Recommendation For Hitch Extender or Longer Ball Mount To Tow Trailer With Dodge Ram 3500

Updated 03/01/2012 | Published 02/26/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Hitch Extender for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 11" Extension

(29)

$77.35

Brophy Ball Mount for 2" Hitch - 3/4" Rise, 2" Drop - 13-1/4" Long - 10,000 lbs

(257)

$82.18

Question:

I am towing a 5,000lb rv trailer with a Dodge 3500 diesel truck. The truck is rated at 10,000 towing capacity but i want to leave my tailgate down to load my motorcycle and am considering a hitch extender to make this work. I need about 14 inches. Will your product work for this purpose?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

I would recommend to use a longer ball mount instead of a hitch extender. When using a hitch extender the tongue weight capacity is reduced by 50 percent, so a hitch that has a 600-lb tongue weight capacity will be reduced to 300 lbs.

If you have a 2 inch hitch on your Dodge 3500 truck and use a longer ball mount like the Brophy Ball Mount, part # BJ20, it will not reduce the tongue weight capacity and it measures 13-1/4 inches from the center of hitch pin hole to center of hitch ball hole. This ball mount will have a 10,000-lb towing weight capacity and a 1,000-lb tongue weight capacity.

You will also need to take into consideration when extending the trailer further back from the truck it will affect how the trailer reacts when backing up the trailer.

If you have a 2-1/2 inch hitch on your truck there will not be a ball mount that will be any longer than what is recommended for that hitch.

The Roadmaster Hitch Extension, part # RM-071, that you have referenced, is not designed to be used for any type of trailer. It is designed to be used only when flat towing a vehicle.

expert reply by: Jeff D