Hitch Extension

[jeremywatco]

Good Morning,

Buying a new flat trailer to haul my dirtbikes & other toys. The trailer company's trailers come standard with a 36" long tongue and the salesman wanted to make it clear that if I am towing behind my motorhome that I really need a 48" long tongue to avoid hitting the rv in tight turns. Comes at a price... a few hundred dollars and a month long wait while they make a custom trailer.

I totally understand the logic and need for the longer tongue. The couple hundred dollars doesnt bother me, its that I need the trailer sooner.

Does anyone have any experience with hitch extensions? I realize they add additional stress to the hitch. My trailer fully loaded would be about 3500lbs. I was thinking of taking a 36" tongue trailer and running a 12" extension.

The trailer will be towed mostly by my truck and seldom by my RV.

Good? Bad? Ugly?

[MrWizard]

there are several issues
one is 'Pivot point'/fulcrum changes
with an extension the pivot point is moved further back from the vehicle
this means if you back up, the trailer can get more angled before it impacts the rear of the RV

a longer trailer will be easier to backup, than a shorter trailer with a hitch extension on the tow vehicle

towing a jeep flat down with an extension, does not change the hitch and weight leverage point, with the jeep all weight is on the road, only the pull weight is on the hitch

with the trailer it will affect hitch weight

these are matters of physics, how much these changes will affect the OP IDK

[chuckftboy]

I've used hitch extensions often and never had an issue I have one that is 18" that saved the rear cap on my old Mewmar when I used to tow a Jeep on a ball hitch.

[mccsix]

FunTwoDrv wrote:
I just don't see how an extension will help. I believe the reason for the extended tongue is to ensure the trailer doesn't come in contact with the RV if you get into a "jackknife" situation.
Maybe I just don't have my facts right!! LOL

Gary

Make a hard right turn vs wide easy turn and your bumper could show you the difference.
I've using an extension for years.

[FunTwoDrv]

I just don't see how an extension will help. I believe the reason for the extended tongue is to ensure the trailer doesn't come in contact with the RV if you get into a "jackknife" situation.
Maybe I just don't have my facts right!! LOL

Gary

[Lwiddis]

The salesman wanted to make it clear...buy more from us. Did he/she explain other options as above?

[jeremywatco]

STBRetired wrote:
Notice that it derates your hitch to 3500 lbs. with 350 lbs tongue weight. Your stated loaded trailer weights put you at or possibly over the rating on this extension.

Looking on etrailer it looks like most have a 3500lb & 350 tongue capacity but state it will reduce hitch rating by 50%... so actually im looking at a 2500lb capacity.. right, my hitch is rated for 5k?

[Blackdiamond]

Hitch extension will be fine, just get a good one. I have had 2 because the first one bent, 2nd one was must more heavy duty and worked good.

[STBRetired]

Notice that it derates your hitch to 3500 lbs. with 350 lbs tongue weight. Your stated loaded trailer weights put you at or possibly over the rating on this extension.

[jeremywatco]

WAFlowers wrote:
Instead of a custom trailer why not buy a hitch extension? Something like this: 12" Hitch Extension

It costs a LOT less than a custom trailer!

Thats what I am looking at. Seeing what the pros/cons are to using these extensions? Dont they add additional stress to the hitch?

[WAFlowers]

Instead of a custom trailer why not buy a hitch extension? Something like this: 12" Hitch Extension

It costs a LOT less than a custom trailer!

[discovery4us]

The way the skirting is on the back of the DP I use an 8" extension just to make things clear and hook up easier and see no excessive wear or damage.

My trailer is 54" from front of deck to ball of trailer and it makes the trailer so much nicer to tow and back behind the DP as well as behind the truck. If you intend to keep the trailer I would get the longer tongue. Not only does it allow for tighter turns it just seems to track much better.