Effect on Hitch Tongue Weight Capacity from Use of Hitch Extension

Updated 07/26/2017 | Published 07/24/2017

Question:

if my hitch will take 500 lbs tongue weight then I assume that if my load is 2 feet out from the hitch then my max load is 250 lbs. is this correct??

asked by: Terry E

Helpful Expert Reply:

You are correct that increasing the distance between the hitch receiver and the actual load on it will also increase the leverage applied to the hitch. And this DOES indeed reduce the hitch's rated capacity. Hitch extensions, even fairly short ones like the 8-inch Curt # C45791, will cost you HALF of the hitch's rated tongue weight capacity.

The physics of using adapters is more complicated than just the increased distance. Use of an adapter also allows for more motion of the suspended load. Motion of the load also causes additional stresses on the hitch tube. If the vehicle and load were motionless, that would be a different story, but in a dynamic moving system it matters a lot.

There is no simple formula for determining the exact capacity loss per inch of extension but you can definitely presume the reduction would be quite substantial, more than 50-percent.

expert reply by: Adam R