Will Welding Trailer Hitch Extender to Underside of Bumper Increase Tongue Weight Capacity of Hitch

Updated 07/13/2015 | Published 07/10/2015

Question:

i have a dodge ram 2500 with the stock hitch but has an aftermarket bumprt which is heavy plate steel the bumper is so big you need a hitch extension to hook up my 9000 pound trailer can i weld the extension to the plate steel bumper to increase the tongue capacity

asked by: Robert C

Expert Reply:

Using a hitch extension will typically reduce the tongue weight capacity of a trailer hitch by half. You could possibly gain some of this capacity back by welding the extender to the underside of the bumper, but it would be absolutely impossible to say by how much. Yes, you're providing support, but the minute you start welding on the extension, you're changing the molecular structure of the metal which weakens it.

Long story short, you can weld the extension as you propose, but you'll end up with a set-up that has an unknown weight capacity which is very dangerous. My best advice for you would be to go back to the stock bumper, so the extender wouldn't be necessary.

expert reply by: Mike L