Availability of Hitch Extender with 800 lb Tongue Weight Capacity

Updated 04/19/2014 | Published 04/18/2014

Question:

I pull a 6000 lb. travel trailer. I need an extender so that I can open my tailgate so that my motorcycle will fit in the bed. do you make an extender that will handle 800 pounds of tongue weight? thanks,

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

The problem with using a hitch extender is that because it moves the tongue load further rearward from the receiver opening, using an extender will LOWER the tongue weight capacity of your hitch by 50 percent. If the hitch on your truck has a 500, 600 or even a 1000 lb tongue weight capacity (check sticker on hitch), cutting that in half by using the extender will leave you with insufficient capacity to tow your travel trailer. Even if your hitch had a high enough tongue weight capacity, unfortunately none of our extenders would have that kind of capacity. I sure wish I had better news for you.

If enough of the bike's rear wheel would remain in the bed, simply removing the tailgate might be a good solution.

expert reply by: Mike L