Hitch carrier max weight

What is the load rating term for the hitch carrier say when you have a bike rack on it?

I want to know the max load it can support.

 

Did you check your owners manual?

 

It can hold more bikes than you have....

650lbs or roughly 20 heavy mountain bikes.

 

Check out page 16 of this PDF for tongue load numbers.

https://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2016-toyota-Tacoma-Technical-specs.pdf

 

How long the rack is would reduce the overall weight possibly held up by the hitch. Some bike racks stick out 4 feet off the back, and that's a lot of leverage.

 

This is a lot different than the weight being directly at the hitch ball.

 

Thanks, so tongue weight is what I was looking for.

I’m looking at a 6 bike 120lb rack and average bike when I shuttle is 40lbs so it looks like it’s okay but haha still over payload anyways. I really need to get a full size.

 

You should be fine with one of those. They keep the weight much closer than those 4 bike racks that stick way out there.

 

To give you some piece of mind, this mini bike is about 140lbs and the carrier weighs 100lbs. I haul it in the winter as this is my ice fishing transportation.

 

It’s no more leverage than a trailer with 4000lbs on it

 

Tongue weight the truck is rated to handle is based on a hitch like this:




Not like this:

 

Now think about the physics behind that. Your weight from the bikes are not focused at the extended point. You will still see more tongue weight from a heavy trailer than even the leveraged weight of a bike. 500lbs of tongue weight is still 500lbs of tongue weight. It doesn’t matter if that number is from 100lbs leveraging on a 3’ bar or 500lbs dead on

 

The majority of a trailers weight is born by the trailer axles. Tongue weight is minimal in comparision.

 

The weight from the bikes is centered roughly directly between the bikes, so that is the point where the leverage matters. In this case, that's around 3 feet from the back of the truck. That is a massive difference. (talking about the pictures I supplied)

A dumbed down example from Curt's website:
"Additionally, it is important to consider the leverage placed on your receiver hitch and vehicle by heavy cargo. As a general rule, the use of extenders (and hitch adapters) can reduce the tongue weight capacity / vertical load capacity of your vehicle’s receiver hitch. Extenders under 12” long reduce load capacity by 25%, and extenders over 12” reduce load capacity by 50%."

 

We are arguing the same thing in different languages

 

Depends how far forward you put your weight and how far back the trailer axle is. I can load 2000lbs closer to the hitch than the trailer axles and have a disproportionate tongue weight

 

You do that. Have fun!

 

I never said it was a good idea. But it’ll be fun until it’s not

 

It would be like driving like this, even on straight roads.