Frame cracking from bike racks on hitch?

[awp0]

Wow, I'm just catching up on all of this. Seems like no one is safe unless you have the EcoHitch or you're in Europe which apparently includes a coupler plate?

My Draw-Tite seems basically the same as the Curt. I like carrying bikes on my MachE, so I guess I have some thinking to do here......

Sponsored

 

[phalcomb]

No worries, all good. For these types of things I usually like to go through the dealer. Then it’s just one party you have to deal with, in this case they just didn’t have a factory solution.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you intentionally took the cheapest path. I was just pointing out the EcoHitch costs more, and it is probably worth the extra cost. Some people will take the cheapest path and then maybe regret it.

I agree with you regarding UHaul. They should carry the EcoHitch one, or one designed like it.

 

[amaranth]

damn it, bought a eco hitch after seeing all this.

 

[awp0]

damn it, bought a eco hitch after seeing all this.

I think that's a good choice. Probably worth it for the stainless receiver alone.

 

[Artful]

Platform Bike Rack, it's the Kuat Transfer V2.

As a fellow Kuat user, which capacity was your Transfer out of curiosity? I have a Sherpa 2 that is only 32lbs and the heaviest bike I haul on it is 32lbs but after reading all of this I'm considering welding up a reinforcement liner similar to the euro-spec hitch design.

 

[phalcomb]

It’s the Kuat Transfer V2. Thing is built like a tank. No issues with the rack, using it on my other vehicle for now and it’s solid.

As a fellow Kuat user, which capacity was your Transfer out of curiosity? I have a Sherpa 2 that is only 32lbs and the heaviest bike I haul on it is 32lbs but after reading all of this I'm considering welding up a reinforcement liner similar to the euro-spec hitch design.

 

[phalcomb]

3 bike version, I forgot to share that with you.

 

[Artful]

3 bike version, I forgot to share that with you.

Oh definitely, it's a solid rack, I was just doing weight comparisons. I intentionally stuck with a two bike lightweight version for this reason, anything more than two and they go on the roof. I often end up being the shuttle with six or seven bikes on for events. I need to look and see how involved pulling the bumper is, fabricating a piece of angle bracket to reinforce and distribute weight would be pretty easy and I'd be a lot more confident on rough terrain. Thanks for the info!

 

[bbulkow]

It's good for your situation but what do you do with a family of 4, you install a hitch with a hitch rack (not the platform type).

If I had a family of 4 I'd have a larger vehicle as my "all family" vehicle. My sister's family of 4 has an oddesy, the EV is a leaf.

 

[TheRock]

If I had a family of 4 I'd have a larger vehicle as my "all family" vehicle. My sister's family of 4 has an oddesy, the EV is a leaf.

Huh ? Don't need to have a bigger vehicle. It's enough space for us. We also have a Thule if we need additional space.

Bigger is not always better...

 

[Bayviews88]

As a fellow Kuat user, which capacity was your Transfer out of curiosity? I have a Sherpa 2 that is only 32lbs and the heaviest bike I haul on it is 32lbs but after reading all of this I'm considering welding up a reinforcement liner similar to the euro-spec hitch design.

We are hitch twins - I also have a Kuat Sherpa 2. This news has me very concerned and I am very interested in solutions to strengthen the hitch to prevent frame damage. I have only transported one road bike on my frame for about four months earlier this year, but would like to carry two bikes in the future without concern about permanent damage to the MachE.

 

[SteveMach-ee]

We are hitch twins - I also have a Kuat Sherpa 2. This news has me very concerned and I am very interested in solutions to strengthen the hitch to prevent frame damage. I have only transported one road bike on my frame for about four months earlier this year, but would like to carry two bikes in the future without concern about permanent damage to the MachE.

I think that if you have a Curt style rack the cheapest and simplest solution is to switch to the TorKlift EcoHitch and stick with two road bikes or two light XC mountain bikes. Stay away from ebikes unless you are over 75 .

 

[amaranth]

I think that if you have a Curt style rack the cheapest and simplest solution is to switch to the TorKlift EcoHitch and stick with two road bikes or two light XC mountain bikes. Stay away from ebikes unless you are over 75 .

Have a dualcrown DH bike that's 42lbs, will see how that goes on my new eco hitch. Kinda pain to install, but got it right and it looks pretty good.

 

[Bayviews88]

I think that if you have a Curt style rack the cheapest and simplest solution is to switch to the TorKlift EcoHitch and stick with two road bikes or two light XC mountain bikes. Stay away from ebikes unless you are over 75 .

Appreciate this advice - makes total sense to me. Of course, I was looking forward to MacGivering an Adamantium frame brace for the Curt hitch . Maybe I can get some money for the barely used Curt hitch too.

 

[awp0]

I attempted to inspect my hitch mount for frame damage since it's been 3 years, and of course instantly realized I'd need to uninstall the whole hitch in order to make that part of the frame visible (obviously). So I gave up. Instead I'll keep an eye out for sag or other signs of impending failure.

Personally, I think Curt and/or eTrailer (if you bought it there) should be made aware of this problem. My opinion is that the documented "200 lbs tongue weight" is misleading and incomplete for this hitch/car combo. If we can't safely carry two 50-pound bikes with a typical platform bike rack (totaling maybe 150 pounds altogether) because of the torque implications then IMHO this should be very clearly stated.

Sponsored