What You Need To Know About Using A Hitch Extender
Posted on: 3 January 2023
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You may want a longer hitch to solve a specific problem you're having with towing a trailer or mounting a rack. A hitch extender can often help, but you'll find there are several options and considerations that come with them. Here is what you need to know about extending your trailer hitch before making the attempt.
Reasons for a Hitch Extender
Hitch extenders provide additional hitch length that can help in several scenarios:
- You're towing something that's too long for your current hitch
- You need the extra length to help with turns and maneuvering
- You need to attach additional safety chains
- Your trailer keeps bumping into or brushing up against your vehicle
- Your trailer's coupler sits too high or too low for your vehicle's hitch
- You need more clearance for your bumper or spare tire
Additionally, you may want to mount a rack or carrier without worrying about denting or losing access to your tailgate.
You may find that a better towing package or hitch upgrade from your vehicle's manufacturer can do what you need the hitch extension to do. If the available options can't solve your problem, then a hitch extension may give you what you need.
Choosing a Hitch Extender
Look at packages and hitch configurations designed for or rated for your specific vehicle. Look through your vehicle manufacturer's website. Check and ask questions in groups or on forums that center on your vehicle, your vehicle's manufacturer, or your type of vehicle.
You should also have a good understanding of your vehicle's Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and more specifically, its Tongue Weight (TW). Hitch extenders don't usually reduce GTW, but they can reduce tongue weight, sometimes by up to 50%.
The tongue weight, sometimes called hitch weight, represents the amount of force the trailer tongue presses down onto the hitch ball. Ideally, tongue weight should come in as 10% to 15% of the weight of the GTW. Choose a hitch extender that will still give you a tongue weight in that range.
Pay close attention to the specifications and instructions given by the hitch extension manufacturer. Also, make sure to do some research on the hitch extender to see what others have to say about the product or the manufacturer.
Options Other Than Hitch Extenders
If a hitch extension isn't quite what you're looking for, you can look into other options. For example, you can use a tongue extension, a longer ball mount, or some other configuration designed to extend your hitch in particular ways.
You can save yourself a lot of trouble by dealing with a professional and experienced dealer of trailer hitches and trailer hitch accessories. A reputable business can help you find exactly what you're looking for and remove a lot of the guesswork.
Contact a trailer hitch accessories retailer to learn more.