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06-18-2012, 10:54 AM
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#41
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Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 236
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Pics of camco eaz-lift shank 48123, the underside of my factory hitch/bumper and the unanticipated benefit of being able to drop the front tent end are attached.
Again, my original desire was to ensure I had clearance so I could drop the tailgate while the trailer was attached.
Hope the pics help.
__________________
Kevin, Meg and DDx2
2012 Rockwood Roo 233s
2014 White Expedition 4x4 EL
Local Ohio CGs - West Branch SP
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06-18-2012, 11:11 AM
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#42
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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So what is your "take away?"
IMO another "non-answer".
"Yes it does; but don't worry about it" is not an answer.
Good data in the 1 foot = 25% lost; 2 foot 50% of tongue lost, though.
16 inches you loose 33% of available tongue load.
"But don't worry about it"
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4kmprs
Just received a response from curt manufacturing re: this topic.
The Curt reply is first. my message that initiated the reply is embedded in this thread reply as well.
This really shouldn't effect anything towing wise. Typically, the decrease in tongue weight ratings are significant when using unsupported loads like a bike rack or cargo carrier. For example, if you have a 500 lb tongue weight rating and you extend 2 ft past the edge of the receiver tube it would reduce the tongue weight to 250 lbs. So weight divided by distance equals rating. So you would divide your rating by 1.33 (16 inches). Like I said before, if you're towing a trailer I wouldn't worry about it decreasing your tongue weight. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Message:
I see warnings about hitch extensions reducing weight capacity by 50 %. What is the std shank length or distance of ball to receiver that is part of a f150 factory installed bumper. If I move from a 10" shank to a 16" shank (not a second piece that requires a separate hitch pin) and both shanks have the same rating, how do I figure out what the 6" does from a weight I assume a ratio that states for each inch of added shank length, towing capacity is reduced by x % Thanks for any help u can provide
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-18-2012, 11:20 AM
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#43
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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I just looked at the full email.
Here is the Curt fella who composed the answer.
His name is redacted, but his title WAS NOT MADE UP!
"Txxxxx Mxxxxx
Social Media & Tech Specialist"
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-18-2012, 11:32 AM
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#44
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Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 236
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:confused
The tongue load decrease example is intriguing.
If this statement is accurate, the only way the tongue weights stated by tow vehicle and receiver manufacturers are accurate is if the ball is directly on top of the receiver. So, if accurate, all TT owners should be measuring their shanks and calculating reductions for every inch the ball is behind the receiver.
__________________
Kevin, Meg and DDx2
2012 Rockwood Roo 233s
2014 White Expedition 4x4 EL
Local Ohio CGs - West Branch SP
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06-18-2012, 11:38 AM
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#45
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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To be fair; Reese never replied to my email.
At least Curt did. Sorta...
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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09-13-2012, 04:59 PM
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#46
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Londonderry, NH
Posts: 23
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I don't know if anyone is still following this thread, but I have a similar problem with my new 2012 Dodge Durango and 2013 Flagstaff MicroLite 23FB. In my case the rear hatch door won't open - it hits the power jack right at the switch (and yes, it does depress the switch and activate the jack!). I did some research and found the Reese 14" hitch shank, rated for 1400 lb tongue weight. I called Reese tech support and was told there's no reason it shouldn't work fine in my Pro Series hitch, which currently has a 10" shank. The RV dealer sale rep agreed to replace the 10 with the 14. But when I went to pick it up the mechanic refused to assemble the tow hitch because he's concerned about liability. [The sales rep gave me the 14" shank to get it installed elsewhere.]
It seems to me that the main pivot point is the rear axle, which in my case is a total of 58" from the the ball centerline with the original hitch assembly. If we can assume that I get the full rated hitch capacity of 720 lb at that 58" point (not sure if that's true), and I add another 4" to that, I would think that at most I lose about 4/58 of the 720 lb capacity, which would drop it down to 670 lb. Or put another way, if my tongue weight is 600 lb (just an estimate at this point), I'd be adding 4/58 of that weight, or 41 lb when measured at the 58" point.
Does that logic make sense? Anything I've missed?
4kmprs, if you're listening, are you still happy with your setup? Any issues after a few months of use?
Now I need to find a mechanic with a 260 ft-lb torque wrench willing to assemble it for me.
__________________
2015 KZ Spree Connect 260RKS
2012 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 V8 AWD
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09-13-2012, 05:44 PM
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#47
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Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 236
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Been out of touch for a while. Rooby, our Roo 233s has been getting its power slide motor repaired.
We drove over 6500 miles up an over 9000 ft passes and spent 21 days on the road pulling the Roo with a 16" shank. Best purchase ever.
Pull through over night stops were so easy. We frequently never even unhitched because we had enough clearance to drop the bed. This really came in handy when we rolled into a flea bag campground in the dark late at night.
It was great dropping the lift gate to get my gas can out on the side of the road in a national grassland when we almost ran out of gas.
I added a washer to change the ball angle and used 5 links on my eaz lift 1,000 lb hitch to keep everything level.
So, it worked for me and I am really pleased with the outcome.
Best wishes on your traveling adventures.
__________________
Kevin, Meg and DDx2
2012 Rockwood Roo 233s
2014 White Expedition 4x4 EL
Local Ohio CGs - West Branch SP
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09-13-2012, 05:52 PM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Komoka Ontario
Posts: 2,680
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You could always put a Hensley on, but if all you want is clearance it's a bit expensive, I can open mine no problem but you need to remember to close it or..........
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"Well that didn't go as expected"
2015 Chev 2500HD Highcountry Duramax
Cedar Creek Silverback 33IK
Donald&Casey cairn terrier
Rest in Peace Mary my darling wife.
Scottish by birth Canadian by time.
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09-13-2012, 07:26 PM
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#49
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Londonderry, NH
Posts: 23
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Thanks
Thanks Kevin. Unless someone tells me my logic or my math is all wrong I think I'll go for it. I'll ask my friend who's a math professor tomorrow.
__________________
2015 KZ Spree Connect 260RKS
2012 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 V8 AWD
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09-13-2012, 08:23 PM
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#50
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Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 236
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldRock
Thanks Kevin. Unless someone tells me my logic or my math is all wrong I think I'll go for it. I'll ask my friend who's a math professor tomorrow.
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Interested in hearing the professor's response but i ultimately exhausted my sources of information. I contacted at 4 least different hitch manufacturers, forest river, inc and at least 5 different RV stores in addition to seeking advice from this forum. No consistent answers. I tried the math and finally accepted the fact that they sell the different length shanks to go with my specific hitch and there were no manufacturer warnings specific to the shank length itself.
I was cautious during my first tow due to the dire warnings that some people shared but i had 4 trial runs of varying lengths before our bid trip which sealed my decision to use it on my long trip.
__________________
Kevin, Meg and DDx2
2012 Rockwood Roo 233s
2014 White Expedition 4x4 EL
Local Ohio CGs - West Branch SP
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09-14-2012, 03:58 PM
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#51
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Londonderry, NH
Posts: 23
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My professor friend hasn't helped much yet - said he wanted to think it over and work on it and will get back to me.
I re-read the installation and assembly instructions I had downloaded for my Reese Pro-Series hitch and there's a note that says "some applications may require a longer shank ... shanks of various sizes are available separately." So a longer shank is endorsed in writing!
I also checked with the power tongue jack manufacturer about rotating the jack. The answer is no.
I took it over to my local VIP Auto store. They took out the short shank, installed the longer one, and tightened the two 3/4" bolts to the required 260 ft-lbs of torque (it took two guys to do it). No charge! So I'm all set to go for my next trip in three weeks.
Thanks again for your information.
__________________
2015 KZ Spree Connect 260RKS
2012 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 V8 AWD
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07-05-2019, 09:40 AM
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#52
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Adventurer
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 236
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Longer shank length update
It's been 7 years since I bought the longer shank length so I could open my tail gate of my truck while still connected.
I towed Rooby, my 233s that I bought in 2012 over 25,000 miles with my 2004 F150 super crew before I traded it in 2017 for a 2014 Expedition EL in 2017.
In 2017, I completed my second 7,000 mile cross country trip from Cleveland, Ohio to Sequoia National Forest via the Grand Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park.
During the last two years, I completed a couple shorter 500 mile trips around Ohio and New York and just got back from my most recent 1,000 trip to Mammoth Cave National Park and back.
My experience with the longer shank length has remained a very positive one. I was always able to drop the lift gate of the truck and I am able to very easily get things into and out of the Expedition's rear window without having to disconnect. I have always been able to drop the front bunk of the camper while remaining connected as well.
Best of all, during our all of these trips, we always had the choice to stay connected if we were only staying one night or if we had no intention of taking any side trips which sped up the set up and tear down process.
__________________
Kevin, Meg and DDx2
2012 Rockwood Roo 233s
2014 White Expedition 4x4 EL
Local Ohio CGs - West Branch SP
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