Can you Tow a Trailer and Use Winch With the Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter

Updated 11/17/2025 | Published 12/19/2024

Question:

Im wanting to tow a 10,000 lb trailer, and put a winch on the top receiver. If the winch is pulling a vehicle onto the trailer that is connected to my truck, is the winch exceeding the 400 lb tongue weight? Or how do you figure the tongue weight? Thanks!

asked by: Josiah

Expert Reply:

Hey Josiah no, the winch would not be affecting the tongue weight. The tongue weight is the downward force on the receiver tube so since the winch would be pulling that would be counted towards the gross towing weight.

The 10,000 lb capacity for the Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter # RM23SR is for the entire thing, so if you're pulling a 10,000 lb trailer you wouldn't also be able to use your winch since it'd be over capacity.

I'd instead recommend mounting the winch to the trailer itself, that way the capacity of the hitch isn't affected and you can also use the winch.

Also, since this is an adapter you're really not meant to use it like that. This is mainly meant to be used to flat tow a vehicle and haul a bike rack or something similar.

expert reply by: Bryce D

Jesse M.

11/17/2025

Hey Josiah, how did things go after you mounted the winch to the trailer instead of using the dual hitch adapter? Your results could really help others trying to balance towing capacity and winch use.