Hitch extension

[jhruzek]

So my need is to tow my boat trailer. Hooking it up with my old ball mount is next to
Impossible due to the spare. If I want to use my cargo carrier and be able to switch to towing my boat, I was trying to not have to buy multiple items. It sounds like there is no good single solution. And to be able to open the tailgate with the boat behind the truck, I am still going to have to get a longer tongue on my trailer. I guess I am trying to decide if the difference between an 8” or a 12” extension will make a drastic enough of a difference. I do only tow the boat occasionally and not more than 40 miles.

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[BuaidhNoBas]

I have this one:

https://www.rei.com/product/187296/kuat-hi-lo-pro-hitch-extension

I only use it for my bike rack. It’s got a screw-down stabilizer that keeps it from rattling and I like that it gives you a 2 inch rise or drop (your choice). It sticks out right to the edge of my (Sasquatch) spare and I leave it on all the time as a little extra protection in case I get rear ended.

 

[Onestepmore]

I am looking to get an extension for my receiver hitch to clear the big spare. They are offered in multiple lengths. Anyone bought one yet? Looks like I might be able to get by with 8” but 12” gives a little extra. But I worry anbout the extra length being a longer lever. Any thoughts?

I am having the same problem...I just bought a ball mount that is 10.5 inches from the receiver hole to the center of the ball and my crank on my pop interferes with the spare...I just bought another that is 12.5v from the hole to the center of the ball...am I pushing the limits on the leverage that will create with a 1500lb pop up trailer??? I know it's the same question you have but I've not seen any reply yet...

 

[jhruzek]

I think you might be better off no extending the ball mount further, but getting a tongue extension added to the trailer. Generally, the tongue on the trailer is a heavier and thicker material vs the ball mount. Additionally, the pivot point (the ball) is better closer to the truck, from my limited amount of engineering understanding.

 

[Dusty]

I have an extended ball mount for towing my small enclosed trailer. It works better than a hitch extender because there's less slop with having only one slip-fit joint instead of two. I have the 15-3/4" one from eTrailer and it's the perfect length for placing the ball just past the spare tire enough to easily hitch the trailer (12.50 wide tire on a 0mm offset wheel). Get a Hitch Tightener too to take out the remaining slop.

This doesn't solve for bike racks and gear baskets. For those you can get a hitch extender. They're not that expensive. It's worth it to use the right gear for towing, which is a longer ball mount, and a hitch/receiver extender for racks and baskets.

 

[MarkInOhio]

Since we're locked into the old physics formula of "force x lever-arm", I fail to see much difference in the forces between a longer ball mount and a hitch extender, although the extra joint could be an issue of there's no method to secure it. I would also guess that tongue weight capacity would be a bigger factor than actual trailer weight.

 

[tourproto]

Very old thread. But here is the extended ball hitch I used on my BL with stock tires. Bought it from U-Haul and it has done fine towing boats.

You can see the specs on the hitch on the last picture. More than enough for the towing capacity of the Bronco

 

[AK SNO RIDER]

Very old thread. But here is the extended ball hitch I used on my BL with stock tires. Bought it from U-Haul and it has done fine towing boats.

You can see the specs on the hitch on the last picture. More than enough for the towing capacity of the Bronco

That's a drop hitch though, not an extended hitch.

 

[BigFootie]

Since we're locked into the old physics formula of "force x lever-arm", I fail to see much difference in the forces between a longer ball mount and a hitch extender, although the extra joint could be an issue of there's no method to secure it. I would also guess that tongue weight capacity would be a bigger factor than actual trailer weight.

You are correct. The only difference is you have one more joint that could fail or be sloppy. It doesn’t change the physics. Extending out the loading point reduces the total load allowed at the factory hitch mounting.

 

[tourproto]

That's a drop hitch though, not

That's a drop hitch though, not an extended hitch.

Thanks for the correction...

 

[Natethegreat1979]

Extensions are stupid. Get a longer ball mount.

Think about that one for a sec my guy.... REALLY think.

 

[Natethegreat1979]

I am looking to get an extension for my receiver hitch to clear the big spare. They are offered in multiple lengths. Anyone bought one yet? Looks like I might be able to get by with 8” but 12” gives a little extra. But I worry anbout the extra length being a longer lever. Any thoughts?

This thread got REALLY awful, REALLY quickly...

 

[MORaptor1]

Bike rack or basket…..sure. Anything else, probably not. I’m hesitant to put the dirt bike carrier on it.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

Extensions are stupid. Get a longer ball mount.

Can you tell me where I can get a long 6" rise for my off grid trailer?

 

[cgskipper]

Revisiting this older post as I'm looking for bike rack options.

In general, I believe hitch extenders reduce the tongue weight capacity of hitches by about 50% (+/- depending on the exact length of the extender). The Bronco hitch has a tongue weight rating of 350 lbs so any extender would only allow your bike rack or basket to be 175 lbs (rack and cargo).

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