Hitch / receiver extension question

You will need a Reese Titan Class V hitch for your truck, and your extension will work just fine provided your tongue weight doesn't exceed what is stamped on the extension, usually around 600 lbs.

Gman

Phil Hendrix wrote:

As some others pointed out in a previous thread, do I understand it correctly that the decision for a new hitch plays a part in making a decision on the brackets to secure the TC to the truck? (I am trying to determine what brackets to purchase)

Thanks much,
Phil

Torklift tie-down brackets are different for trucks with a Torklift hitch and ones without. I don't know if the Reese system is similar. Personally, I would get a Torklift Magnum hitch and use Torklift tie-downs.

Depends on what you plan to pull. Small boat or utility trailer is totally different than something bigger or heavier. But you can easily get a reducer from 2.5 inch to 2 inch. That is only going to work for a small light trailer though. You might just want to upgrade to a torklift superhitch, which I think will mean you don't need separate rear tie downs, just front. The time to decide that is now, otherwise you will have wasted the $ on the rear tie downs. With the superhitch you will still be able to use that extension within limits, but if you are towing much you'll have to go with the torklift double extension.

Thanks guys!...this is the kind of feedback I was hoping for...I wanted to gain the information about all the options so I could spend the money once the proper way. We don't really plan to tow anything large at this point, maybe small cagro/utility trailer for motorcycle and extra supplies. But then again, who knows, plans always change :)

Yeah, the extension you got was designed to fit in a 2.5" receiver.

Keep in mind that an extension derates the capacity of your receiver, and the longer the extension, the more it is derated. Even though that extension is probably rated for 600/6000, a typical factory 2" receiver won't be rated for that much with an extension.

If you have a good understanding of leverage, you can see why this works out the way it does. You're putting a big "cheater pipe" in your truck's receiver and giving the trailer a bunch of extra leverage, so it will act like a much larger trailer on the receiver.

You need to start with something super-beefy like a Reese Titan at the truck, which has an 1800lb tongue rating withOUT extension, to have a 600lb rating with the extension.

The extension absolutely does NOT attach to the camper in any structural way. You could "attach" it to the camper for storage, though.

Don't forget you will need an extension for the electrical cord.

A long hitch ext like you're getting requires a truss type hitch and sway braces without question.
I'm typically on the liberal side when it comes to weights etc but imo you need to think about the whole setup before getting a 11' slide in if you plan to tow. You'll spend $ on a good receiver for your truck, rear tie downs will be different likely for the camper and after all that you got a huge hitch extension. It's do able but not ideal imo.
Better have a lot of truck. You're into dually territory for sure the way you're headed with this.

Yep...gonna be cautious about using the hitch extension for sure....that much pipe sticking out there an additional 4' scares me. But since I got it and all the chains and tow wire free with the camper I just want to be able to use it when desired. And glad to know the hitch does not attach to the camper itself...was curious about that.

I already determined I am going to have to change out the class 5 hitch (only a 2" receiver currently installed on the 2001 Dodge 3500 dually truck). I know we won't be towing much anyway...but would like to know I can tow a small trailer with maybe my motorcycle or our honda civic 4 wheels down.

Any time the issue of hitch extension comes up, I always step up on my soap box. The issue of safety vs. extension has come up a lot, most recent recollection on this post.

To reiterate the TRUE story I always tell (and please understand, I'm rehashing this purely in the interests of safety).

My post on that discussion--

-------------------------------------------------

I *think* I'm safe to say I haul the biggest/heaviest combo on the TC forum. 2-slide Eagle Cap@~6800lbs, plus a 26' Wells Cargo 10k trailer. In my years, I've spent a lot of time and money on my truck and setup to get where I'm at, but I realize I still need a bigger truck.

My white knuckle experience came doing exactly what you're referring to. Years ago, I had an F250, hauling an average TC at the time, and a 20' ski boat ski boat @about 4500lbs. I had a 2 foot extension on a Reese Class V hitch. Didn't think I was doing anything wrong at the time.

Went in to Torklift one day in Kent to buy some rear tie downs. They inspected my truck, said sure, and they'd even install them for free.

OK.

20 minutes later, they came and grabbed me and said they refused to work on my truck.

ok.. why?

The hitch extension had made the hitch fail. There was a large crack running down the passenger's side mount bolts to the frame.

I turned white... One good hard bump and I could've had the hitch fall right out from under the truck. I immediately had them put on a SuperHitch and haven't looked back since.

The moral of my TRUE story - DO NOT guess, estimate, or figure you can safely run a hitch extension. Only a Superhitch is engineered and DOT approved to run a hitch extension.


....I now step off my soap box.

Curt makes a 2.5" receiver hitch rated at 18,000#.