Trailer Hitch Recess Distance?

I have the 2019 FX on order and will use a motorcycle hitch carrier to haul a Suzuki DR-Z400. The bike is 317lbs and the hitch carrier is 58lbs.

http://www.mototote.com/mototote-mtx-m3-motorcycle-carrier.html

http://www.mototote.com/receiver-tube-long-single-bike.html?RelatedID=78

It looks like I will need to extend the carrier out away from the coach due to the FX hitch is recessed under coach in relation to the coaches rear wall/cap.

The centerline of the bike/carrier will require ~17 inches of clearance so handlebar does not touch back wall of coach.

Anyone know the distance from hitch pin centerline to back wall of the coach, if you put a 4' level on back wall and measured bottom of level to hitch?

Moving the weight away from the coach will reduce the 500lb hitch tongue weight rating.

Thank you.

Not exactly answering your question....Like you, we are expecting the construction-arrival of a '19M-B/'19 Unity and (for the benefit of the Woundedpig, cue the name connection with yours, constructed spare tire carrier/bicycle rack receiver) I asked Don Klassen if the distance from the outside back edge of the receiver to the posterior edge of the bumper on the '19 U-TB had changed from the '18.

Below is his answer (indicating that it seems the distances on the backside do not appear to have changed from the previous generation 3500 cutaway chassis-coach).
"The distance is the same and they call that a “Drip” that is what the distance is referred to and it is 9”. This being the distance from the opening of the 2” hitch receiver to the furthest part of the bumper. Is 9”.

Given the above, the distance that U-Fx owner-members measure may provide you with some reassurance (or E-mail Don Klassen).

(I'm sure you know) Your set up is going to provide you with a very extended and low tail vulnerable to turf strikes.
BTW-The guys @ Spillar (south Austin location) do fine work but one does require patience.
https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62968

I can't answer your question about what length hitch extender you need, but with regard to the tongue weight reduction have you thought of adding 2 bolt on receivers, https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Cam...47a1rfIb_uWwtss6kTH_H2XquE7AL6ihoC74EQAvD_BwE, to your FX reciever cross bar? Add one to each end and then use long reciever tubes in those new hitch receivers and U bolt to your bike carrier to give you back the full tongue weight capacity of 500#, probably even more since the weight is being supported in 3 places from the reciever cross member. In addition, by adding these receivers on the outer ends you'll stabilize your bike carrier so it doesn't rock as it would if just attached in the middle of the load. I did a similar thing with my Gear Space 34 cargo carrier because the rocking actually caused the reciever/hitch tube bolt to back out and loosen, causing even more rocking.

Excellent ideas, I will see what works best once I have my hands on it, I was guessing it was about 8 inches recessed.

I will need the hitch skid wheels for sure. My gut feel is it will ride just fine with an extension, however, severity of failure is pretty significant here, so best to err on the side of caution.

Appreciate your input.

I used an 8" extension on my 2014 but I can't say if it's the size needed for the newer models

Where do you attach the other ends of the Lowes purchased tubes? At the cross-bars of the Twin Tube Assembly? Pictures would be great if you can...

On our 2016 TB the hitch is recessed approximately 8”. We are using a dual hitch extender from Harbor Freight and placing our bike rack in the top receiver for elevation. On the rack we are carrying a tadpole recumbent trike and an electric bicycle weighing approximately 200 lbs including the rack. We have also installed skid wheels which have saved our bottom (and macerator!) on multiple occasions.

https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html

SVidas, I'll have to go over to my storage location and take some pictures, but I screwed an L shaped bracket to the front cross member (near your red hash marks) and use U bolts and knobs with a nut in them (similar to this, https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-Replacement-Knobs/3013288) to hold the carrier to the new support bar. I didn't use the bolt on receivers as above, but I think they could be used to make a better system. I was thinking it might be easier to bolt on receivers and rework my design. I need to go take some measurements, but this is what I am thinking of trying to do. I would need to find a rise adapter that gives me the necessary rise to meet up with the carriers cross members. There are a number of inexpensive Rv bumper hitch mounts and a couple of designs to choose from on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Rv+bumper+hitch+mount&ref=nb_sb_noss_2. When the weather gets nice I'm going to look into changing my design to see if I can come up with something easier to stabilize my Gear Space 34, with the added benefit of increasing the tongue weight back to the original rating.

Hi Tannys - I am looking at your photo of the hitch extender installed on your Unity. What is the additional piece that is flush with the Hitch face and wraps around the hitch tube with bolts? Toni

toniM said:

Hi Tannys - I am looking at your photo of the hitch extender installed on your Unity. What is the additional piece that is flush with the Hitch face and wraps around the hitch tube with bolts? Toni

Click to expand...

It's an 'Anti=Rattle' clamp.

FYI the square cross tube on the Curt hitch is 2.5x2.5 inches. It is much smaller than a standard 4x4 RV bumper for which the bolt on receivers are designed. Many of the bolt on receivers will not even fit because they do not have enough thread length on the bolts to tighten down to 2.5 inches. I expect you would have to substantially de-rate to tongue weight they can handle because of the lesser clamping surface area on the tube and the likelihood that clamping load would be limited because the 9verhanging portions of the mount would simply bend beyond a certain point.

I looked without success for similar contraption s8zed to fit 2.5 inch stock.