HELP PLEASE... Hitch and extension ?

[Miguel951]

Hello and thank you in advance for any input/ clarity you can provide. I have a 2003 F-250 W/ a 2K LB (dry) truck camper. I need a 3' extenion to be able to tow my 12' flatbed single-axle trailer and RZR XP41000 weighing around 3-3.5K LBS (guesstimate)

Currently, I have a factory 2" V5 hitch, max weight of 5K LBS/ 500 LBS TW or 12.5 LBS/1,250 LBS W/ weight distribution hitch. I do have a weight distribution hitch from my old toy hauler BTW and think I will be using it. I also have airbags and a sway bar in the rear (stock sway bar in front). I have no idea what the tongue weight is.

I want to keep this price conscious, wondering if I should just go with a 2" 36" extenion and make sure it has the chains and all that good stuff or if I should completely replace the hitch for a 2.5 or a dual hitch with the cross bar? I want to do it right and safe but not over the top if I dont have to. Any input would be appreciated.

[mkirsch]

If you have an 8' camper, that is, an 8' floor length, then you don't need anywhere near 36". 18" will be more than enough. 12" is really all you need.

Your truck's stock receiver doesn't stick out past the bumper. There is no reason that the extension has to extend past the rear of the camper.

Don't count on your tailgate to support the camper. You may get away with it but that's all you're doing, is getting away with it. Expect broken support cables.

[ticki2]

You have a short bed truck with a long bed camper , most likely taking weight off the front axle . Then in addition your putting a 3 ft extension and a 600 lb tongue weight off the back . It’s time to hit the scales , truck axle weights , truck and camper axle weight and if possible, truck camper and trailer axle weights . I suspect you are going to be too light on the front axle and overloaded on rear tires . A WDH will help , maybe enough maybe not . My humble opinion is there is more than one problem to solve .

[Baja_Man]

You mention price conscious....however this is not where $$$ should be skimped on.

A few months ago I installed a Torklift hitch and extension on a friends F350 so he could tow his boat. His stock hitch was inadequate for this set up.

It was costly, but he tows with comfort knowing it was done correctly. There is a thread I created about it with install details.

[3_tons]

Well, in my honest opinion, I wouldn’t attempt 600# tongue weight on a 36” x 2” extension - but with so much at stake, far better not to guess tongue weight… This should be your starting point…The 600# is exponentially increased on the hitch as you extend it out 36”…Longer term, best to keep ‘the fun’ in the game, JMHO

3 tons

[Miguel951]

That is a really cool btw to measure tongue weight

[Miguel951]

I do need a 36" a little more or less would be fine. My camper is for an 8' bed and I have the 6.75 so the tailgate has to be down. The handle on the jack of the trailer could possibly hit if I go shorter.

Agree that its hard to find a 2" extenion but I did. One on Facebook marketplace that was custom-made by Eckhart and the other on E trailer https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Fabrication-Parts/CURT/C49360.html. Doesnt have nay ratings though.

I was told that i should go with the 2.5" because the 2" would break from the stress of the side-to-side motion. Thoughts and input would be appreciated

[3_tons]

Both Curt and Draw-tight make 2” 18” extensions, both are rated at 3500# trailer weight and 350# tongue weight…Your’s at 600# is a candidate for troubles…I have one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Simple-WEIGHTM-Tongue-Weight-Scale/dp/B0B2KLQ62Y/ref=sr_1_4?crid=20EXAPYQPBKMD&keywords=tongue+weight+scale+for+travel+trailers&qid=1691100354&sprefix=Tongue+weight%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

[mkirsch]

First thing, do you REALLY need 36" or is that what gets the end of the receiver tube even with the rear of the camper? You usually don't need an extension that reaches to the rear of the camper. It can easily be 12" under the camper. The shank gives you about half of that back, and you will NEVER come close to hitting going forward.

I don't see a "plain old 36 inch extension" for a 2" receiver anymore anyway. Seems like I remember Reese used to make one but the only one I can find now are for 2-1/2" receivers, rated for 6000lbs at 34" extension with a WD hitch.

Doesn't help you a bit because you don't have a 2-1/2" receiver. If you did it would probably work okay, but for the life of me I can't find the 2" extension now.

[Grit_dog]

I’d slap simple tube extension in it and hit the road. But I can’t recommend that officially to you as your inexperience my not allow you to fully understand if something is not quite right.

[Grit_dog]

Go back to the drawing board. Your numbers don’t make a lot sense save for the total trailer weight of 3-3.5k.
1. Virtually any TC with a 2klb dry weight likely won’t need a 3’ extension. Not even if your truck is a short bed.
1a. Or your camper is much heavier if it’s a 9’ model on a short bed or a 10-11’ model on a longbed.
2. 600lbs tongue weight is excessive but probably necessary because you’ll have to back the buggy on that little trailer due to being single axle and the weight of dist of a rear engine rig. You have no adjustability in weight placement effectively. So yeah maybe. But I’d figure out how to lighten up the tongue weight a little.

You’ll have no issues with the truck, hitch receiver or a quality basic extension at 24-30” long. I can’t speak for longer with the same or similar tongue weight.
A weight dist hitch in this scenario seems somewhere between heavy, useless or may not work right. But your truck and hitch will handle it so it’s also not necessary with your little trailer. Interested to see it employed successfully if you do it though.

[Miguel951]

Update, seems like the tongue weight is going to be around 600LBS