Myechtatel

Hello, I have read that the towing capacity for this model is pretty low. Somewhere around 500 pounds. I don't plan on towing more than that and am wondering what kind of hitch I should get. A class 1 has a 2000lbs capacity and 250lbs tongue capacity. a class 3 is 3500lbs/350lbs. what I'm wondering is would there be any advantage to a class 3 on a vehicle that can't pull anywhere near the capacity anyway? would the tongue weight make a difference? I plan on using it to mount a bicycle rack and maybe a small trailer and motorcycle later on. any info or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

78F350

Read your owner's manual to verify the capacity, I'm pretty sure that it says 1500 lbs maximum. I pull a trailer with 2 Jet Skis. I got a Curt hitch from Amazon. Class III, Installs easily to existing holes in the frame. Well built and exceeds the capacity that you can use:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...III%20Receiver

Curt also makes a wiring harness for the trailer that plugs directly into the lighting harness on the CR-V.

dogbiscuit

If you look at the make of the class 1 its chinsy in my opinion. The class 3 is just built better to hold up stronger I would get the 3 just because of it having better mounting points

Myechtatel

ok i mean i dont mind paying a little more for the class 3 but i just don't see the point really. after doing some more research it seems the consensus is between 1000lbs and 1500lbs or more with trailer brakes. thanks. does anyone have any real reason to go class 3 though?

zrxdarryl

I bought my 01 CR-V with the intent of pulling my motorcycles on my trailer. I also looked into tow capacities before buying. I figured the bike plus the trailer and asst'd gear gets me right around 1K lbs. I used to pull that with a 96 Accord until it blew the trans last Sept at 268K miles. Prob towed at least 20 times a minimum of 250 miles round trip with that Accord. CR-V must certainly have better tow ability compared to the Accord, and I never had a problem right up until the trans let go. The CR-V is a manual btw.
As to the class III vs I or II, I'm going for the III - not worried about 20 or 30 bucks extra for the peace of mind while towing my bikes.
What I read was 1,000lb tow capacity.

vrc123

You won't regret paying a little more for the better hitch. As others have said, class I are usually really minimal hitches. When it comes to towing or heavy bike racks loaded with bikes, you don't want to be pushing up against specification limits!

Myechtatel

mine is an automatic. will that make a difference?

Pimptegr4

Automatic usually have better towing capacity, my 5 spd ranger can tow 3500lbs and the automatic can tow 5000lbs

Mrrobalo

I have a 2000 ex all wheel drive and went with the # 3 for piece of mind and more importantly I leave the ball on all the time just I case I am rear ended I will have more for the blow to go to the frame before hitting the sheet metal as well as the fuel tank. Also there are a lot more accessories . I have towed a fiberglass enclosed bike trailer with just a large TV in it for a friend and (850 lb total) no overdrive on & high test gas and it did it but she was laboring. I also have a dual axel alum boat trailer ( for 21" boat)that I have towed ( no boat on it ) and it did a little
Better but it was short distances. The other thing to be careful about is stoping as you don't
Want it to push the CRV especially on wet roads. I worked for a boat manufacture and over the years I have towed well over 1/2 mil miles so I do have a lil knowledge what one should be .

ian1006

Im also going to be looking for a class 3 hitch soon, seems like Amazon has the best deal for a Curt class 3 for 140 shipped. Ill also get a hitch basket to go on the back and I will be golden for camping and hauling firewood outside the CRV for a change. May get a small harbor freight trailer to go along with it.

bluehbcivic

dont haul 3000lbs if you did not reinforce the hitch, i saw too much crv rear end give up...

heres my setup

ian1006

bluehbcivic: what kind of roof rack do you have on your CRV?

Pimptegr4

Yeah but Im sure the H2B help on your towing capacity also, I must say im surprised the whole trailer and car is that low, is there an engine in the crx? Btw Pauline can suck it

qwrty

hiro did towed his delsol on gen1 too...




@bluehbcivic,
thanks for sharing those pics, youll be one of my reference now when it comes to Q's re towing
capacity of iur gen,1s...

bluehbcivic

yeah it helps alot! i used to tow my crx on a dolly with the b20 it was barely ok lol

yes there was en engine in the crx

ian1006

Just ordered a Curt class III from Amazon and lighting connector. Harbor freight also had a 500 pound capacity cargo carrier for 2 inch receivers for 37 bucks shipped with a 25% off coupon. 160 ish for the hitch and wiring is such a deal I couldnt pass it up and need the extra storage for camping and what not this summer.

civiceg94

This is my old 1 st gen i built the suspension to handle the dirt bikes i mounted on the rack and it handle it like a champ.

zrxdarryl

Guess my point was don't expect to tow 1000lbs forever with a high mileage 96 Accord automatic

Nice replies/pics - good info

fastrunner45

I always remember this pic

ian1006

Wow, that looks like a terrible idea...but you got to do what you got to do right?

ian1006

Ordered a class 3 Curt hitch off of Amazon for about 140 shipped the other day along with a 4 flat plug in connector and installed both today. The hitch is about 40 pounds and took me an hour by myself with a lift (so much easier to have someone help but no one was around this afternoon). The wiring connector plugs in behind the rear driver side speaker BTW.

You do have to drop three rubber exhaust hangers at the muffler but thats no big deal and gives you some extra room to work with. The Curt hitch is really nice and weighs in around 40 pounds or so. Be careful with the fishing coil they give you for the bolts, if you pull on it too much it doesnt fit tight around the bolts anymore and is hard to pull bolts through with. All in all it was pretty easy and I am really happy with it.

Pic of the hitch:


Pic of the basket I bought from Harbor Freight with a 500 pound capacity (not going to test out the max weight, this is mainly for a cooler and some firewood for camping). I used a 25% coupon I found only so it was less than 40 bucks shipped!

CivicVtec23

Glad I found this thread!!! I'm seriously considering a hitch and had the same questions on whether the class III curt was worthwhile. I feel it is, since it seems to be the only 2" receiver I can find.

Not to mention I feel more comfortable with the bulkier solid mounting points. Good deal, I was looking for reviews on the different hitches but couldn't find them...glad this thread was here!!

zrxdarryl

I got the class III Curt pictured above and towed the same trailer w/bike setup you see in post #5 (except different bike) from Boston to W VA and back - 1600 miles - no problems at all. Well, except going up all those hills had to downshift to 4th a lot just to stay above 60 mph.
Avg gas mileage w/trailer was just over 20, without it's getting close to 25.

Got to ride the Back of the Dragon in VA (among many other fantastic roads) on my ZRX - oh MAN what a road! It would be awesome in a car too, but badass on a bike.