Can a 4-Bike Platform Bike Rack be Used on a 1-1/4 Inch Trailer Hitch on a 2011 Mercedes R350

Updated 04/05/2016 | Published 04/01/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 2 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount

(352)

$522.52

Yakima HoldUp Bike Rack for 4 Bikes - 2" Hitches - Wheel Mount

(352)

$971.91

Question:

I have a 2011 Mercedes R350 with a 1-1/4 inch hitch. the label on the OEM hitch states that the car has a 280 pound tongue weight. Can I use the Yakima holdup 2 rack with 1-1/4 inch hitch and add to it the Yakima holdup +2 2 bike add on? the bikes would weigh less then 125 pounds total. Yakima states that the holdup 2 and +2 each weigh 49 pounds. that would put the total weight on the tongue at 223 pounds. 57 pounds under the listed tongue weight. our ultimate goal is to carry 4 bikes on a hitch mounted platform style carrier. Yakima makes a holdup 4 bike carrier with a 2 inch hitch requiring an adapter. I think the adapter would lower the tongue weight too much.

asked by: Dylan

Expert Reply:

There is a very good reason why no one makes a 4-bike platform style bike rack for 1-1/4 inch trailer hitches. It isn't due to the weight, not entirely, it is the fact that a 4-bike platform bike rack is very long and the distance of the second 2 bikes from the hitch receiver will produce tremendous leverage on the hitch receiver which can damage the hitch (I've seen it happen) and/or the vehicle.

The best solution is to replace the 1-1/4 inch hitch with a 2 inch hitch, # 75470, on your 2011 Mercedes R350. Then you can safely use the HoldUp 4-bike rack, # Y02443-2. Or you could offset the cost of the hitch by using a less expensive bike rack such as the T2 Pro X, # TH26ZE. I have linked some videos of both bike racks for you.

expert reply by: Michael H