What Hitch Drop Adapter Do I Need for My Rocky Mount Backstage # RKY10002?

Question:

I have a Cadillac Escalade with a Rocky Mount Backstage Swing Away platform 2 bike hitch rack. I love the car and I love the bike rack! The problem is the height of the hitch on the Escalade causes the bike rack to sit really high! The bike rack will be hauling two e-bikes at about 65 lbs per bike and the the bike rack itself is about 60 lbs. By getting this hitch, Im thinking the bikes will be easier to unload because Im a 68 year old woman and not a 35 year man. Getting the bike up is not so hard because I have the throttle and a ramp to get it up on the bike rack. But, getting it down is a bit precarious. My question is, does this sound like a good use for this hitch? Is it engineered so that it can support the weight of the bikes and the bike rack? And will the hitch connecting to the car be wiggly and I need to purchase the bolt that will cause the wiggle to go away and will this make the whole thing stable? Hope you understand my description!! I would love to have your opinion.

asked by: Peggy S

Helpful Expert Reply:

Yes, you will be able to use the Roadmaster High-Low Adapter for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches # RM-048-8 for making your Rocky Mount Backstage # RKY10002 sit lower on the hitch. The only thing to keep in mind is that you will be cutting the hitch weight capacity in half. Since you have 130 pounds of bike weight and 60 pounds of weight from the Backstage, you will have a total of 190 pounds to accommodate on the hitch. Please note that the Rocky Mount Backstage is only rated for 60 pounds per-bike. I highly recommend finding a way to reduce your 65-pound bikes weight in some way, such as removing their batteries during transport.

It is important to check the specifications of your hitch to make sure that it can accommodate that much tongue weight with a 50% reduction. As far as a pin that will go with the Roadmaster adapter, I recommend the Gen-Y Iron Grip Anti-Rattle Hitch Pin for 2" Hitch Receivers # GY39FR. This hitch pin/lock will make sure that the adapter is stabilized during transport.

expert reply by: Bob C