Can the Trailer Hitch for a 2010 Volkswagen Passat Support 4 Bikes

Updated 09/11/2019 | Published 09/09/2019

Question:

It says Class I hitches can never support a 4-bike rack, only ever a 2-bike rack. Im looking into hitches for a 2010 Passat Wagon myself, all the options presented are indeed Class I, but they all say max tongue weight 200 lbs. If a 4-bike hitch rack is a generous 40lb, that would leave 160lb for 4 bikes, or 40lb/bike. Who has 40lb bikes? Even my big heavy mountain bike is only 35, road bikes are less. Can Class I not actually support 200lb tongue weight, or is there some other consideration?

asked by: Reuben S

Expert Reply:

The issue with installing a four bike rack on a class I hitch has more to down with the leverage that the last two bikes have on the hitch rather than the total amount of weight. That said, you can psychical mount four bikes on a class I hitch but it is just not recommended to do so. If you were going to do so then you would want to install the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part # C11096 on your 2010 Volkswagen Passat.

For a lightweight four bike rack, I recommend the Swagman Trialhead Bike Rack part # S63380 which weighs approximately 35 lbs and the arms are also fairly short so there will not be as much leverage with the last two bikes. This is going to be the only option for you to carry four bikes without placing some on the rear of the vehicle and then some on the roof.

expert reply by: Conner L