I'm looking at getting a new ATV that is longer than my current ATV. I would need to keep my trucks tailgate down as the rear atv tires would be on the tailgate. Currently I just remove my tailgate as the current atv is shorter and this allows me to hitch up my 19' TT.My TT tongue weight is right about 500 lbs and the truck is a 2011 ram 1500 quad. I know I am on the edge of being over payload, but I did use a CAT scale on several different trips and was ok. Will the WD bars compensate for a hitch extender? I think I would need one about 10" long. I have heard that hitch extenders will reduce the hitches rating by half... but I've also heard that is not true with WD bars. E-Trailer says the extension will reduce the hitch rating by half, but say that for all extensions regardless of length. Does the extension affect payload or just the hitch rating? Thank you.

I run with my tailgate down all the time, especially with my previous Razor. Now with a standard quad my tailgate closes. (Ford has a longer short bed than Chev, Ram). But I still run with it down as I bought an Amp Bed Extender to carry extra gas, firewood, etc. I also use DG Tailgate Supports to protect the cables and keep the tailgate locked down. I lhit some pretty big bumps. :BYes, a hitch extension of any length will reduce the hitch capacity. The longer the extension the the more reduction. Yes, WD can aid in bringing the numbers back up. Also it can add weight to the rear axle by removing weight from the front axle, teeter totter effect.I would watch my rear axle weight very closely after it's all loaded. You may have to lighten it by moving stuff in the TT to the rear. BUT keep at least 10-12% of Gross TT weight on the hitch!!!JMHODJ

I used to carry a touring Polaris in my Ram's 6.5' bed when I had a TT and had no issues with the gate down and clearance with the tongue jack/etc. My neighbor does the same now with no issues. I'd check first to see if you even need an extender.

Try searching the Truck Camper group! They mount hitch extentions all the time for their 10 & 11 foot TC's. There is one that extends 48". It uses a 2.5" receiver and adds a second one to make a truss.

BBFD wrote:I used to carry a touring Polaris in my Ram's 6.5' bed when I had a TT and had no issues with the gate down and clearance with the tongue jack/etc. My neighbor does the same now with no issues. I'd check first to see if you even need an extender.Hmmm... This is almost exactly what I plan to do, except with a CanAm Touring in my Ram 6.5' bed. Do you have any pictures of what the front of your trailer looks like? My trailer is slightly different then most with an aerodynamic propane cover thing.

No photos but it was a standard TT with a manual jack and the white slide-on propane cover behind it. PM me if you want to talk more and I can point you to internet photos.

Towing with Tailgate down / Hitch Extender | Good Sam Community

bobndot
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2017
WNYBob wrote:
Try searching the Truck Camper group! They mount hitch extentions all the time for their 10 & 11 foot TC's. There is one that extends 48". It uses a 2.5" receiver and adds a second one to make a truss.

Something like a super truss. :C I also found them to be a VG company to deal with .

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/products/towing/superhitch-supertruss

might this be helpful...hitch extension calculator

http://www.visualsc.com/hitch_calc.htm
campigloo
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
If the bike doesn't hang way over could you build some sort of ramp to make
It fit? Just a thought.
boosTT
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
How difficult is hitching and unhitching with the tailgate down?
BBFD
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
No photos but it was a standard TT with a manual jack and the white slide-on propane cover behind it. PM me if you want to talk more and I can point you to internet photos.
boosTT
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
BBFD wrote:
I used to carry a touring Polaris in my Ram's 6.5' bed when I had a TT and had no issues with the gate down and clearance with the tongue jack/etc. My neighbor does the same now with no issues. I'd check first to see if you even need an extender.

Hmmm... This is almost exactly what I plan to do, except with a CanAm Touring in my Ram 6.5' bed. Do you have any pictures of what the front of your trailer looks like? My trailer is slightly different then most with an aerodynamic propane cover thing.
WNYBob
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Try searching the Truck Camper group! They mount hitch extentions all the time for their 10 & 11 foot TC's. There is one that extends 48". It uses a 2.5" receiver and adds a second one to make a truss.
BBFD
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
I used to carry a touring Polaris in my Ram's 6.5' bed when I had a TT and had no issues with the gate down and clearance with the tongue jack/etc. My neighbor does the same now with no issues. I'd check first to see if you even need an extender.
_DJ_1
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2017
I run with my tailgate down all the time, especially with my previous Razor. Now with a standard quad my tailgate closes. (Ford has a longer short bed than Chev, Ram). But I still run with it down as I bought an Amp Bed Extender to carry extra gas, firewood, etc.

I also use DG Tailgate Supports to protect the cables and keep the tailgate locked down. I lhit some pretty big bumps. :B

Yes, a hitch extension of any length will reduce the hitch capacity. The longer the extension the the more reduction. Yes, WD can aid in bringing the numbers back up. Also it can add weight to the rear axle by removing weight from the front axle, teeter totter effect.

I would watch my rear axle weight very closely after it's all loaded. You may have to lighten it by moving stuff in the TT to the rear. BUT keep at least 10-12% of Gross TT weight on the hitch!!!

JMHO

DJ

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Towing with Tailgate down / Hitch Extender

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