Hitch Recommendation to Carry Dirt Bike with 2007 Honda Element SC  

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The 1-1/4 inch hitches available for the 2007 Honda Element SC are Class I hitches with a 200 lb tongue weight rating. I researched the Kawasaki KLX 140 dirt bike and it weighs 205 lbs. Your existing hitch is overloaded with just the weight of the bike not including the weight of a dirt bike carrier. The use of an adapter such as part # HTAD cuts your existing tongue weight in half because it creates more leverage on the setup so that is not an option. Since the vehicle is not rated for a high tongue weight it is not a good idea to use a dirt bike carrier because all of the weight and the carrier will be on the tongue of the hitch. It is better to tow the dirt bike with the 2 inch hitch because the weight is more evenly distributed and not as much weight will be on the hitch itself.

I recommend switching out your 1-1/4 inch hitch for Draw-tite Class III 2 inch hitch part # 75659 and towing the dirt bike with a lightweight trailer. As long as your existing hitch is a bolt on hitch, you can unbolt the old hitch and bolt the Draw-tite into the same holes of the frame. I have attached an installation video for your reference.

The Element is not rated for a lot of tongue weight so it is a good idea to check your owner's manual before towing. You are only rated for the weakest component of your setup so if your vehicle is only rated for 150 pounds, you cannot use the hitch to its fullest capacity.

If you're going to tow the Kawaski on a lightweight trailer, you need a 2 inch ball mount with a rise because the vehicle sits lower to the ground. I recommend etrailer.com ball mount kit part # 989900. It comes with two different standard sized ball mounts and balls with the hitch pins. Once you get the trailer, one of the ball mounts will work for you. I recommend a hitch lock part # C23519 to lock the ball mount to the hitch.

You also need wiring for the Element to power the lights on a trailer part # 118465. The Tekonsha wiring harness plugs in behind the taillights of the vehicle without any splicing required. I have attached an installation video on a 2007 Honda Element for your reference.

expert reply by: Heather A

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