I looking at getting a new utility trailer. With my Reese 3" extension the trailer ball is in approximately the correct position. The camper does not extend below the truck. I will be getting a tandem axle so that it will have brakes and the very occasional heavy load( once a year) like firewood or a 2700 lb car, but will primarily haul light loads like river rafts or a pair of ATV's. So the question is should I see about getting the trailer tongue extended for additional clearance while backing etc? If so how much?Thanks for your opinions

The normally accepted solution is to extend the ball with a hitch extension, but extending the trailer tongue instead does have some advantages. Or you could do a half-and-half solution. If extending the tongue, make sure that nothing else (jacks, plumbing, etc.) extends below the camper which you could wipe off with the tongue - including in situations like service station ramps which will pitch the truck up. Make sure the tongue extension does not have tongue jacks, or other paraphernalia close to the coupler. If it has a surge brake make sure you account for that being compressed backing up which will lessen your clearance (ask me how I know about that one...).You can measure from the ball to the corner of the camper (or jack, if further) and if the tongue is long enough to clear that, you can jack knife the rig. Being sure to allow for backing and truck climbing a ramp (which will bring camper and trailer box closer together at the top).I have lived with a trailer that does not have sufficient clearance. Enough for normal driving but if you crank the wheel hard over and turn continuously the trailer box will eventually hit the jacks. I put a mark on the trailer box indicating this angle which just comes into view in the side mirror when I am close. But it is perilous business, so easy to miss with the distractions of maneuvering in tight spots.

For me a trailer extension would never work. If you turn too sharp you still hit your jacks. If you go through a ditch or off-camber you may hit the camper with the trailer extension. IMO it's better to extend the hitch ball. I have the superhitch with supertruss extension but the Reese towbeast 2 1/2" receiver and matching extension is pretty good too but not as much capacity.

Extended tongue or hitch, either one will allow contact to be made if turned sharply enough. For my use I had both the trailer tongue extended and use a 24" Super Truss hitch extension. It works well for me.

Similar to what Jaxom did, I had a 2' triple receiver fabricated for the truck and had a 2' longer tongue fabricated for my utility trailer. Absolutely works great!

What works for me is a minimum 4' long trailer tongue A-frame.Most trailer companies will have the option to make it longer when they build the trailer.

Trailer Tongue Extension? | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Dec 30, 2014
Whether you can hit or not going forward depends on: the turning radius of the truck, the distance from rear axle to ball, and the distance from ball to trailer axle. All three will affect maximum angle of trailer and truck. Going backwards you can wreck anything. Extending either the hitch or the tongue will make the maximum angle worse (greater). So even a trailer which didn't hit with a normal receiver ball, might with a 48" extension.
Reality_Check
Nomad II
Dec 30, 2014
Jaxom wrote:
Sometimes I have to back up. At campsites. In my driveway.

lol...
Reality_Check
Nomad II
Dec 30, 2014
mkirsch wrote:
If the ball is at or behind the rear wall of the camper, you can't turn short enough while going forward to hit.

Blanket statement... and not a correct one.

Going forward, wheel locked, many trucks can turn sharp enough to get a 90 degree angle to the trailer. If the trailer doesn't have a tongue pivot point at least 1/2 the width of the trailer away, I promise you, it will hit.

I'm running a 48" stinger... and had to stretch the tongue on this trailer quite a ways. Still tight, but works fine. Jack knifing..?? you best be on your game and be aware, as these pictures show the angle just going forward.
Jaxom
Explorer
Dec 29, 2014
Sometimes I have to back up. At campsites. In my driveway.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 29, 2014
You can still hit if you are going through a driveway dip while making a sharp turn.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Dec 29, 2014
If the ball is at or behind the rear wall of the camper, you can't turn short enough while going forward to hit.
deltabravo
Nomad
Dec 29, 2014
What works for me is a minimum 4' long trailer tongue A-frame.

Most trailer companies will have the option to make it longer when they build the trailer.
My_Blue_Heaven
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
Similar to what Jaxom did, I had a 2' triple receiver fabricated for the truck and had a 2' longer tongue fabricated for my utility trailer. Absolutely works great!
Jaxom
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
Extended tongue or hitch, either one will allow contact to be made if turned sharply enough. For my use I had both the trailer tongue extended and use a 24" Super Truss hitch extension. It works well for me.
hedge
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
For me a trailer extension would never work. If you turn too sharp you still hit your jacks. If you go through a ditch or off-camber you may hit the camper with the trailer extension. IMO it's better to extend the hitch ball.

I have the superhitch with supertruss extension but the Reese towbeast 2 1/2" receiver and matching extension is pretty good too but not as much capacity.