Can Trailer be Towed While Using Hitch Extender on 2017 Nissan Frontier

Updated 10/29/2018 | Published 10/27/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Hitch Extender for 2" Trailer Hitches - 14" Long

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$104.99

Hitch Extender For 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver 7"

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$83.12

Question:

2017 Nissan Frontier would like to tow a nuCamp T@B. I would like to take the dogs camping and while I tow. If we need to stop and pee, I would like to be able to open the tailgate to release the hounds without disconnecting the trailer. Is it legal to tow a trailer with a hitch extension?

asked by: Miki

Expert Reply:

It is perfectly legal to use a hitch extender; however, in some places there are laws about the total length a trailer can be. This almost certainly will not affect your ability to tow a nuCamp TAB but it is always a good idea to verify your local trailering laws.

There is another VERY important factor to consider before using a hitch extender, which is the fact that an extension will reduce the capacity of your trailer hitch by 50 percent. This means both the tongue weight capacity and the towing capacity of the hitch.

Due to this reduction in capacity the trailer hitch I highly recommend for your 2017 Nissan Frontier is the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch # 75282 because it has a 750 lb tongue weight, the most among available hitches for your truck; the hitch also has a 5,000 lb towing capacity.

For an extension there are a number of different lengths available, the 7" Extender # HE06, 14" Extender # C45795 and 18" Extender # HE18.

The use of any of these extenders with Draw-Tite hitch # 75282 will reduce its tongue weight capacity to 375 lbs and its towing capacity to 2,500 lbs.

The accompanying photo shows how this hitch looks when installed on a '17 Frontier and I have also added a link to an installation video of the hitch for you to take a look at.