Hitch Recommendation For 2012 Honda CR-V - Lighter Loads  

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It sounds like you're wondering if a Class III hitch might be too strong for your 2012 Honda CR-V's towing towing application, or perhaps not the most ideal hitch. That's a great question to ask!

You should always use a trailer hitch product that was engineered from the beginning with your 2012 Honda CRV's frame and specifications in mind, regardless of what you might be towing. But it's still a good idea to know why hitches have different classes and what they mean, especially if you were looking to haul a lighter load and were concerned that perhaps your towing setup was too strong for the job, or vice versa. While there's actually five classes of trailer hitches, the ones that are the most independent, and therefore the most limited, are Class I hitches. So why are Class III hitches, such as the Curt # C13119 which fits your CR-V, a better option?

With a Class III hitch, in addition to the larger tongue weight rating of 350 lbs. (the vertical weight being supported by the hitch receiver) and a gross trailer weight rating of 3500 lbs., you get a 2" receiver tube. Receiver tube size is important because 2" tubes are more popular, and therefore more towing products, accessories, and adapters are designed to work with them - even if they are not the same class.

We also offer a Class I Hitch for the CR-V, also from Curt, the # C11555, which is a great product that works well for niche towing applications. It has a smaller tongue weight rating of 200 lbs. and a gross trailer weight rating of 2000 lbs., and comes with the 1-1/4" receiver tube. Unlike the Class III Curt Hitch, it is only designed work with other Class I accessories and it should not be adapted to work with other class accessories or sizes.

The main concern with adapting a Class I 1-1/4" receiver to work with other classes (outside of safety) is that if you encounter subsequent damage to the hitch or your bikes or accessories, that damage will likely not be covered under any product warranties. Also, all bike rack manufacturers recommend no more than two (2) bikes be hauled by a Class 1 hitch at any time, regardless if the rack has attachment points for more bikes.

While you may wonder whether a Class III hitch would feel noticeably stiffer than a Class I hitch as you ride around with your lighter trailer, this is simply not the case. These hitches perform just as well with a lighter load as a Class I would, without any of the limitations. For practically the same financial investment, a Class III hitch on your CR-V opens you up to a much bigger world of recreation and towing, and has my full recommendation for the best type of hitch for you. I've also linked an article that further explains hitch classes if you'd like to know more.

expert reply by: Aaron A

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