Increase max tongue weight for ebike rack

[ScottMc]

Hey,

I have a 2021 Wiltrak. I am looking for a way to beef up the hitch, particularly the max tongue weight. I have two ebikes and a hitch with a swing arm, and the 350lbs spec isn't good enough. The truck seems fine butI am a bit concerned that the back frame and hitch could twist. Any suggestions?

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[ohp138]

I'm assuming your e-bike's aren't class 1 and 2? I have an e-bike (50 lbs), a Kuat NV 2.0 bike rack (53 lbs), and also throw on my other MTB (28 lbs). Even if I had two 50 lb e-bikes, I wouldn't exceed the tongue weight limit.

 

[ScottMc]

I have a Kuat swing arm and a Piston. My understanding is that if you add an extender or swing arm the tongue weight is cut in half. The rack stop guys said there wasn't a rack that worked without at least an extender. one ebike is 67lbs, the other is unknown. The hitch shop said that the tongue weight is cut twice in half, once for the rack and once for the swing away, just trying to sort though it...

 

[MNBigfoot]

Depending what you are willing to spend, someone mounted the Braptor hitch that adds the two braces, but that requires a muffler relocation. Another option would be deleting the spare tire.

Bronco Raptor hitch DIY install with pictures | Bronco6G - 2021+ Ford Bronco & Bronco Raptor Forum, News, Blog & Owners Community

 

[OddBall88]

Can get yourself a LOD Offroad bumper. It’s ties into multiple locations on both the frame and crossmember so you wouldn’t have to worry about the hitch bending things.

 

[ohp138]

I have a Kuat swing arm and a Piston. My understanding is that if you add an extender or swing arm the tongue weight is cut in half. The rack stop guys said there wasn't a rack that worked without at least an extender. one ebike is 67lbs, the other is unknown. The hitch shop said that the tongue weight is cut twice in half, once for the rack and once for the swing away, just trying to sort though it...

I purchased the Yakima extender from Ford which brings the hitch out enough to clear the spare and it works great w/my Kuat. I understand the tongue weight max to be 350 lbs, so even if cut in half based on the extender, I'm still within a reasonable weight, even if I added a second e-bike, or at least close enough for me to be comfortable to use it. I can't answer for how to beef up the hitch, but I'll follow this thread to see what others did.

 

[ScottMc]

I purchased the Yakima extender from Ford which brings the hitch out enough to clear the spare and it works great w/my Kuat. I understand the tongue weight max to be 350 lbs, so even if cut in half based on the extender, I'm still within a reasonable weight, even if I added a second e-bike, or at least close enough for me to be comfortable to use it. I can't answer for how to beef up the hitch, but I'll follow this thread to see what others did.

Ya, I need to double check my info that the tongue weigh is 1/2'd by the swing arm, and then 1/2'd again by the rack. I can always strap the rack to the spare tire and/or roof rack for a heavier situation. The service guy at Ford did say that they had a guy twist a hitch from too much loading. Raptor hitch has the same part number as mine, so gonna pull out the caliber like that guy did.

 

[2DoorDan]

ETrailer.com sells a Draw-tite hitch for Broncos with max TW of 675 lbs. I got one to replace the stock hitch that is limited to 350 lbs. Works great. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/Bronco/2022/DT37GR.html?VehicleID=20226004594

 

[Texasliam]

ETrailer.com sells a Draw-tite hitch for Broncos with max TW of 675 lbs. I got one to replace the stock hitch that is limited to 350 lbs. Works great. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/Bronco/2022/DT37GR.html?VehicleID=20226004594

I almost bought that. Solves the tire issue, but it sure does reduce the departure angle. And it's going to look funny IMO. So I bought their kurt version. I know I'm probably going to need an extender for my e-bike carrier.

 

[2DoorDan]

Departure angle? What's that?

 

[ScottMc]

ETrailer.com sells a Draw-tite hitch for Broncos with max TW of 675 lbs. I got one to replace the stock hitch that is limited to 350 lbs. Works great. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Ford/Bronco/2022/DT37GR.html?VehicleID=20226004594

Agreed, just trying to address the twist it could put on the rear frame also. I'm looking at welding a piece along the length of the rear frame, or add a couple of frame stabilizing bars like they did in the Braptor.

 

[ebackwardse1]

Here is what I ended up doing for a recent trip from LA to Yosemite and Santa Cruz and it worked great with cargo basket and 4 bikes.
It does require the back roof off though.

 

[EDS]

Departure angle? What's that?

The attitude (angle) of the vehicle as it begins to climb an obstacle. As the front tires elevate, the rear bumper begins to get closer to the ground. Once the rear tires traverse the same obstacle or incline the angle is returned to level, relative to the vehicle because both axles they are on the same plane.

 

[2DoorDan]

It does require the back roof off though.

That's a lot of cargo!

 

[Wheelin72]

I use a hitch extender with a motorcycle rack to haul my off-road motorcycle on my Bronco. The motorcycle weighs about 225 lbs and the carrier weighs about 35 lbs. I have not had issues bending anything.

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