Hitch and 300lbs on a Sedan?

[Maxx Mazda]

My '03 LX is my winter beater / occasional summer beater. I want a truck for my dirtbike, but I REALLY like the fuel economy I get with the Pro and cheap insurance. I found one of those racks to mount my dirtbike across the back, and a hitch that mounts to the frame that would support it.

Question is, combined weight of the rack and bike is like 300lbs. Think the Pro can handle it? I know it will haul it, but will I be draggin' frame on the way out to the mountains? I'm not opposed to stiffer / higher springs. I've got about 5 sets in my shed that I could try.

The bike itself is only 210 Lbs, it's a KDX 220R so 300 lbs is a worst case scenario weight of the whole assembly. What do you guys think?

[MaxPower]

The Protege is probably rated for a load of ~800lbs. My opinion is that a driver + 300lb. occasional load is fine.

[KZL_99ES]

you'll be fine!

[Maxx Mazda]

I havent done the math, but say the 300lbs is about 12" off the rear bumper. Because of leverage and all that, what does that equate to in weight over the rear wheels? I have a feeling I'll be riding WAY ass low...

[dmention7]

If I had to guess, I'd say you'd be riding pretty low in the back also. I'm imagining how my car sits with roughly 350lb of people in the back seat, and you're talking about holding almost that weight, about 4 feet further rear.

Unless you're driving on rough roads, however, I have a hard time believing you'll have any real problems though. I mean, it's not like you'll be riding on the bump stops or anything.

[Wagonbacker9]

do you have an objection to a small trailer? this would reduce the tongue weight from 300 to say... 30-50 lbs if you balanced the load, and only add maybe 100 lbs to the total load.

[Maxx Mazda]

No objection to trailer but thats about $400 more than the rack costs.

[Wagonbacker9]

look for a used one? I think thats a better option honesty... I think 1200 extra ft/lbs (estimating) over the rear axel is a lot... Could make for some really fun low-drivetrain-stress burnouts though! lol

[MaxPower]

You can always resell the trailer and regain much of what you spent on it, especially if you buy used. So, keep in mind it's not a sunk cost.

After reconsidering (a ~1200lb-ft torque is quite a bit), I'd rather spend a few hundred bucks on a trailer (which can always be resold) than risk damaging the struts/springs/frame/whatever of my car.

[Wagonbacker9]

i'm not a physicist or anything, but 300lbs 4' off the axel seems like it'd be 1200... its lifting weight off the front wheels i'm sure, but the question is how much... idk.

[Maxx Mazda]

Probably will end up going with a trailer guys. Found some cheap ones locally made for dirt bikes.

[Maxx Mazda]

Upon further consideration, for $200 total I can have the hitch and bike rack. I think I'm gonna go for it. I could give a shit if it rides low, my LX is no spring chicken. I simply dont have room to store a trailer, the rack I can dissassemble and put into the shed when I'm not using it. The P5 has taken up all my time lately, I need to get back on the bike!