Uses for accessory hitch?

[texastwostep]

Just wondering if anyone has found a good use for the accessory hitch. It is pretty much useless for bicycles as we all know. But it seems like I should be able to use it for something.

Anyone have some thoughts?

Walt

[RMcNeal]

The only thing I use mine for is to stow the rock tamers when they're not on the truck. I can remove the insert with them from the truck and put it on the 5'er and lock it down.

[RMcNeal]

Forgot to mention, we are considering getting kayaks so I may get a hitch receiver to tow them vertically if we do.

[Jamesb]

What size opening is yours? I thought they were all 2” receivers?

[jsb5717]

I found that the hitch wasn't all that useful. It's tucked under the coach so it requires some kind of extension to make it accessible. By then it has too much flex so too much bounce/movement. I tried a cargo deck in the 2" receiver, plus the extension. Way too much bounce.

It's just bolted on to the frame so I removed mine. I made my own fold up cargo deck that bolts in the same place. Almost no movement and now it's useful. The most I carry back there is 200-300lbs (usually less) and it's always ridden very well. I keep an eye on it with the rear view camera. Much better application for our needs. YMMV

[texastwostep]

The accessory hitch on my model is a 1 3/4 receiver and does not extend far enough out for a bike rack to clear w/o an extension. The extension pretty much halves the weight capacity, plus the way it is built is not (imho) strong enough to handle road stresses.

[432bartman]

Originally Posted by texastwostep

Just wondering if anyone has found a good use for the accessory hitch. It is pretty much useless for bicycles as we all know. But it seems like I should be able to use it for something.

Anyone have some thoughts?

Walt

We haul our two E-bikes with ours and have no issues

[texastwostep]

Some variations of the Montana come with a towing hitch receiver. I would guess you got the better one.

[DutchmenSport]

Yep, found a GREAT use for the hitch. It's not suitable for a cargo carrier or a bicycle rack carrier, but it does work absolutely great for this:

Hitch with nothing on it:



Hitch with something on it: What is that?



Here ya go:



Here's how I made it:











Of course, you can put your own license plate or personalized plate on there too. Anyway, it was a fun project to do.

[texastwostep]

Nice job!

[Andy Smith]

I use ours for an E-bike. We have two, but it doesn't seem sturdy enough for both so the other one gets disassembled and stowed in the pass through storage area. We've been all over the east coast so far and haven't lost anything yet. I do use a hitch tightener and supplemental ratchet straps to the ladder to minimize movement. It's a lot tighter than when I put the same rack on my truck, because I have to use a sleeve to adapt the rack to the 2" receiver on my truck, whereas the accessory hitch fits the receiver without any adapter.

[Wisconsin Retiree]

Wheel my generator up on an aluminum ramp/carrier and strap my bike upside down behind that. It all weighs less than the 300lb max hitch weight. I also add one of those universal anti rattle clamps to my receiver so the rack does not bounce around or rattle. It is rock solid. Everything is secured with heavy duty chain and lock to help slow the criminal type.



Amazon:
Trimax THC250 Universal Anti-Rattle Clamp Fits 2-1/2" Hitch, Silver

Amazon:
MAXXHAUL 70275 Aluminum Cargo Carrier | With 60" Folding Ramp | 53.5" x 29"

[rames14]

I think some are confusing the accessory hitch and the towing hitch. They offer both. We got the towing hitch. It also has the towing flat plug for a utility trailer.

[Jamesb]

Originally Posted by texastwostep

The accessory hitch on my model is a 1 3/4 receiver and does not extend far enough out for a bike rack to clear w/o an extension. The extension pretty much halves the weight capacity, plus the way it is built is not (imho) strong enough to handle road stresses.

I have never heard of a 1 3/4 receiver. I’m pretty sure I have every size available on the farm. You sure it isn’t 2 inch. Anyway, in a nut shell, class 1 & 2 hitch, (1 1/4 receiver) rated for 200 and 350 lb tongue weight. Class 3 hitch (2 inch receivers) ratings 300-800 lbs.
Your receiver should handle most accessories that you can imagine, 2-4 bikes, 2 e bike’s, generators, grills, and pull small trailers. Most bike carriers come available to fit without the bikes touching the back of the camper. Our hitch is underneath and never had to use an extension. The key to the receiver and hitched accessories is using a anti rattle device that will make any hitch rock solid. The stress from our rough highways disappear with a tight connection and no movements from the accessories. The folks that you see with the bouncing and out of control bike racks on the back of their campers, usually doesn’t last long. Gravity and stress usually removes them.

[team bradfield]

Originally Posted by rames14

I think some are confusing the accessory hitch and the towing hitch. They offer both. We got the towing hitch. It also has the towing flat plug for a utility trailer.

ours is the accessory "designer hitch" looks good but serves no purpose

[dieselguy]

Commenting on "Rock Solid with the anti rattle device" in above replies. You might want to follow someone else driving your truck and fiver down a typical US hi-way with your hitch loaded up. Evaluate what you see before your very eyes. Unless Keystone has really beefed up the mount in recent years ... there just isn't much back there to support anything. I've seen several owners dump the OEM hitch and have a dual receiver fabbed onto the rear frame ... then a carry rack mounted to the dual receivers. Much more stable.

[brooks340]

I bought an extension for the original receiver then welded it in place. It's now solid with limited sway. We carry bikes on it now with no issue.

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by rames14

I think some are confusing the accessory hitch and the towing hitch. They offer both. We got the towing hitch. It also has the towing flat plug for a utility trailer.

Here's the label attached to my hitch. No confusion here.

[Jamesb]

Ok, very confusing. I’ve never heard of an accessory hitch. My comments are only for our solid 2” receiver. Good luck OP.

[jsb5717]

Frankly, I don't know why they got rid of the OEM fold-up cargo deck on the HC's. It has far more practical use than the 2" receiver and it was much more solid. It also would have been fairly simple for them to offer a couple different bolt-on options in order to solve a broader base of applications. To me the 2" receiver is nearly useless except for very light duty use and still requires stabilizing to minimize excessive bounce or movement. Just my 2 cents worth...