I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physicsSo....back it goes.

#1nobby wrote:I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physicsSo....back it goes.You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issue

EZ Lift WD system have a longish tow bar. And adds towing capabilities -- including the tongue weight.

Huntindog wrote:#1nobby wrote:I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physicsSo....back it goes.You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issueYes. This is correct and what I do. It took me a lot of research to find this answer when I was looking. Etrailer sells extended stingers that do not reduce your capabilities. The reduction from using extensions is due to the weld joint. The weld joint does not exist with extended stingers.

Huntindog wrote:#1nobby wrote:I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physicsSo....back it goes.You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issueI'm not using a WD hitch. My trailer weighs 5000Lbs full and my truck self levels. I have 0 issues towing except for the space between truck and trailer.

I returned the extender today. I'll live without it.Just gotta be careful on the jackknifes:)Which, ironically brings me to another side of the story.I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and thought I was being careful.Turns out NOT.I removed my TV tail light assys. to spray some rustproofing today and lo and behold....the RH lens was cracked!Pretty sure from the reversing jackknife.2017 Ram tail light lens? Well....they don't sell just the lens....they only sell the complete assy.Out the door @ $432.00 CAD.OUCH.

Hitch Extender | Good Sam Community

Huntindog
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)

Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.

Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physics

So....back it goes.
You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.

You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issue
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
EZ Lift WD system have a longish tow bar. And adds towing capabilities -- including the tongue weight.
boosTT
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
Huntindog wrote:
#1nobby wrote:
I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)

Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.

Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physics

So....back it goes.
You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.

You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issue

Yes. This is correct and what I do. It took me a lot of research to find this answer when I was looking. Etrailer sells extended stingers that do not reduce your capabilities. The reduction from using extensions is due to the weld joint. The weld joint does not exist with extended stingers.
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
Huntindog wrote:
#1nobby wrote:
I bought a 14" hitch extender today as I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and almost took out a tail light:)

Turns out....the extender REDUCES tongue and tow weight by 50%.

Makes sense....but I didn't even consider those physics

So....back it goes.
You cannot use a hitch extender with WD.

You CAN get a longer drawbar, and if it is used with WD, your weights are not reduced.... This will cost more, but may solve your issue

I'm not using a WD hitch. My trailer weighs 5000Lbs full and my truck self levels. I have 0 issues towing except for the space between truck and trailer.
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
I returned the extender today. I'll live without it.
Just gotta be careful on the jackknifes:)

Which, ironically brings me to another side of the story.

I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and thought I was being careful.

Turns out NOT.

I removed my TV tail light assys. to spray some rustproofing today and lo and behold....the RH lens was cracked!

Pretty sure from the reversing jackknife.

2017 Ram tail light lens? Well....they don't sell just the lens....they only sell the complete assy.

Out the door @ $432.00 CAD.

OUCH.
mhsmith
Explorer
Jul 11, 2018
I have the extended hitch bar but for a different reason...to open the tailgate when connected. Tailgates are getting taller(longer) on these trucks.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
I returned the extender today. I'll live without it.
Just gotta be careful on the jackknifes:)

Which, ironically brings me to another side of the story.

I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and thought I was being careful.

Turns out NOT.

I removed my TV tail light assys. to spray some rustproofing today and lo and behold....the RH lens was cracked!

Pretty sure from the reversing jackknife.

2017 Ram tail light lens? Well....they don't sell just the lens....they only sell the complete assy.

Out the door @ $432.00 CAD.

OUCH.

About $110 CAD on Rockauto for "OE new".
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 12, 2018
wnjj wrote:
#1nobby wrote:
I returned the extender today. I'll live without it.
Just gotta be careful on the jackknifes:)

Which, ironically brings me to another side of the story.

I was in a tight spot a couple of weeks ago and thought I was being careful.

Turns out NOT.

I removed my TV tail light assys. to spray some rustproofing today and lo and behold....the RH lens was cracked!

Pretty sure from the reversing jackknife.

2017 Ram tail light lens? Well....they don't sell just the lens....they only sell the complete assy.

Out the door @ $432.00 CAD.

OUCH.

About $110 CAD on Rockauto for "OE new".

That certainly is cheaper. Although online in Canada they are not AS cheap....but still cheaper.

Here's my personal problem....if the truck was 4 years or older with higher mileage.....I would probably go with an aftermarket.

But my baby is only one year old and low mileage....so I feel the need to keep it whole.

I'm an idiot.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 12, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
I'm not using a WD hitch. My trailer weighs 5000Lbs full and my truck self levels. I have 0 issues towing except for the space between truck and trailer.

Boy, I'd love to forego WD and just tow my 19' Coachmen off the ball but my '12 Silvy drops just too much when I drop 625 lbs of average gross tongue weight on it. That, and the GM hitch receiver is rated at 5000 lbs / 600 lbs weight carrying. So a question - although your truck "self levels" 13% of 5000 lbs average gross trailer weight is 650 lbs of average gross tongue weight - is your hitch receiver rated for this much? Just asking. :@
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
That certainly is cheaper. Although online in Canada they are not AS cheap....but still cheaper.

Here's my personal problem....if the truck was 4 years or older with higher mileage.....I would probably go with an aftermarket.

But my baby is only one year old and low mileage....so I feel the need to keep it whole.

I'm an idiot.

I totally agree about OEM and the one I listed was “OEM new” which Rockauto says is the same part as the assembly line. When I needed a taillight for a couple year old Yukon I was faced with a much larger difference in price. I ended up with aftermarket and it matched OEM 100 percent and even came with all of the bulbs and the wiring harness for a fraction of OEM. Worst case I was going to replace the other side if the appearance was off.

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