Can I Use a Hitch Extender to Carry Two Bikes on 2000 Toyota Tundra with Sunlite Popup Truck Camper

Question:

We have a Sunlite pop-up truck camper that sits in the back of our 2000 Tundra. We like keeping the tailgate down with the camper in the bed as a nice ledge while camping. We want to transport our bikes total weight for both 70lbs but a itch mounted bike rack will not work with the tailgate down. Would any of your hitch extenders work with a swivel arm bike rack? We dont really go off-road, but do go down unmaintained roads for camping. Any ideas? Thanks!

asked by: Rebecca

Expert Reply:

Using a hitch extender like # HE18 on a 2-inch hitch will will extend your receiver by 18 inches when measured from the center of the hitch pin hole in the receiver to the pin hole in the extender. The downside is it will reduce your trailer hitch tongue capacity by 50 percent. So if your trailer hitch is rated for 500 pounds of vertical load, you will only be able to load 250 pounds on the hitch. You will need to take the weight of the rack, the adapter/extender and the bikes into consideration when calculating your tongue weight, but you should be fine.

Also,most Thule bike racks cannot be used with a hitch extender or adapter.

Another option would be a front-mounted hitch like # 65031, though these come with decreased visibility, reduced air flow to the radiator and they may block headlights.

expert reply by: Chris O