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10-17-2012, 07:32 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: Derek
Trailer: 1973 boler 13', Earlton On
Ontario
Posts: 396
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Hitch receiver extension
I am pondering the impact of hitch extensions on tongue weight. It seems to me that a hitch extension bar should reduce the tongue weight at the hitch. By adding a hitch extension, the distance from the hitch to the axle becomes farther (actual distance depends on the length of the extension). Ideally one should balance their trailer by positioning the contents within the trailer.
Am I on track with my ponderings? Does anyone have any additional thoughts or wisdom to offer?
Draw-Tite 80305 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver Extension : Amazon.com : Automotive
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10-17-2012, 08:49 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Jesse
Trailer: 1984 Scamp 13'
Maryland
Posts: 815
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glamourpets
I am pondering the impact of hitch extensions on tongue weight. It seems to me that a hitch extension bar should reduce the tongue weight at the hitch. By adding a hitch extension, the distance from the hitch to the axle becomes farther (actual distance depends on the length of the extension). Ideally one should balance their trailer by positioning the contents within the trailer.
Am I on track with my ponderings? Does anyone have any additional thoughts or wisdom to offer?
Draw-Tite 80305 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver Extension : Amazon.com : Automotive
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Just the opposite. A hitch extension will increase leverage, thus increasing the effect of tongue weight on your car/truck's hitch, chassis, suspension, etc.
Now, extending the trailer's tongue will effectively reduce tongue weight, but there can be other issues there, too. I is best to reduce tongue weight by redistributing weight in the trailer... Assuming that you can't move the axle.
__________________
-Jesse
SOLD! - 1984 Scamp 13 in Maryland.
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10-17-2012, 08:53 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
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I just saw one at a yard sale and it had a factory sticker on it that said it reduced the hitch capacity by 1/3. Jesse is right. I would only use one with a very light weight trailer.
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10-17-2012, 09:34 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19' /2010 Honda Pilot 4WD TV
Escondido, California
Posts: 143
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcbrew
Just the opposite. A hitch extension will increase leverage, thus increasing the effect of tongue weight on your car/truck's hitch, chassis, suspension, etc.
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...unless you have a weight-distributing hitch...
__________________
"No Generators"
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10-17-2012, 09:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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actually it is closer to 50% according to ETrailer, either way they should be avoided.
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10-17-2012, 10:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: Toyota Sunrader and 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 975
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I used a 12" extension for a year for a 13" Scamp I had.
I couldnt tell any difference.
It was around $20.00 at harbor freight.
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10-18-2012, 07:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Tailgate
Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry J
I used a 12" extension for a year for a 13" Scamp I had.
I couldnt tell any difference.
It was around $20.00 at harbor freight.
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I bought the same extension so I could open the tailgate of my truck and not hit the hitch when hooked up, (After I put a dent in the tail gate) I did modify the extension and shorten it up by 4 inches to lessen the leverage effect
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10-18-2012, 07:22 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Since the dent is there, I just re-dent it every time I open the tail gate. Mine is about 3" too short, story of my life!!
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10-18-2012, 10:22 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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New Truck
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Since the dent is there, I just re-dent it every time I open the tail gate. Mine is about 3" too short, story of my life!!
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Jim :Luckily the dent I made was in my old 1999 truck .When I bought my new 2011 truck I didn't want to repeat the same stupid dent so I purchased the extension.
I find it handy to be able to lower the tailgate and remove items from the truck bed with the trailer still attached . You are correct though that once the dent was there it really didn't matter
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10-18-2012, 10:57 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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Derek you didnt indicate why you feel you need an hitch extension. Is it due to not being able to open the rear of the tow right up or another reason? Perhaps if its the later if you indicate what the issue is someone will have an alternative to the extension to suggest.
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10-18-2012, 11:13 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
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I have considered a hitch extension for a bike rack that is mounted to the hitch bar. Decided against it.
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10-19-2012, 09:04 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: Sold Bigfoot. Shopping for Arctic Fox 22G
Missouri
Posts: 701
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A trailer hitch extension will cause the vehicle combination to be less stable and a more likely loss of control when difficult road and or traffic conditions are encountered. It is in effect a lever that gives the trailer additional leverage over the tow vehicle. This is bad because the trailer is unguided EXCEPT for the tow vehicle. This leverage also increases the weight on the tow vehicle's rear axle because the ball on the end of it receives the same weight from the trailer coupler but the extension causes that weight to "lever down" more.
Lengthening the TRAILER'S tongue has the opposite effect on all those counts. A longer trailer tongue gives the Tow vehicle more leverage to control the trailer. The more a trailer's tongue is lengthened the safer and more stable it becomes. The drawback is on a very long tongue the trailer will track more to the inside during a sharp turn so you have to allow for that turning into driveways and maneuvering in closer quarters.
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10-20-2012, 08:45 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
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If Draw-Tite called it a "Trailer Hitch Receiver Weakener and De-stabilizer", I'm guessing they might sell less of them.....
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