Why Do Hitch Extenders Reduce Tongue Weight Capacity of Trailer Hitch
Updated 10/31/2017 | Published 10/30/2017
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Question:
Im looking at a motorcycle carrier and questioned its safety. For some reason you claim that a hitch extender such as the HE12 reduce the rated tongue weight by 50, yet a motorcycle carrier amazingly doesnt have any effect on the tongue weight rating despite THE FACT IT EXTENDS THE LOAD way past the receiver. Even though my motorcycle only weighs 250 lb and my tongue rating is 350 lb Im wondering if you advise me to put a stronger hitch on my truck since based on a simple law of physics the effective wait on that tongue will actually be greater than the 250 lb and the carrier combined.
asked by: Jd
Expert Reply:
A motorcycle carrier like the MaxxTow # MT70101, or any other hitch-mounted accessory that features a longer shank, is tested and rated for use when inserted directly inside the trailer hitch receiver. It is designed and built with its overall length, weight balance and typical hitch capacity in mind. A bike or motorcycle carrier inserted directly into the hitch receiver will not reduce the hitch's tongue weight capacity for this reason.
When a hitch adapter/extender is added to the equation, this will alter the geometry and physics that the bike rack (or various other accessory) was built and tested for. Not only does the extension itself alter the geometry, as you mentioned in your question, but simply adding an additional mechanical connection point to the system will affect it as well. Instead of a bike rack's shank and hitch receiver being the only connection point, you now have the hitch receiver, hitch adapter, then the bike rack shank all contributing to extra movement when driving down the road.
As long as you stay below the tongue weight capacity on your trailer hitch, remembering to keep in mind that the weight of the carrier itself needs to also be included, you should not have any issue and you do not need to upgrade the hitch on your vehicle. The trailer hitch is built and rated for this application. The increased leverage that might be put onto the hitch when driving, especially when going over bumps in the road, is accounted for when the hitch rating is established. To reduce some of this movement, you can add some stabilizing straps like the Erickson # EM05710.
If you do end up wanting to replace your existing hitch with a stronger model for this or any other application, please just let me know the year, make, and model of your vehicle and I will be happy to make a recommendation.
