Will Installing A Class 3 Hitch Increase The Tongue Weight Capacity Of My 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid
Updated 04/15/2026 | Published 04/03/2026
Question:
Hello The tongue weight rating of a 2026 Honda CRV Hybrid is somewhere between 100 and 150 lbs. The towing capacity is 1000 lbs. If I buy a class III hitch for the 2026 Honda CRV Hybrid for the sole purpose of hauling around bikes, am I supposed to only be able to carry 150 lbs of bike + bike rack or is my limit higher than that since class III hitches can carry like 500 lbs of tongue weight? I tried googling around but there isnt a lot of information related to bike racks instead of towing. Thanks Chris
asked by: Chris G
Expert Reply:
Hey Chris, thanks for reaching out. Putting a higher rated Class III hitch on the CR-V does not raise the vehicle’s actual tongue weight limit. The hitch itself may be built to handle a lot more, but the real limit is still whatever Honda says the vehicle can safely carry at the rear of the vehicle. So if the CR-V Hybrid is limited to around 150 lbs of tongue weight, that 150 lbs needs to cover everything sitting on the hitch, meaning the bike rack plus the bikes.
That’s the part a lot of people miss. The hitch rating is not the same thing as the vehicle rating, and you always have to go with the lower number or lowest rated component, which in this case is the vehicles 150 lb TW rating. So if your rack weighs 40 lbs, that only leaves you about 110 lbs for the bikes. That’s especially important with e-bikes, because those numbers get eaten up fast.
Do you already have a bike rack you plan to use? What kind of bikes do you have?
(click to enlarge)
Don W.
4/9/2026
I have a 2024 CRV with the class III hitch. I use a heavy bike rack for two bikes and have no troubles. Also I have a shelf I put on to haul my snowblower around in the winter. The shelf holds the 26" snow blower and me with no troubles. I hope this information helps you.
Jesse M.
4/9/2026
Tooker H.
4/14/2026
Sweet Job Chris...I Insstalled a class iii on my 2017 CRV..etraileer video and instructions were spot on...really a simple install...looks and works great. Your etrailer hitch was a good choice on your part. Enjoy it. Tooker
Jesse M.
4/15/2026
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"
- Trailer Hitch
- For Towing
- Class III
- 525 lbs TW
- 3500 lbs GTW
- 2 Inch Hitch
- Concealed Cross Tube
- CURT
more information >
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Chris G.
4/8/2026
Thanks for the reply My bikes weighs about 40-45 lbs. I have a 2” tray rack that weighs probably near 50 lbs. What hitch would you recommend? Thanks!