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

SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
If, say, you attach your trailer and the rear of your truck sags....the WD will bring it back up providing the correct weight transfer.....then what does the self leveling suspension do, if not the same thing?

No, not the same thing at all. Self leveling will make the truck look pretty and does help with carrying junk in the back of the truck when not towing but doesn't do a thing when towing as it doesn't transfer any weight back to the front steer axle as does weight distribution, which BTW also transfers some hitch weight back to the trailer's axle(s). Someday when you have the time you might want to wade through the Ron Gratz Thread - How Weight Distribution Works.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2018
Truck campers use WD hitches with extensions all the time if your hitch is up to it...

This is my 18"Reese solid bar extension that list weights for WD use.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
Air bags would fix that but of course won't transfer any weight back to the truck's front steer axle as will any weight distribution system.

I get the theory behind the WD hitch but I guess I'm not understanding it properly.

If, say, you attach your trailer and the rear of your truck sags....the WD will bring it back up providing the correct weight transfer.....then what does the self leveling suspension do, if not the same thing?

At the end of the day....all the trailer weight is still attached to your hitch point.
With WD the ball becomes a fulcrum. When lift (tension) is applied to the ends of the bars, it pries the weight forward, to the TVs front wheels.
This effect is real... It can be measured on a scale. Engage the WD, and the weight goes up on the front TV axles, and on the TT axles, while it goes down on the TVs rear axle.
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
Air bags would fix that but of course won't transfer any weight back to the truck's front steer axle as will any weight distribution system.

I get the theory behind the WD hitch but I guess I'm not understanding it properly.

If, say, you attach your trailer and the rear of your truck sags....the WD will bring it back up providing the correct weight transfer.....then what does the self leveling suspension do, if not the same thing?

At the end of the day....all the trailer weight is still attached to your hitch point.

Maybe not exactly.

First, there are 3 points of contact with the WD from just 1.

And the fact that it corrected a sag, it only means that the two massive bars provided a lift to the trailer. These two bars are snugly fit into the hitch adapter acting like an inverted hitch & ball.
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
Air bags would fix that but of course won't transfer any weight back to the truck's front steer axle as will any weight distribution system.

I get the theory behind the WD hitch but I guess I'm not understanding it properly.

If, say, you attach your trailer and the rear of your truck sags....the WD will bring it back up providing the correct weight transfer.....then what does the self leveling suspension do, if not the same thing?

At the end of the day....all the trailer weight is still attached to your hitch point.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
My RAM has a ClassIV hitch.
Class IV hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 1000 lbs.

SoundGuy wrote:
Thanks, that explains it. My '12 Silvy has a stock GM Class III hitch which is rated at just 5000 lbs gross weight & 600 lbs tongue weight weight carrying. :(

#1nobby wrote:
That is a factory installed hitch?

I wonder why so low....Engine? Trani? Gearing?

Was there an option to get a Class IV hitch?

Yep, factory installed - max trailer weight of 5000 lbs WC doesn't even meet Class III specs of 6000 lbs max WC but it's the standard hitch on GM's 1/2 ton series AFAIK. Upgrading to an aftermarket Class IV as you have would solve the rating issue but the truck's rear end would still sag noticeably when dropping 625 lbs of trailer tongue weight on the hitch ball. Air bags would fix that but of course won't transfer any weight back to the truck's front steer axle as will any weight distribution system.
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 13, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
#1nobby wrote:
My RAM has a ClassIV hitch.
Class IV hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 1000 lbs.

Thanks, that explains it. My '12 Silvy has a stock GM Class III hitch which is rated at just 5000 lbs gross weight & 600 lbs tongue weight weight carrying. :(

That is a factory installed hitch?

I wonder why so low....Engine? Trani? Gearing?

Was there an option to get a Class IV hitch?

My RAM has the complete factory tow package including the brake controller and mirrors. The trani cooler is upsized and it's running an 8 speed trani, 3.92 gears with the 5.7 Hemi.
With air suspension.
Seems to be a good combo for towing 5000 lbs.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 12, 2018
#1nobby wrote:
My RAM has a ClassIV hitch.
Class IV hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 1000 lbs.

Thanks, that explains it. My '12 Silvy has a stock GM Class III hitch which is rated at just 5000 lbs gross weight & 600 lbs tongue weight weight carrying. :(
Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Jul 12, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
#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. :@

Never thought of using WD previously as I've posted here being within weight limits and tow truck and trailer reasonably level.

But now I won't go without one specially with the thought that my safety, my family's and others on the road is resting on just my balls (yes, two balls with the sway bar).
_1nobby
Explorer
Jul 12, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
#1nobby wrote:
I'm not using a WD hitch. My trailer weighs 5000Lbs full and my truck self levels.

SoundGuy wrote:
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. :@

#1nobby wrote:
My Ram is good for 10140 lbs / 1100 tongue weight.
I think I'm good.

That sounds more like a weight distribution rating, not a weight carrying rating. Your RAM's hitch receiver is WD rated that high? :@

My RAM has a ClassIV hitch.
Class IV hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 1000 lbs.

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