Extended Receiver Hitch

Kayteg1 wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

Easy solution is install a Torklift SuperHitch. Your factory hitch will not handle a 5 foot extension with 7000lb trailer.

You don't need a 5 foot extension anyway. There is no camper that extends 5 feet past the rear of the truck. At most you need 4 foot. As long as the ball is even with the rear of the camper, you will not have trouble.

Even with 4 foot, best option is to install a Torklift Superhitch. Very different from my situation where a few inches would be enough.

My truck originated as cab & chassis and I don't think any of Superhitches will fit.
I converted it to regular bed (actually I have Dodge bed on Ford and the frame stick behind the bed, where factory hitch bolts to.
I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch, but being unique is not making it easy and I don't see 2.5" supertruss anywhere.
The extra extension length might be needed since I put my TC with about 16" space on front of the bed for carrying junk.

Easy solution? Is there such a thing?
Cab and Chassis? No Problem. My 1999 F550 rear frame 34 inches wide. F350 is 2 inches wider I believe. I had a welder narrow the super truss. If you have seen the hitch you will see how easy it is to narrow and not destroy the integrity of the hitch.
Bought mine off craigslist for $500.00. It was off a F350. Came with tie downs and 48" extension. Required to tow when the 96 11 foot Caribou is on the truck. Camper is 11 Ft.

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

I don't believe a single 2.5" receiver will ever be strong enough for a 7000# trailer on a 5' extension , even if you slip a 2 x 2 tube inside . Some serious engineering would have to be done on the whole system , the hitch , its connections to the truck , etc. , etc. . The super truss 60" is rated 1000# tw , 10000# trailer wt , WITH weight distributing hitch .

Matthew_B came up with an interesting hitch extension that you can find in the TC University , however I don't think it was calculated as to its capacity . It may give you food for thought .

I have no doubt that a that a 5' extension could not be made that is suitable , it depends on how much effort you are willing to put into it and how much engineering skills you have or are available to you .

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

Remove Factory hitch, install Superhitch. That's the easiest solution.

I run a Superhitch on my dually along with a 21" extension.

I have an extended trailer tongue on the car trailer that I tow behind the camper (60"). I think it is a good solution because it keeps the pivot and load point closer to the rear axle. This reduces the leverage due to weight and from crosswinds. I covered the tongue area with grating so that it is a handy step to get into the camper. We don't even bother to unhook unless we will be staying more than a day. When backing up, the extended trailer tongue keeps the camper from hitting the trailer on sharp turns. I moved the electric jack back to near the trailer body, it works just fine back there and this leave more room to get into and out of the camper while hooked up. I suggest you locate a competent fab shop and get a price that you can compare to the price of other solutions. For the same money, I would go for the extended tongue. It's simpler if nothing else.

There are several makers of 2.5" hitch extensions that go up to four feet in length like Reese and Curt but like others have said, they loose capacity fast and I would not trust a 7,000lb trailer on a factory hitch with a long standard extension. Go with Tork Lift! I purchased a Curt 3 foot extension and use it on my factory 2.5" hitch but I'm only towing a trailer that is less than 700lbs when fully loaded so I am not concerned.

mkirsch wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:

I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch

If you know that much about engineering, then coming up with a 5' hitch extension that won't fold like a drinking straw should be easy for you.

Nobody but Torklift makes anything that long, let alone with the capacity you need.

Reese makes a 48" extension for their Titan hitch:
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Reese/RP45018.html
Except, it maxes out at 7000lbs with weight distribution.

The problem is that I can't find rated 2.5" tubing.
I build 3' extension in 2" size years ago for towing TT while having long load on flatbed and that worked very well.
I have a welder and was working in metal fabrication years ago, so that is breeze once you find material.
What I did on the extension in the past was making solid angle support that not only stiffened the extension sideways, but also took some of the vertical load.
The chains I see made by factory make not much sense to me.
So for me it all boils down where to find heat-treated 2.5" tubing.
That beside fact that I am busy with other things and would rather pay for good design.

Bedlam wrote:

~DJ~ wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:

I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch

Do you realize you're comparing a single 2 1/2" receiver to TWO 2" receivers?

And do you realize the Magnum line uses a 2.5" AND 2" receiver under it?

SuperHitch Magnum 30K

"... It uses our patented dual receiver design (2-1/2" upper and 2" lower) high ..."

~DJ~ wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:

I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch

Do you realize you're comparing a single 2 1/2" receiver to TWO 2" receivers?

And do you realize the Magnum line uses a 2.5" AND 2" receiver under it?

We put in a Tork Lift super hitch to tow a jeep, but we also had to replace the rear Tork Lift tie downs, since the ones for the Super Hitch are different from the tie downs that attach to the Ford OEM hitch. The Tork Lift rear tie tie downs attach to the hitch frame.

Kayteg1 wrote:

I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch

If you know that much about engineering, then coming up with a 5' hitch extension that won't fold like a drinking straw should be easy for you.

Nobody but Torklift makes anything that long, let alone with the capacity you need.

Reese makes a 48" extension for their Titan hitch:
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Reese/RP45018.html
Except, it maxes out at 7000lbs with weight distribution.