Now what do we do? Hitch problems!

[RussM311]

Check with Etrailer.com... they have a couple of itches that may give you enough room for your bike rack.... Curts was one with a 4 inch drop

[coupevilleDF]

Originally Posted by RussM311

Check with Etrailer.com... they have a couple of itches that may give you enough room for your bike rack.... Curts was one with a 4 inch drop

I have same problem. I tried a couple of dual hitches from eTrailer and none have enough space to clear the surge brake unit on the dolly. Returning that atuff is big $$$. I took it to a trusted welder and had him cut the top receiver off and build me one with adequate clearance. Works great for either cargo rack or bike rack.

Our toad is a PT Cruiser so I was worried about dragging the bikes if I put them back there.

[HVAC Bill]

Another suggestion, A local welding shop could customize your double receiver or fab a new one to get the fit you need. I have had to fab my own, but I have the tools to do so.

2013 Palazzo 33.3

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by HVAC Bill

Another suggestion, A local welding shop could customize your double receiver or fab a new one to get the fit you need. I have had to fab my own, but I have the tools to do so.

2013 Palazzo 33.3

That is what I was thinking. Have a welding shop cut the hitch just before the bike holder. Then get a vertical extension and move the hitch up how ever many inches you need for clearance then reweld it.

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by Brockx

Building on BFlinn's comments if you start adding extension unto your hitch (away from the receiver) for your dolly and toad you are building tremendous side forces on your receiver.


edit
Adding a thought; I have a different style rack and a receiver on my toad. I have not done it yet but it will carry my bikes on the rear of the toad. Your rack is too long I'm sure due to the nose high attitude on the dolly but a weld shop and some gussets could likely remedy that.

At one time I would have agreed with you that it might be a problem but that was a long time ago. I designed a receiver mounted winch mount. The mount uses and old receiver hitch that I cut down and rewelded back to fit the winch. I wanted to have the winch where I could use it to winch stuff on to my heavy duty 18 foot flatbed trailer ( 12,000 pound carrying capacity) I made a 4foot long receiver hitch and drilled the end of it for a trailer ball. The receiver hitch goes through the winch mount and mounts into the truck receiver hitch. The hitch sticks out a couple of feet past the winch. I was worried about the stress but I routinely carry full size cars or pickups on that trailer with the winch attached in the mountains without any problems and have been doing it for years.

[Brockx]

The pivot point of a trailer is at the wheels a considerable distance from the hitch. The effort to move the tongue (hitch-point) will be much less than the effort to turn a loaded dolly. Trailers and dollies are different animals.