Using Hitch Mounted Bike Rack on 1998 Honda Accord Equipped with Flat Bar Receiver

Updated 12/10/2011 | Published 12/09/2011

Question:

I have a 1998 Honda Accord EX with a Reese Shadow Mount flat bar hitch that Id like to use with a SoftRide bicycle carrier that fits 2inch receivers. I have no intention of drawing trailers with such a convertor and would use it only for this bicycle carrier. Can you help me?

asked by: Eric B

Expert Reply:

Thank you for your photo.

In order to use a receiver-mounted bike rack on your 1998 Accord, you will have to remove your existing flat bar hitch and replace it with a hitch that uses the square tube receiver, like the Draw-Tite Class I, part # C11290.

The Shadow Mount receiver you reference is obsolete, and I am not aware of any accessories available that are compatible with it.

Although the Softride Dura you mentioned is a great bike rack, it will not be compatible with the Class I receiver hitch available for your Accord. The class I receiver uses a 1-1/4 inch receiver opening, and has a limited tongue weight (amount of weight that can be safely suspended from hitch) capacity. Due to this limited tongue weight capacity, you will be limited to carrying two bikes on whichever bike rack you decide on using. Additional bikes placed on the rack would cause additional leverage on the receiver and its attachment points to the vehicle, and could cause damage to the vehicle and loss of the rack and the bikes.

We have a large selection of racks that are compatible with Class I receivers. The Swagman Trailhead, part # S63360 would be a great choice.

I have provided links to the other Class I compatible bike racks we offer, as well as a link to the bike rack and the hitch I recommended.

expert reply by: Mike L