How To Transport A 2003 Yamaha YZ250 Dirt Bike With A 2015 Dodge Dart  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hi Tommy!

Motorcycle carriers like the Erickson # EM65MJ, Ultra-Fab # UF48-979033, and the no longer available etrailer e98873 have 500 pounds of capacity and will have no issues carrying you 230 pound 2003 Yamaha YZ250. The problem is going to be your 2015 Dodge Dart.

The hitches we have available for your vehicle are all Class 1 (Curt # C11281 and Draw-Tite # 24890) and have 2,000 pounds of towing capacity and 200 pounds of tongue weight capacity. With that being said, you are always limited by the lowest rated component when doing things like this and your Dart is rated lower than the hitch. If you have the 1.4 turbo, you cannot tow. If you have the 2.0 or 2.4 you can tow up to 1,000 pounds. All three options have 150 pounds pf tongue weight capacity. You will not be able to carry anything over that 150 pounds with your Dart (and that is the combined weight of the carrier and what it is carrying).

Class 1 hitches, like the two I mentioned previously for your Dart, also have 1-1/4" receiver openings. The three motorcycle carriers require you to have at least a 2" receiver opening. There are adapters, like the etrailer Hitch Adapter - 1-1/4" to 2" Hitch - 4-1/2" Drop/5" Rise - 6-1/2" L # e93YR, you can get that will allow 2" accessories to work with 1-1/4" hitches, but there is a pretty big caveat. These adapters will reduce your tongue weight by 50%. So your 150 pound tongue weight capacity will now be 75 pounds of tongue weight capacity. I very strongly advise against going in this direction.

Your best option for transporting your YZ250 with your Dart is going to be towing a small trailer. You can use either of the hitches I mentioned, but I would go with the Curt # C11281. It's American made and I prefer Curt hitches over Draw-Tite for that reason. You will also need the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector # C56179 to power the lights on the trailer.

To complete a towing set up for your Dart, you will also want to grab the Curt Class I Drawbar - 5" Rise - 11-9/16" Long - 2,000 lbs # C45025, the Curt Hitch Pin and Clip # F-4, and the Curt 1-7/8" Hitch Ball - 3/4" Diameter x 1-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 2,000 lbs # C40001.

I know this is not what you were wanting to hear, but I cannot recommend going with a carrier to transport your bike. Towing it in a small trailer is going to be a lot safer. If you have any questions about anything I have mentioned above, or really any other questions at all, just let me know. I am always happy to help. : )

expert reply by: Lazer S

0

Curt Hitch C11281 Dodge Dart
(click to enlarge)

Lazer S.

12/8/2025

Hey Tommy, how did things go with towing your YZ250 using the small trailer setup for your Dart? Were the Curt hitch and wiring harness able to handle everything smoothly? Your update could make it easier for others trying to haul a bike with a compact car.

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