My 8' Pickup Truck camper hangs off the back of my 6.5' bed by 18"I want to pull my motorcycle trailer this summer but I'm not a fan of hitch extensions which put the pivot point way behind the rear axle, exaggerating sway.I decided to extend the hitch on the trailer 18". I wanted the extension to be removable so the trailer could be towed in the stock configuration as wanted.First I needed to remove the tool box and the jack mounted on the tongue.Then I added a 3" X 3" piece of angle iron with a set of gussets for a 5/8" hitch pin to secure the removable extended tongue.Two gussets were added to the front to secure the 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" swuare tubing. Also using a 5/8" hitch pinThe final configurationThe coupler will be raised by a piece of the square tubing to keep the hitch height the same as it wasTomorrow I'll weld it all together and give it a test drive. Sorry for the crappy pictures. All I had was my I Phone with me and it was getting dark. I'll take better pictures of the completed project.

How will you jack it up and down?

I'm going to install a jack on the extension and reinstall the stock jack when using it in its stock form

Nice, simple and clean. Hitch pins; great idea.

I'm wondering if I should install a 2" ball to the extension so the stock coupler could attach to it. If nothing else it would hold the extension in place while I install the hitch pins.I would simply weld it to the top of the square tubing as I wouldn't have a way of holding the nut inside the tube.What say the fort???

I am quite the wood working carpenter, but I've never done any welding nor have I ever tried, or do I own any welding equipment. I envy you for your talent! Nice concept there! Hope it works well for you!

Trailer Tongue Extension (Pictures) | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 21, 2015
I thought I had to extend it two feet. That caused me concern about the distance behind the rear axle of the truck. But now that I see 12" will work, I'm half as concerned.....I'll try it this way this weekend and see how it behaves.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
May 20, 2015
Good job on the removeable tongue extension but why?
In your first post you were worried about trailer sway (not sure why) and thus your reason for the trailer tongue ext. Then you just went ahead and bought a hitch extension??

Anyway, it'll be fine. Towed lots o miles with hitch extensions and as long as you're careful to not multiply your tongue weight too high with the addl lever arm you're fine and no they do not sway more in my experience.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 20, 2015
Well...That was a total waste of time and $41 for steel!

I loaded up the camper and backed up to the trailer. Once put into position with the camper on the truck it appeared that a simple 12" hitch extension would do the deed nicely.

I ran out to Harbor Freight and picked one up for $20 with a 20% off coupon.....

Works perfectly with zero issue of the trailer ever hitting the camper unless I really jack-knife the rig. Ain't gonna do that!

Even the trailers jack is lower than the rear of the camper!

DONE!

This will be filed under "Live and Learn"......or...."Measure Twice, Cut Once!"

Off to Vermont for Cowboy Action Shooting and a bit of Motorcycle Riding!
Bedlam
Moderator
May 20, 2015
I would have used a long thread ball up front and the pinned the rear like you did but farther back. With your relatively short overhang, you should not have to worry about tongue contact with the under side of the TC or a corner jack.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 20, 2015
2 pins seems to be adequate for their loads...

I'm sure what I'm doing is plenty strong enough considering that a 12,000 pound trailer I usually tow is secured with a single 5/8" hitch pin!

You are correct, I did leave enough room for the extension to pivot down as the rear pin is put into place.

Think I'll just forget about installing a 2" ball

Thanks
Reality_Check
Nomad II
May 20, 2015
Rbertalotto wrote:
I'm wondering if I should install a 2" ball to the extension so the stock coupler could attach to it. If nothing else it would hold the extension in place while I install the hitch pins.

I would simply weld it to the top of the square tubing as I wouldn't have a way of holding the nut inside the tube.

What say the fort???

Don't see the need. Have you got it so the front could lay on the ground, slide the rear pin in, then pivot up the front for the second pin? Might need to shave/angle the rear of the tube for that (for the pivot).

Shear on two 5/8" pins is massive... but then I'm no engineer. But Torklift I think have a few look at their stuff, and 2 pins seems to be adequate for their loads...
DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 20, 2015
I am quite the wood working carpenter, but I've never done any welding nor have I ever tried, or do I own any welding equipment. I envy you for your talent! Nice concept there! Hope it works well for you!
Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 20, 2015
I'm wondering if I should install a 2" ball to the extension so the stock coupler could attach to it. If nothing else it would hold the extension in place while I install the hitch pins.

I would simply weld it to the top of the square tubing as I wouldn't have a way of holding the nut inside the tube.

What say the fort???
Reality_Check
Nomad II
May 20, 2015
Nice, simple and clean. Hitch pins; great idea.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 20, 2015
I'm going to install a jack on the extension and reinstall the stock jack when using it in its stock form