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Old 10-05-2012, 05:45 PM   #1
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Hitch extensions / Pro's vs Con's

Question from the floor!
I have a 2000 Ford F350 LB CC 4x4 pulling a 31' Coachman Catalina. My issue is this. Winter is coming and the sled deck will be going on soon. The deck extends past the truck bed by a foot and when the sleds are on its another two feet past that..so about 3 feet stick out past the truck bed. The tongue on my TT is not long enough to allow full movement when turning, SO I'm looking to see what your thoughts are on the safety of a hitch extension.
Has anyone used one with a large TT? If so, has anyone had or seen any issues?
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Old 10-05-2012, 06:20 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebyu
Question from the floor!
I have a 2000 Ford F350 LB CC 4x4 pulling a 31' Coachman Catalina. My issue is this. Winter is coming and the sled deck will be going on soon. The deck extends past the truck bed by a foot and when the sleds are on its another two feet past that..so about 3 feet stick out past the truck bed. The tongue on my TT is not long enough to allow full movement when turning, SO I'm looking to see what your thoughts are on the safety of a hitch extension..
Has anyone used one with a large TT? If so, has anyone had or seen any issues?
I can't see any safe way to do this.
I'd be worried about your ccc to be honest.
Unless you have skidoo's lol
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Old 10-05-2012, 06:38 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Bluebyu View Post
Question from the floor!
I have a 2000 Ford F350 LB CC 4x4 pulling a 31' Coachman Catalina. My issue is this. Winter is coming and the sled deck will be going on soon. The deck extends past the truck bed by a foot and when the sleds are on its another two feet past that..so about 3 feet stick out past the truck bed. The tongue on my TT is not long enough to allow full movement when turning, SO I'm looking to see what your thoughts are on the safety of a hitch extension.
Has anyone used one with a large TT? If so, has anyone had or seen any issues?
Sounds like you need to re-vamp the sled deck to go up the back of the cab about 3' or if you put a 3' stinger on the back, the local salvage yard will no doubt give you top dollar for what's left of your Coachmen.
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Old 10-06-2012, 10:29 AM   #4
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I did this once before, but it was with a rental...28f tt. I had to push the sled tracks together, in the middle so my turn was not affected. however the decks outer edges do. The hitch extension is about 1 1/2 feet. It worked for the lighter trailer, and at the time I was renting..no one said anything at the rental place to make me think otherwise. Well, now that I have my own, and I've been researching it, I'm second guessing myself as to how safe this connection really is.

and the sleds are Arctic Cats.. M 153's
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Old 10-06-2012, 11:32 AM   #5
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I may be way off here but could he use something like this Trailer Toad 3500HD
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Old 10-06-2012, 01:08 PM   #6
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I assume that you want a simple extension - just a bar...
Have you found one that is rated high enough for your rig?
This;
Titan Hitch Box Extension and Reducer for 2-1/2" Trailer Hitches, 24" - 34" Long Draw-Tite Hitch Accessories RP45292
has the highest rating I've found so far.
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Old 10-06-2012, 01:27 PM   #7
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Check out REESE for draw bar length. Mine has two (2) holes for lock pin, one most extended, is 1200# the other is 1500#. I have used both to see if there is a handling or towing difference but hard to tell. There seems to be a difference in backing the TT, using the higher rating the TT seems to have a little less response to steering, but this proves not to be either a help or hinderance.
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Old 10-06-2012, 03:23 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Twisty View Post
I assume that you want a simple extension - just a bar...
Have you found one that is rated high enough for your rig?
This;
Titan Hitch Box Extension and Reducer for 2-1/2" Trailer Hitches, 24" - 34" Long Draw-Tite Hitch Accessories RP45292
has the highest rating I've found so far.
Depending on the hitch weight of the camper, that could lift the front end of the TV right off the ground!
Well, not really, but it sure would lighten the steering end.
There must be a better solution.
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Old 10-06-2012, 03:36 PM   #9
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I may be way off here but could he use something like this Trailer Toad 3500HD
I thought that was a great idea until I watched a few videos on it.
Backing up with it is impossible without dragging the tires sideways.
I can't see how the tires would survive that torture for long.
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Old 10-15-2012, 10:57 AM   #10
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I am with those who think there is really no safe way to do it. Even with solid 2inch stock, you are talking about 2-3 ft in length to extend it, and I would become concerned about the forces that might bend/twist it.

If you cannot canti-lever your sled deck, have you thought about building a frame extension for your truck? remove the rear bumper, built a frame extension out of 6 inch c channel with cross members. make it a really long bed.
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Old 10-31-2012, 01:34 PM   #11
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I am with those who think there is really no safe way to do it. Even with solid 2inch stock, you are talking about 2-3 ft in length to extend it, and I would become concerned about the forces that might bend/twist it.

If you cannot canti-lever your sled deck, have you thought about building a frame extension for your truck? remove the rear bumper, built a frame extension out of 6 inch c channel with cross members. make it a really long bed.
I have thought of this. My idea is to weld two additional posts on ether side of the frame, then welding two braces off ether side of the end of the receiver going back toward the new welded on receivers on ether side of the frame that will have hitch pin, solid square ends that will slide in giving the hitch additional bracing on both sides of the frame...thoughts?
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Old 10-31-2012, 01:39 PM   #12
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That is the basic method they use to make a tow truck, so I think it should work well.

Make sure you have several braces to box it out well. I would recommend going with 6 inch c channel, basically as strong as the existing frame.

The only thing I might change is to make it bolt on, using the existing bolt holes for your receiver and bumper.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:03 PM   #13
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Why bolt it and not weld? I thought about just bolting it up, but in my vision I saw just welding the square receptacles up to the frame where bolts would interfere with the hitch sliding in.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:11 PM   #14
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The only reason I would bolt is so it would be removable.

Some people recommend against welding direct to the frame on a modern vehicle with anything short of a tig. It has something do with heat treated steel and crumple zones. Pretty in depth analysis on some sites about what you can/should do. I have welded to frames before, but that is my own junk.
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Old 10-31-2012, 02:37 PM   #15
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As a retired design engr, regardless of how you attach it, you are playing with fire. Redesign the bed on the truck to go up the back of the cab and forget extending the hitch, it is kinda like Ralph Nader's book on the Corvair, "Unsafe at any speed". Just MO.
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Old 11-06-2012, 02:31 PM   #16
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Update, for anyone interested. It looks like a product called a "super hitch" is what I need. A truss style hitch that will allow me to tow up to 14000lbs with a 24" extention. anyone use one of these before?

http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...FW-CQgod-GAAuQ

this one is a little long for my needs, and when you go longer you lose weight ability
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Old 11-06-2012, 02:47 PM   #17
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Old 11-06-2012, 05:59 PM   #18
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http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...FW-CQgod-GAAuQ

this one is a little long for my needs, and when you go longer you lose weight ability
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