How to Gain Turning Clearance between a Truck and Bumper Pull Trailer

Updated 05/28/2015 | Published 05/26/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Multi-Ball Adjustable Ball Mount for 2" Trailer Hitches

(186)

$202.29

Curt Class III Drawbar - 2" Rise - 4" Drop - 13" Long - 7,500 lbs

(2273)

$39.94

Question:

I have a cargo trailer with a 2 5/16inch ball. I am putting a water tank 24inch wide on the tongue and will thereby reduce my turning radius. I see some hitch extensions, but they seem to max out at about 4,000 lbs. I need something that will extend my hitch by around 12inch that will take a load of at least 7,000 pounds. Do you sell either longer trailer hitches like a 24inch hitch for a 2 5/16 ball that would take a 7000 lb load, or an extension of say, 12inch that would do the same load?

asked by: Aaron L

Helpful Expert Reply:

The problem that you will run into when using a hitch extender is the tongue weight capacity of your trailer hitch will be reduced by 50 percent. Based on the weight of your trailer and the fact that you are adding a water tank to the tongue of the trailer, I would guess that your current trailer hitch might not have the weight capacity to handle the trailer tongue weight if the capacity was reduced by 50 percent.

The best option for your situation is to use a longer ball mount. I am not sure what size trailer hitch you are currently using, but something like the Curt Multi-Ball Adjustable Ball Mount, # D900, has a 10,000lb towing capacity and a 1,000lb tongue weight capacity when using the 2-5/16 inch hitch ball. This ball mount measures 15 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the ball.

If you prefer a fixed ball mount, like part # C45270, I would need to know the exact rise and drop that you need to tow your trailer level. I have attached a help article that explains how to choose the correct rise and drop if you aren't sure what the rise or drop of your current ball mount is.

Keep in mind, the tongue weight capacity of our ball mounts is 10 percent of the gross towing capacity. You may want to determine your actual trailer tongue weight before choosing a new ball mount, especially since you will be adding a water tank to the front of the trailer. I have attached a help article for this as well.

expert reply by: John H