Can the Thule Access Swing Away Hitch Extender be Installed Upside Down
Published 06/05/2018
Question:
Greetings, this swing arm is a good solution for my existing bike mount with one exception. Is it advisable to mount in the upside down position so that it seeing towards the drivers side? Secondly, why is it not approved for mounting to rvs, specifically a converted cargo trailer? Also how far does it swing? Dimension from centerline of hitch to hinge please. Thank you for your assistance
asked by: Chris R
Expert Reply:
The weight limit of the Thule Access Swing Away Hitch Extender # TH9037 is 350 lbs which it gets from the arms being stacked. Since the accessory receiver is on the top arm the weight of your accessory will be on the bottom arm. If you were to flip it upside down the weight of your accessory would be on that bracket and not the "bottom" arm. This means that the arm needs to swing out towards the passenger side of your vehicle. The centerline measurement for this adapter is 18".
RVs, trailers, and 5th wheels all have trailer hitches that sit farther away from the rear axle than passenger vehicles. This means that there is going to be more movement which creates more stress. Some accessories and bike racks have been tested and approved for this and some have not. The Access Swing Away is one that has not been approved for this extra movement.
