How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Class and receiver size still decide which rack shanks fit — even when you never plan to tow.
Watch on YouTubeHitch for Bike Rack Only (Canada)
Hitch accessories
Only want a hitch so you can hang a bike rack in Canada, not tow a trailer? That is a common shopping question, and the answer is usually simpler than full trailer shopping. You still need the right hitch class and receiver size for your vehicle and rack, and you still have to respect tongue weight on the door sticker. You can often skip trailer wiring, brake controllers, and weight distribution until you actually tow. Here is the bike-only setup with the tray racks, covers, and locks we stock, plus free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Built for Canadian hitch shoppers. free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts.
Related reading: bike rack clearance tips, tilt access tips, and what hitch class do I need. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
Related reading: bike rack clearance tips, tilt access tips, and what hitch class do I need. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
How we shop a hitch when bikes are the whole job
Bike-only shopping still starts with the vehicle door sticker and the hitch class CURT lists for your year. Class 1 and Class 2 receivers cover many racks on cars and crossovers. Class 3 two inch tubes give more rack choices and easier cargo-basket days. Match the rack shank to the tube, or use the adapter sleeve only when the product page says it belongs. Tongue weight for bikes is real weight hanging behind the axle, so keep heavy e-bikes inside the hitch and sticker limits.
Step 1Confirm the vehicle has a CURT hitch fitment
Open your vehicle buyers guide or year lander before you assume every EV or car can take a receiver.
Step 2Match rack shank to receiver tube size
One and one quarter inch versus two inch is not interchangeable guesswork.
Step 3Respect tongue weight for loaded bikes
E-bikes and four-bike trays add up fast behind the bumper.
Step 4Skip trailer-only gear until you tow
Wiring, brake controllers, and weight distribution wait until a trailer enters the plan.
Official CURT videos for Canadian bike-rack shoppers
These clips come from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). Use them before you open a product page.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under each video.
How to Install a Hitch Pin
A plain pin holds the rack shank. Swap to a keyed hitch lock when the rack stays on overnight.
Watch on YouTubeCURT Install Techniques
Bike-only does not mean shortcut the hitch install. Torque and hardware still matter before the first loaded ride.
Watch on YouTubeAnti-Rattle Clamp
Empty receivers rattle less than loaded racks. If the shank chatters on the highway, look at fit and anti-rattle gear.
Watch on YouTubeOpen the bike rack and cargo carrier guide
Browse tray racks, folding cargo baskets, covers, and locks we stock for hitch-mounted bike and cargo days, with free shipping from Lots of Parts anywhere in Canada.
Open the guideWorth knowing. A hitch for bikes is still a hitch. Match class and tube size first, then pick the rack.
CURT gear for the job
CURT part 18085Two-bike tray rackTray-style two-bike rack for receivers. Confirm tube size and adapter notes on the product page.$433.93 CAD
CURT part 18087Four-bike tray rackTray-style four-bike rack for two inch receivers. Heavier tongue load when every cradle is full.$811.93 CAD
CURT part 18151Folding cargo basketFolding cargo basket with a two inch shank when the hitch is not carrying bikes that day.$262.03 CAD
CURT part 22272Two inch receiver coverFriction-fit cover for empty two inch receivers between rack days.$15.92 CAD
CURT part 22271One and one quarter inch receiver coverFriction-fit cover for empty one and one quarter inch receivers.$29.66 CAD
CURT part 23518Hitch lockKeyed hitch lock for securing a shank. Match pin diameter to your hitch.$37.70 CAD
CURT part 23504Right-angle hitch lockRight-angle hitch lock when bumper skin or a spare tire blocks a straight lock head.$39.81 CAD
| Topic | What we tell shoppers |
|---|---|
| Hitch class first | Bike-only still needs a CURT fitment and a class that matches the rack and the door sticker. |
| Tube size | One and one quarter inch and two inch receivers are not interchangeable. Match the rack shank to the receiver. |
| Tongue weight | Loaded bikes hang behind the axle. E-bikes and four-bike trays need math, not optimism. |
| What you can skip | Trailer wiring, brake controllers, and weight distribution wait until you actually tow. |
Related guides worth opening
Bike rack clearance tipsHatch and liftgate geometry with a rack aboard.
Tilt access tipsWhen tilt matters for weekly rear access.
What hitch class do I needClass before rack shopping.
Towing guides hubFull Canada hitch index.
In short: confirm CURT fitment, match tube size to the rack, respect tongue weight for loaded bikes, and skip trailer-only gear until a trailer joins the plan.
