Looking For Way To Transport E-Bikes While Flat Towing 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JLU

Updated 08/15/2025 | Published 07/26/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Hollywood Racks RV Rider Bike Rack for 2 Electric Bikes - 2" Hitches - Frame Mount

(644)

$649.99

Gen-Y Adjustable 2-Ball Mount w/ Stacked Receivers - 2" Hitch - 10" Drop/Rise - 16K

(654)

$379.95

Question:

I am looking ways to transport e-bikes. The bikes are 73 pounds without batteries. I am looking at the Hollywood Rack, specific for RVs and vehicles being towed and the Yakima swing hitch. I have a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JLU. Not sure if I am reading/calculating correctly. The Yakima and every other hitch extension talk about reducing the tongue capacity by 50. If this is true I do not see any possible combinations. My spare is an oversized tire and I need 13 inches to keep from rubbing the tires. The hitch extension, rack, and bikes would greatly exceed Jeep’s capacity if I am reading correctly. I see you sell these products and I even put them in the cart, but did not see any warning. Thanks for helping me make sense of this. Right now, I am looking at going with folding bikes that can be carried inside the Jeep. We go on long RV trips 3-4 months and the Jeep is towed behind the Clasd A diesel pusher.

asked by: Steven D

Expert Reply:

Hello Steven, thanks for reaching out. You are correct that using a swing away adapter or hitch extender will reduce your hitches carrying capacity by half. We put that warning on the part page for all of the hitch adapters we offer.

So if the hitch on your Jeep has a 500 lb tongue weight rating, the adapter would reduce that capacity to 250 lbs. This would include the weight of the swing away adapter (about 45 lbs), bike rack (70 lbs) and bikes. Based on my calculations with two 73 lb e-bikes this would be too heavy and would not be safe.

Like you hinted at, there really is not a good way to carry heavy bikes on your jeep with the spare tire. If you could relocate the spare and get rid of the need for the hitch adapter it would be possible. Or getting folding bikes that store in the jeep would also be a good solution.

Another potential solution would be to use a dual hitch adapter on the motorhome. That would allow you to tow your Jeep, then have the bike rack behind the RV. A really good product for this is the Gen-Y Adjustable 2-Ball Mount w/ Stacked Receivers # 325-GH-525. This gives you 5 stacked 2" receivers, so you could put your tow bar in the lowermost receiver and have the bike rack in the uppermost receiver. This ball mount has a 1,600 lb tongue weight capacity and it does not have any tongue weight reduction warnings like the swing away adapter. The picture I included shows an example of what that setup would look like.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

expert reply by: Jesse M

Gen-Y Ball Mount Example
(click to enlarge)

Jesse M.

8/15/2025

Hey Steven, did you decide to go with the folding bikes for your trips, or did you try the dual hitch adapter on your motorhome? I'm curious because your experience could really help others in a similar situation.