Hitch / receiver extension question

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.

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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.

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.

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