36" extention with 2" receiver question.

At 50 lbs tongue weight, I think you'll be fine. But just in case heres a useful link that can help guide you.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-determine-trailer-tongue-weight.aspx

3 tons

sorry double post forum gremlins strike again.

i am in the process of fabricating a 34" extension for 2 bikes and a rack with an entry step. will be using steel no aluminum and will over build with bracing and such. not too worried about the extension for my application or for light towing.

I agree wholeheartedly with those who recommend caution. I have a 33" extension on which I "only" carry two bicycles, but when you consider the weight of the bikes, the bike rack, and the extension itself, suddenly I have doubled what I think I am carrying, and the leverage is immense. I try not to use the extension all the time and I frequently inspect the receiver.

Im unsure what your trying to do-utlize existing hitch extension?
Tubeing linked is fairly (too) light at 1/8" wall, use at least 1/4" wall..
you mentioned shortening reciever 12"-the 2 1/2?"? So you need a 24" extension? Your expecting to insert about 18" of 2" inside 2 1/2" tube-good luck. Im gathering it doesnt have end reduced for insertion into 2" reciever? but was designed to fit into 2 1/2" reciever? Or your cutting off the 2" side-either way the more I think about it the end being adapted, use solid bar. (something like this) Will require welding.
With ball mount plugged into 24" extension on stock reciever-yes very quickly and easily overload..
Ideally with this kind of extension outer end would be 1 1/4" so no one could overload. What others do day in & out and never had a problem doenst mean- its safe or should be recommended.

Other than what you could do-monies spent on adapting I assume a fairly expensive extention into somthing marginal is saving for a better reciever-then cut to length?

I run a 42" torklift superhitch and wouldnt go any other way. Even with that monster of a hitch I limit to 10,000 pounds. If you are just putting a rack on the back, I would go with 3/16 minimum wall welded no seem astm rated tubing. stick 450 pounds on it without a problem.

A little more info wouldn't be bad - is this a static load like a bicycle rack, or are you towing and if so, what is the trailer weight?

But, given you say its only going to be 50lbs tongue weight, it should be fine.

But as others have mentioned - don't tow something even the slightest bit heavy unless it's a Torklift Superhitch. I'm one of the ones people hear about but never actually know - I had a factory Class V hitch fail.

I had a nice ski boat, about 5000lbs on a factory installed Reese hitch running a 48" extension. One day I went in to Superhitch to have my Torklift tie downs installed, and they pointed out that the welds on the receiver had cracked and only had about 50% of the weld left holding it on.

I turned white.

I didn't even think twice about fix/re-weld vs. replace. I immediately had it removed and bought a new Superhitch.

Funds were tight then for me too, but would have been even tighter had my boat flown loose off my truck and hit some minivan on the highway.

skipro3 wrote:
I attached 2 18" extensions together and it makes up a 36" extension. I use this to tow a small jet ski trailer modified to carry a kayak. Basically, an empty trailer with a kayak weight of under 100 pounds. Works great and handles well.

Also, 2 18" extensions is gonna be cheaper than a 36" extension.

I already own the extension. I had a 2.5 hitch on my Ford F250.

I like the clean look of the factory hitch, the new hitch mounts under the factory one.

Im also out of cash..lol.

The problem is that there are several hitches that have broken at the hitch mount. If you are carrying a very light load like 50-60 lbs, you can get by. However, if you plan to carry something heavier, do yourself a favor and upgrade your hitch to a 2.5 or SuperHitch.

wcjeep wrote:
Last I looked the longest recommend extension with factory 2" was 18" extension. Go Torklift SuperHitch and never worry about it.

X2