I know many of you have said in the past you have trailers with tongue extensions instead of a hitch extension. So those of you who do this how long is your tongue and how much does your camper overhang. What is your setup?

deltabravo wrote:Look for the video of the guy that has destroyed at least two Ford trucks with his heavy Okanagan camper and extremely long trailer tongue.https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28079284/

If you don’t understand the physics....

I'll sing a bit different tune than Delta. Currently we have 17 trailers..so I'm new at this. But...I have a 48" extension on the TC truck. It puts the joint right at the rear of the camper overhang.Four of the trailers get pulled by the TC rig. One's a boat; narrow front end, standard tongue, works great. One is a short snowmobile trailer (box). The tongue is approx. 5' long stretching from the 'V'. Works great..and it was standard.The other snowmobile trailer is a blunt front end; we extended the tongue 24". Without it, the trailer would hit the camper while turning in a lock turn. Trailers literally create a 90 degree corner, even while going forward. The last trailer is our 'support' rig (lack of a better term). 20' box, I had the thing built with an additional length, which is 6' total(it's a standard upgrade/option when ordering). That allows the same movement needs as the others.Without the adjustments (extensions) the trailers would hit the camper in tight turns, which of course would be a given backing up too. There is no down side other than a slightly longer trailer. When one gets up around 34'+, it really doesn't matter.I have considered and would if needed, go longer and shorten the extension some. It would allow a slightly higher tongue weight (shorter extension) but there are things to watch for that also.For towing, most won't notice the difference if the joint is directly at the rear of the rig, or in a foot or so. Backing...it changes things a bit but I dare say most don't get into situations where it would matter.That's clear as mud, yes??

Reality Check wrote:I'll sing a bit different tune than Delta. Currently we have 17 trailers..so I'm new at this. But...I have a 48" extension on the TC truck. It puts the joint right at the rear of the camper overhang.Four of the trailers get pulled by the TC rig. One's a boat; narrow front end, standard tongue, works great. One is a short snowmobile trailer (box). The tongue is approx. 5' long stretching from the 'V'. Works great..and it was standard.The other snowmobile trailer is a blunt front end; we extended the tongue 24". Without it, the trailer would hit the camper while turning in a lock turn. Trailers literally create a 90 degree corner, even while going forward. The last trailer is our 'support' rig (lack of a better term). 20' box, I had the thing built with an additional length, which is 6' total(it's a standard upgrade/option when ordering). That allows the same movement needs as the others.Without the adjustments (extensions) the trailers would hit the camper in tight turns, which of course would be a given backing up too. There is no down side other than a slightly longer trailer. When one gets up around 34'+, it really doesn't matter.I have considered and would if needed, go longer and shorten the extension some. It would allow a slightly higher tongue weight (shorter extension) but there are things to watch for that also.For towing, most won't notice the difference if the joint is directly at the rear of the rig, or in a foot or so. Backing...it changes things a bit but I dare say most don't get into situations where it would matter.That's clear as mud, yes??So do you use the hitch extension with the trailers that have extended tongues?

Cargo trailers with tongue extensions | Good Sam Community

zcookiemonstar
Explorer
Feb 02, 2020
Grit dog wrote:
^Truck is short and loaded with a camper. Looks like the right hitch offset from the pic.

I didn't notice anyone saying it was wrong
burningman
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2020
adamis wrote:
I undertook this project for my cargo trailer. I asked a welding shop to make the tongue extendable so that I could eliminate the hitch extension. The result is a tongue that can be extended ~3ft to reach my hitch under the camper. All I have to do is pull a pin on the trailer, slide the tongue out the 3ft and then put the pin back in.

Granted... This idea works only on campers like my Bigfoot where the bottom of the camper is flush with the bed of the truck. Other extended campers tend to have lower overhangs which would prevent this from working. I have been very happy with this setup and I have hundreds if not thousands of miles with it so far. If you have a trailer that you are going to be towing on a regular basis with the truck and camper combination, this is certainly worth considering if your setup allows for it.

[/be quote]

That is fantastic. That’s how dump truck trailers work, except they do it just to increase their bridge when loaded.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 01, 2020
^Truck is short and loaded with a camper. Looks like the right hitch offset from the pic.
adamis
Nomad II
Jan 31, 2020
My truck is 2WD so it doesn't have a lift which would require the drop ball mount.
zcookiemonstar
Explorer
Jan 31, 2020
adamis wrote:
I undertook this project for my cargo trailer. I asked a welding shop to make the tongue extendable so that I could eliminate the hitch extension. The result is a tongue that can be extended ~3ft to reach my hitch under the camper. All I have to do is pull a pin on the trailer, slide the tongue out the 3ft and then put the pin back in.

Granted... This idea works only on campers like my Bigfoot where the bottom of the camper is flush with the bed of the truck. Other extended campers tend to have lower overhangs which would prevent this from working. I have been very happy with this setup and I have hundreds if not thousands of miles with it so far. If you have a trailer that you are going to be towing on a regular basis with the truck and camper combination, this is certainly worth considering if your setup allows for it.

Interesting setup. I am surprised to see that your ball mount is set up in a rise position. Most trucks that I have noticed always have a drop ball mount. You must have a tall trailer.
adamis
Nomad II
Jan 30, 2020
I undertook this project for my cargo trailer. I asked a welding shop to make the tongue extendable so that I could eliminate the hitch extension. The result is a tongue that can be extended ~3ft to reach my hitch under the camper. All I have to do is pull a pin on the trailer, slide the tongue out the 3ft and then put the pin back in.

Granted... This idea works only on campers like my Bigfoot where the bottom of the camper is flush with the bed of the truck. Other extended campers tend to have lower overhangs which would prevent this from working. I have been very happy with this setup and I have hundreds if not thousands of miles with it so far. If you have a trailer that you are going to be towing on a regular basis with the truck and camper combination, this is certainly worth considering if your setup allows for it.
noteven
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2020
In class 8 trucks when you increase wheelbase or axle to hitch point on a trailer weight distribution from one end to the other is “quicker” as cargo is moved. With a short vehicle the effect is less. Something to do with lever and beam math which is above my pay grade.

I’m not sure if rv’s is the same....
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 24, 2020
Euro trailers are typically centered single axle with the greatest weight over the axle. They are very well balanced teeter totters that require much more care in how you load them with personal gear. Trailer shocks are not going to help fishtailing. You may want take your ideas about trailers to the appropriate forum section for additional feedback.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2020
noteven wrote:

It’s the rv world that like a great long wind vane of body work stuck out behind the axles so the trailer sways and tries to steer the tow vehicle.

There is much more in engineering than just rear overhang.
Why 25' TT in Europe can be towed by 3000 lb sedan, when they need 3/4 tons pickup and WD bars in America?
European trailers are build lower and usually have some kind of shock absorbing systems.
Lack of shock absorbers make for easy fishtailing.
noteven
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2020
My 40” Canadian tape measure engineered extension is 2-1/2” x 1/4” that fits the 2-1/2” receiver and accepts 2” hitch draw bars. It is sleeved inside with 2” x 1/4”. It is steadied by horizontal sway chains and turnbuckles to fittings on the end of the 20K receiver hitch on the truck. It is carrying approx 400lbs of tongue load/approx 3600lbs tandem enclosed trailer. I haven’t weighed it but is not anywheres near 200lbs when you pick it up to rig for towing.

Yes extending a trailer wheelbase hitch point to axle(s) centerline makes it more stable - that’s why boat trailers and goose neck stock / cargo trailers tow so nice.

It’s the rv world that like a great long wind vane of body work stuck out behind the axles so the trailer sways and tries to steer the tow vehicle.