Does Using a Hitch Adapter Change the Hitch Tongue Weight Capacity

Updated 03/06/2016 | Published 03/05/2016

Question:

I have a 2009 Honda Accord I have a hitch on the car that has a 1 1/4 inch receiver. I have added a piece of equipment to change it to a 2 inch receiver what is the torque weight that the car can handle or the hitch can handle?

asked by: Becjy

Expert Reply:

Using a hitch adapter like the one shown in the photo you provided will lower the tongue weight of your existing hitch by 50 percent. The Class I hitch on your 2009 Accord would normally have a tongue weight capacity (maximum amount of downforce that can be applied to the hitch without causing damage) of 200 lbs. Because using the adapter moves the load further away from the hitch, more leverage will be applied to the hitch, so using the adapter lowers the tongue weight capacity to 100 lbs. This means that the weight of the bike rack you're using plus the combined weight of the bicycles on the rack cannot exceed 100 lbs.

Exceeding that capacity can cause the hitch to bend or break, or cause the hitch attachment points to the vehicle to fail.

Honestly, your best course of action would be to avoid using the adapter, and use a bike rack that's designed to be used with a Class I hitch. Swagman makes high quality but reasonably priced hitches like the Trailhead, part # S63360 that can be used in both 1-1/4 and 2 inch hitches.

The bike rack and hitch manufacturers both agree that no more than two bikes should be carried in a rack used on a Class I hitch. Additional bikes would increase the leverage applied to the hitch, like I mentioned above.

expert reply by: Mike L