I've checked out the options for hitches on etrailer.com for my '08 Mazda5. I don't plan to tow, it's only for attaching a four-bicycle carrier (Thule I think). Fully loaded it would probably be 150 lbs (the hitches are all rated at 200 lb tongue weight). They are "Class I" hitches but I used this bike carrier with a Class II hitch on my prior vehicle.

Any reason to believe that a carrier with that weight bouncing on the hitch would impact stability of the vehicle? I used the carrier previously no problemon a Saab 9-5 which is a much heavier vehicle, but the Saab had a Class II hitch.

Thanks for any insight into this. I just don't have a good feel for it...

 

Hi again,

I can confirm that a loaded, four bike carrier has no effect on stability. My carrier clamps to the 50mm ball of the towing hitch. We use one regularly (three adult bikes and one child's)through all types of road. My only concern with my carrier, is that the cycle pedal of the inside cycle is quite close to the tailgate, but the swan neck towbar supplied by Mazda is not very long.

Dave