I just got a new truck and trailer. The tailgate hits the power tongue jack if I try to lower it while hooked up to the trailer. On my old set-up I turned the power jack and that gave me enough clearance. This set-up needs more clearance than that would give me. I have a 2 1\2 inch receiver hitch with a 2inch insert. I'm thinking of buying a short 2 1\2 to 2 hitch extender. How would that affect my driveability and safety. I'm thinking it might give me the ability to turn an back up at sharper angles.

Have you considered, maybe a longer shank?

I think a longer shank as handye9 has suggested would be the way to go. It would be a 2" solid solid steel shank where a hitch extension would just be a tube. I would think the tube extension would be more prone to bending/breaking than the shank would be.

roaminaround wrote:I just got a new truck and trailer. The tailgate hits the power tongue jack if I try to lower it while hooked up to the trailer. On my old set-up I turned the power jack and that gave me enough clearance. This set-up needs more clearance than that would give me. I have a 2 1\2 inch receiver hitch with a 2inch insert. I'm thinking of buying a short 2 1\2 to 2 hitch extender. How would that affect my driveability and safety. I'm thinking it might give me the ability to turn an back up at sharper angles.Any time you move the load farther away from the rear axle. You change the dynamics. It will move the tongue weight back away from the rear axle, and could cause sway. The reason 5ers tow so well is that their pin / tongue weight is over, or forward of the rear axle. And if you will notice. Most trucks are putting their rear axles closer to the back than they once did, to create a shorter overhang. A short over hang is much better for towing. Extending the hitch will in effect create a longer rear overhang.

I added a 6" longer shank to mine several years ago. I did notice the handling characteristics changed, but it still tows just fine.

you could get a longer shank. Be aware that usually extending the shank usually reduces the max Dead weight and weight carrying rating on the reciever. If it's short, probably not much. IMHO I would NOT use a 2 1/2 to 2" hitch extender! If it is what I think you are refering to you will end up with a hollow tube in the reciever. NOT what you want. They are usually for a bicycle carrier or something similar.

Hitch extension | Good Sam Community

Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2019
roaminaround wrote:
I just got a new truck and trailer. The tailgate hits the power tongue jack if I try to lower it while hooked up to the trailer. On my old set-up I turned the power jack and that gave me enough clearance. This set-up needs more clearance than that would give me. I have a 2 1\2 inch receiver hitch with a 2inch insert. I'm thinking of buying a short 2 1\2 to 2 hitch extender. How would that affect my driveability and safety. I'm thinking it might give me the ability to turn an back up at sharper angles.

Any time you move the load farther away from the rear axle. You change the dynamics. It will move the tongue weight back away from the rear axle, and could cause sway.
The reason 5ers tow so well is that their pin / tongue weight is over, or forward of the rear axle. And if you will notice. Most trucks are putting their rear axles closer to the back than they once did, to create a shorter overhang. A short over hang is much better for towing. Extending the hitch will in effect create a longer rear overhang.
RobWNY
Explorer
Apr 14, 2019
I think a longer shank as handye9 has suggested would be the way to go. It would be a 2" solid solid steel shank where a hitch extension would just be a tube. I would think the tube extension would be more prone to bending/breaking than the shank would be.
handye9
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2019
Have you considered, maybe a longer shank?

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