Forum Discussion

Vulcan_Rider's avatar
Vulcan_Rider
Explorer
Sep 06, 2015

Pulling a utility trailer; hard lesson.

Lesson learned the hard way:

28" Winnie C with LONG rear overhang.
Attached a small enclosed utility trailer with a "standard" length hitch.

Found out the hard way that you can NOT turn very short/sharply with this setup.

The front of the trailer hit the end of the bumper.
Thankfully the bumper is flimsy and it just bent some with almost no damage to the trailer at all.

A longer tongue would probably be better.....but then the combined length would be over 40' which is the "standard" RV site length in a lot of places.

I may point my backup camera differently so I can see the hitch until I get used to the limitations.

I knew I needed to be extra careful to NOT get into a situation where I need to back up more than a couple of feet......but never really anticipated this turning problem.
Class C
  • Vulcan_Rider's avatar
    Vulcan_Rider
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2015
    Toot Mc wrote:
    you can get a hitch extension 12" or 18" in length.


    Thanks for the information.

    I'm hoping the solution will be some parking lot testing AND an increased level of awareness on the part of the driver.

    I "practiced" for several hundred miles today with no adverse incidents.

    I had no turning problems today but DID scrape something back there a couple of times.......so it appears that a hitch/tongue extension might NOT be a good idea.
  • Toot_Mc's avatar
    Toot_Mc
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2015
    you can get a hitch extension 12" or 18" in length. you would have to watch your tong weight but that would be much cheaper than adding length to trailer tong length

    Rease makes them for 2x2 hitches. I used one to make a scooter carrier. so I could still use my car towing hitch.
  • Vulcan_Rider's avatar
    Vulcan_Rider
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2015
    JaxDad wrote:
    You can't have it both ways as the old saying goes.


    Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. :B

    In this case, it appears that is absolutely true. That's why I would keep any extension as short as possible.
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Sep 07, 2015
    You can't have it both ways as the old saying goes.

    Either you have clearance for sharp turns, or you have clearance for ramps, take your pick.

    There is however a third option, although a little spendy. A stinger hitch. Basically an extremely short tongue extension with a ball to go in the coupler, two arms that lock onto the existing tongue much like a WDH does and then an extension with a coupler on it to hitch up to.

    If you, or someone you know, is handy with a welder it's an easy job.
  • Vulcan_Rider's avatar
    Vulcan_Rider
    Explorer
    Sep 06, 2015
    JaxDad wrote:
    If the trailer doesn't weigh much you can get an extended length ball mount. I have one for my unit, it puts the ball about 16" further back than the standard unit.


    16" sounds like a lot because it IS. ;-)

    I had thought about that; 6" might be enough for the trailer to clear the back end in all but the worst ill-advised turns.
    A little experimentation in a vacant parking lot will be needed.

    I fear that an extension that it TOO long will magnify the already HUGE dip when going up a sudden grade.
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    Sep 06, 2015
    j-d wrote:
    When I saw the title I thought "Lordy, jacknifed it." Glad it wasn't worse. Tractor/Trailers back SO well because tractor is short and trailer is long. Utility trailer behind RV is a perfect example of the converse.



    Tractors don't hit trailers because the distance of the king pin to the back of the cab will not allow the two to come into contact. Look at the length of the sleeper cabs and those with huge bunkhouses

    on them, they can turn 90* without issue. Been there, done that.
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    Sep 06, 2015
    If the trailer doesn't weigh much you can get an extended length ball mount. I have one for my unit, it puts the ball about 16" further back than the standard unit.

    It doesn't sound like much but it's surprising how much of a difference it makes.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Sep 06, 2015
    When I saw the title I thought "Lordy, jacknifed it." Glad it wasn't worse. Tractor/Trailers back SO well because tractor is short and trailer is long. Utility trailer behind RV is a perfect example of the converse.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Sep 06, 2015
    Something generally not thought about. But that long overhang and tail swing magnifies the sharpness of the turn that far back.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 24, 2025