Towing Cargo Box Information

There are a number of factors to consider when using the StowAway2 Towing Model. This document is a comprehensive guide to:

1) StowAway2 Towing Model
2) Towing Weight Capacity
3) Tongue Weight Capacity
4) Trailer Tongue Weight
5) StowAway2 Towing Model Carrying Capacity
6) Towing Model Compatibility with Trailers and Towed Vehicles
7) Towing Model Compatibility with Bike Racks
8) Will my proposed towing setup work with the Towing Model?

LakelandGear is the leading provider of hitch mount cargo boxes and racks.

1. StowAway2 Towing Model

The StowAway2 Towing Model is a fixed frame cargo carrier. Like other StowAway2 models, it features: 12.5 cubic feet of storage space, full-function tail lights, an automotive grade weather seal, a drain plug, and a 5 year warranty.  The Towing Model, however,  is the only StowAway2 Cargo Carrier that features an additional 2" receiver hitch to allow for the towing of a vehicle or a trailer.

The Towing Model weighs 68 pounds and should only be used on vehicles equipped with Class III or Class IV hitch receivers. Its dimensions are 49 L by 21 W by 24 H.

NOTE:  There is NO Swing Away towing model and NO 1.25" receiver hitch towing model.

2. Towing Weight Capacity

Towing Weight Capacity refers to the amount of horizontal weight a vehicles frame can safely support towing.  It is a reflection of overall vehicle strength and is integral in determining what type of hitch a vehicle can support.

The weight being towed plus the weight of the Towing Model and its contents should never exceed the vehicles Towing Weight Capacity.  To determine your vehicles Towing Weight Capacity, please consult your owners manual or contact your dealer.

3. Tongue Weight Capacity

Tongue Weight Capacity refers to the amount of vertical weight applied to a vehicles hitch that the vehicles frame can safely support.  It is a reflection of overall vehicle strength and is integral in determining the type of hitch a vehicle can support.

Tongue Weight Capacity is also integral in determining what you can safely tow with the StowAway2 Towing Model.  Add the weight of your StowAway2 Carrier and its contents together. This amount needs to be less than the Tongue Weight Capacity of the vehicle.  The Tongue Weight Capacity of a vehicle with a Class III or IV hitch is generally 350 pounds or greater.  To estimate your vehicles Tongue Weight Capacity, simply divide its Towing Weight Capacity by 10.

The weight of a Cargo Box is about 100 lbs.  If the Tongue Weight Capacity of your vehicle is 350 lbs, that means you can put 200-250 lbs of gear in your box.

4. Trailer Tongue Weight

Trailer Tongue Weight is the weight required to lift the tongue of the trailer from the ground to the receiver hitch.

These guidelines ensure that you do not exceed your vehicles Tongue Weight Capacity:

• The Tongue Weight of any trailer used with the Towing Model should not exceed 100 pounds.
• The Trailer Tongue Weight plus the weight of the gear in your StowAway2 Cargo Carrier should not exceed 200 pounds.

5. StowAway2 Towing Model Carrying Capacity

The cargo carrying capacity of the StowAway2 Towing Model ranges between 100 and 200 pounds, depending upon the tongue weight of the trailer or vehicle being towed.

To calculate the cargo carrying capacity of the StowAway2 Towing Model for use with your specific towing configuration, subtract the tongue weight of your towed trailer or vehicle from 200 pounds.

For example, if the towed trailer you are using in conjunction with the Towing Model has a tongue weight of 75 pounds:

Total Tongue Weight Capacity for the Towing Model	200 pounds
Less: Trailer Tongue Weight	- 75 pounds
Equals: Cargo Carrying Capacity of Towing Model	125 pounds

When towing a trailer with a tongue weight of 75 pounds, you can safely load your StowAway2 Towing Model with 125 pounds of gear.

6. Towing Model Compatibility with Trailers and Towed Vehicles

It is generally safe to tow most single axle trailers (snowmobiles, ATVs, jet skis, and waverunners) with your Towing Model.  The gross weight of the towed trailer should not exceed 1500 pounds.

When towing a vehicle with your Towing Model, the towed vehicles second axle will help to effectively distribute the weight.  It is generally safe to tow a vehicle with a gross weight up to 3,000 pounds.

7. Towing Model Compatibility with Bike Racks

Placing a bike rack into the Towing Models hitch receiver is not advisable. The weight of the bicycles and the weight of the bike rack, in addition to the weight of the Towing Model and its contents, will almost assuredly exceed most vehicle's Tongue Weight Capacities.  In addition, the added length of a bike rack attached to the back of a hitch-mounted cargo carrier raises safety issues.  If youre interested in transporting bicycles, we offer both a Bike Rack and a Bike/Cargo Rack combination.  If you wish to carry bicycles in addition to using the StowAway2 Towing Model, we recommend mounting your bikes on a roof top bicycle rack.

8. Will my proposed towing setup work with the Towing Model?

Before every Towing Model purchase, we will gladly dialogue with our customer to ensure that the proposed setup is safe for use with the cargo carrier. For questions regarding the viability of specific towing configurations for use with our Towing Model, please e-mail us with the subject line Towing Model Inquiry.  In the body of the e-mail, be sure to include your full name, the make and model of your vehicle, the size and class of your hitch, and the tongue weight of the vehicle and/or trailer that you plan to tow. LakelandGear.com Customer Service is available at 1-888-301-GEAR.