length of the above items compared to when I do not have this configuration? I’m thinking I may need this to make up for any sag due to length of set up? - Item # C40033 - 2inch Hitch Ball - 1inch Rise - 1inch Diameter x 2-1/8inch Long Shank - 6,000 lbs to get my setup back to level again? Your expert thoughts are always appreciated Thanks

asked by: Bob

Expert Reply:

The extra weight of the loaded bike carrier will likely cause the rear of the vehicle to sag slightly more when the trailer is also coupled but it should not be drastic enough to necessitate a different set up. Using a ball with a rise such as # C40033 might actually be too much increase but the only way to know for sure is to see if there is excessive sage with the current set up.

The issue though is that by using dual receiver # MT70066 the tongue weight capacity of the trailer hitch is reduced 50 percent. So the combined weight of the trailer's tongue weight and the loaded bike carrier must be lower than half of the hitches tongue weight capacity.

expert reply by: Michael H