Extended Receiver Hitch

[haste_maker]

I need some info from those that have a extended receiver hitch on your pickup. I need to move mine 24" to the rear, I will be pulling a 29' travel trailer with the hitch...thanks

[Bedlam]

I plated both sides of the OEM hitch pin hole when towing my toy hauler. The same egging also happened as described above.

If you apply simple physics of using a lever resulting in torque multiplication, you will see that you need to drastically derate an OEM with an extension or you will be severely overloading it.

My F250 with SuperHitch and SuperTruss had no issue with an 8000 lb enclosed trailer. Although I have since sold the Ford to upgrade to a Ram 5500, I still use the same SuperTruss with a new SuperHitch. Neither receiver or extension are showing the wear my OEM did without extension when pulling my previous 11,500 lb trailer.

Even going up and down driveway entrances would be problematic with a longer tongue and no extension on the receiver for us. I would hate to think what would happen if we traversed a wash to get to campsite. We don't four wheel with our trailer, but do camp in primitive areas where a long tongue would make contact with the TC underside.

[PRodacy]

Vinsil wrote:

PRodacy wrote:
Everyone seems to say that the factory hitch is too weak to handle the extension, but where is any evidence? I've never seen any specs on it, never saw evidence of a failure, or any engineering calculations. Maybe the aftermarket ones are stronger, but is there any evidence that they're not expensive overkill?

My neighbor has a 2012 Ram 2500 and pulls a 38 foot Weekend Warrior with a 1800 lbs tongue weight. He uses a WD setup and in less than 3 years has completely egged out his factory hitch. It is ruined from that weight and stress. So, having seen what happens to a factory hitch that is overloaded and abused....I'd wager it is not an expensive overkill if you lose your trailer doing freeway speeds.

But that would be the 2 inch hitch, not the 2 1/2 inch hitch, right? I suspect that would happen with any 2 inch hitch no matter who made it.

[Vinsil]

PRodacy wrote:
Everyone seems to say that the factory hitch is too weak to handle the extension, but where is any evidence? I've never seen any specs on it, never saw evidence of a failure, or any engineering calculations. Maybe the aftermarket ones are stronger, but is there any evidence that they're not expensive overkill?

My neighbor has a 2012 Ram 2500 and pulls a 38 foot Weekend Warrior with a 1800 lbs tongue weight. He uses a WD setup and in less than 3 years has completely egged out his factory hitch. It is ruined from that weight and stress. So, having seen what happens to a factory hitch that is overloaded and abused....I'd wager it is not an expensive overkill if you lose your trailer doing freeway speeds.

[PRodacy]

Everyone seems to say that the factory hitch is too weak to handle the extension, but where is any evidence? I've never seen any specs on it, never saw evidence of a failure, or any engineering calculations. Maybe the aftermarket ones are stronger, but is there any evidence that they're not expensive overkill?

[burningman]

I think you're ALL crazy!
I hate extension hitches no matter how stout they are. The laws of physics cannot be broken; putting your hitch that far behind the axle gives your trailer a lot more leverage against your truck.

I tow a heavy (sometimes its 10,000 pounds) trailer with a dually carrying an 11.5 camper.
Rather than run one of those insane long hitches, I stretched my trailer tongue to reach the hitch right at the truck, under the camper. My truck is a 4WD (so it sits a little high) and I have the camper raised a few inches off the bed floor, and that buys me enough clearance. I've driven thousands of miles with no trouble.Yes, you have to watch your approach angles, but it's worth it.

There is absolutely NO way a truck with a fairly heavy trailer can drive as well or be as safe with the hitch three or four feet further behind the axle, regardless of how solid the hitch itself is.

Anyone who is capable of fabricating a hitch extension, or is going to pay someone to do it, should consider doing it the other way. Bring the trailer up to the hitch!

[ticki2]

Kayteg1 wrote:



I will have to take a picture to show my setup. What makes it different is that I have truck frame sticking long past the bed and existing hitch is having just cross bracket to bolt it to.

Some pictures would be very helpful .

[Reddog1]

Buzzcut1, please repost your truck hitch photos. Is it a factory hitch? Is ti a 2-1/2 inch?

[Buzzcut1]

this is my set up, towed a 7000 pound trailer full of horses to the show. 48" extension

[Kayteg1]

stevenal wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

I used to run an 18" extension with about a 3" drop draw bar with my old truck and boat. I left a few scrapes in the asphalt near the bottoms of driveways and similar grade transitions. I can't imagine a 5' extension working anywhere in this regard.

I think this is 3" drop that made the scratches.
My hitch is high enough that makes it difficult to step on.
I will have to take a picture to show my setup. What makes it different is that I have truck frame sticking long past the bed and existing hitch is having just cross bracket to bolt it to.
All add-on hitches go under the bed to bolt at the bottom of the frame, what is a weak point.
I had bolts popping out on such hitch on my motorhome and that is why I hesitate to consider this option.
I guess it is time to start shopping around for 2.5" square tubing.

[stevenal]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

I used to run an 18" extension with about a 3" drop draw bar with my old truck and boat. I left a few scrapes in the asphalt near the bottoms of driveways and similar grade transitions. I can't imagine a 5' extension working anywhere in this regard.

[mike_mck]

Kayteg1 wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

Easy solution is install a Torklift SuperHitch. Your factory hitch will not handle a 5 foot extension with 7000lb trailer.

You don't need a 5 foot extension anyway. There is no camper that extends 5 feet past the rear of the truck. At most you need 4 foot. As long as the ball is even with the rear of the camper, you will not have trouble.

Even with 4 foot, best option is to install a Torklift Superhitch. Very different from my situation where a few inches would be enough.

My truck originated as cab & chassis and I don't think any of Superhitches will fit.
I converted it to regular bed (actually I have Dodge bed on Ford and the frame stick behind the bed, where factory hitch bolts to.
I strongly believe my 2.5" receiver is stronger than Superhitch, but being unique is not making it easy and I don't see 2.5" supertruss anywhere.
The extra extension length might be needed since I put my TC with about 16" space on front of the bed for carrying junk.

Easy solution? Is there such a thing?
Cab and Chassis? No Problem. My 1999 F550 rear frame 34 inches wide. F350 is 2 inches wider I believe. I had a welder narrow the super truss. If you have seen the hitch you will see how easy it is to narrow and not destroy the integrity of the hitch.
Bought mine off craigslist for $500.00. It was off a F350. Came with tie downs and 48" extension. Required to tow when the 96 11 foot Caribou is on the truck. Camper is 11 Ft.

[ticki2]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

I don't believe a single 2.5" receiver will ever be strong enough for a 7000# trailer on a 5' extension , even if you slip a 2 x 2 tube inside . Some serious engineering would have to be done on the whole system , the hitch , its connections to the truck , etc. , etc. . The super truss 60" is rated 1000# tw , 10000# trailer wt , WITH weight distributing hitch .

Matthew_B came up with an interesting hitch extension that you can find in the TC University , however I don't think it was calculated as to its capacity . It may give you food for thought .

I have no doubt that a that a 5' extension could not be made that is suitable , it depends on how much effort you are willing to put into it and how much engineering skills you have or are available to you .

[deltabravo]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I add question.
SuperTruss from what I see on the site works only with SuperHitch.
I do have 2.5" receiver on my truck and would like to utilize that for up to 7000lb trailer and from what I measure I could use 5 foot extension.
Anybody found easy solution ?

Remove Factory hitch, install Superhitch. That's the easiest solution.

I run a Superhitch on my dually along with a 21" extension.

[dunegoon1]

I have an extended trailer tongue on the car trailer that I tow behind the camper (60"). I think it is a good solution because it keeps the pivot and load point closer to the rear axle. This reduces the leverage due to weight and from crosswinds. I covered the tongue area with grating so that it is a handy step to get into the camper. We don't even bother to unhook unless we will be staying more than a day. When backing up, the extended trailer tongue keeps the camper from hitting the trailer on sharp turns. I moved the electric jack back to near the trailer body, it works just fine back there and this leave more room to get into and out of the camper while hooked up. I suggest you locate a competent fab shop and get a price that you can compare to the price of other solutions. For the same money, I would go for the extended tongue. It's simpler if nothing else.