I set up a hitch extension on my rig this spring to handle a motorcycle trailer. My trailer is 3,000 GVW/300lb TW. I have a big camper and so I needed a 41" extension, and after doing the math, that meant upgrading to a Class V hitch as well. I'm pretty happy with the results.
I did NOT set up stabilizing chains and I haven't missed them. There's a little extra lateral play at the end of the extension, maybe half an inch, but IME it doesn't affect trailer stability. (Assuming a correctly loaded trailer with correct tongue weight, and I am a stickler about that.)
There are DEFINITELY some bottoming-out issues with a 41" extension. I've banged the extension several times, and actually got hung up on the trailer jack once. You learn to watch for driveways and gutters and cross deep ones diagonally.
Personally I would NOT recommend extending the trailer tongue. Think about the geometry. Every time I banged my hitch extension into the ground...if I'd had a long-tongue trailer instead, I'd have smashed the tongue into the bottom of my camper....
Quote: Personally I would NOT recommend extending the trailer tongue. Think about the geometry. Every time I banged my hitch extension into the ground...if I'd had a long-tongue trailer instead, I'd have smashed the tongue into the bottom of my camper....
Quote: With a long trailer tongue you may find that the trailer interferes with the rear jacks or even the body of the camper.
Good points. My thoughts exactly.
Only way I would go with extendiing the trailer tongue is if the receiver hitch were very low in relation to the bottom of the camper, such as a low receiver on a high flatbed truck with a flat bottomed camper (no rear drop below below bed surface). That's a rare setup.
Based on what I see above, I should be able to do what I want with no problems. I am going to put the TC back onto the truck this weekend and re-verify all dimensions before I purchase anything.
(The TC has only been on the truck once - need to learn how to load it by myself in my driveway without 5 sales people giving me contradictory instructions on how to backup the truck )
One beautiful wife, two brittney spaniels
2011 Dodge 3500 4x4 DRW Crew Cab 6.7 Cummins, 6 speed auto, 3.73 rear end
Torklift Stableloads, Superhitch, Torklift Tiedowns
2002 Alpenlite 1150
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