Recommended Method to Transport 300-lb Motorcycle on 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit

Updated 10/20/2015 | Published 10/19/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Ultra-Fab Dirt Bike Carrier for 2" Hitches - With Ramp - 77" Long - 500 lbs

(101)

$222.52

ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector and Installation Kit

(524)

$197.74

1-7/8" Hitch Ball - 3/4" Diameter x 1-9/16" Long Shank - Chrome - 2,000 lbs

(2625)

$16.07

2" Hitch Ball - 3/4" Diameter x 1-9/16" Long Shank - Chrome - 3,500 lbs

(2625)

$16.65

Draw-Tite Sportframe Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4"

(72)

$173.67

Draw-Tite Drawbar for 1-1/4" Hitches - 4" Rise - 10" Long - 2,000 lbs

(2331)

$31.12

Question:

i am looking a getting a hitch set up for my 2007 volkswagen rabbit. i am not planning on towing anything but using it in conjunction with my dirtbike carrier. my question is it says tongue weight is 250lbs. does that rating change with rack type setups? i know my bike weighs roughly 300 lbs and the carrier probably weighs an additional 50-80 pounds is this to much for the hitch to handle/ vehicle to handle?

asked by: Chris

Expert Reply:

In order to safely transport a motorcycle on a hitch-mounted carrier on your 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit both the car itself and the trailer hitch you install on it must have a tongue weight (TW) rating high enough for the combined weight of the carrier plus the bike. The only size/class hitch offered for your Rabbit is a light-duty 1-1/4-inch Class I type that has a TW capacity of 200-lbs. Please see the linked page. Even if your bike weighed only 175-lbs, by the time you add the weight of the carrier you could easily be over the hitch's limit or maybe also the car's.

You will need to find a small utility trailer large enough and with the required weight capacity for your bike. Outdoor and farm stores are a good place to look for one.

Pulling a trailer will require a hitch, ball mount, hitch ball and wiring harness. I recommend Draw-Tite hitch # 24825 since it is the most cost-effective choice. With this you can use ball mount # 3594 and either 1-7/8-inch ball # 19256 or 2-inch ball # 19258, whichever matches your trailer's coupler. If the trailer has lights then for a wiring harness use part # 119250KIT.