Using a Hitch Extender to Reach Past Lowered Tailgate to Tow Trailer and Carry Golf Cart

Updated 07/07/2014 | Published 07/05/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Hitch Extender For 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver 7"

(372)

$87.86

Brophy Ball Mount - 3" Rise, 4" Drop - 14-5/8" Long - Aluminum - 8,000 lbs

(158)

$106.34

Question:

looking for way to ext my hitch back 6in reason i ask is if i haul my golf cart in my truck i have to leave my tailgate down which is then going to make my tailgate hit my tongue jack so i need to ext it

asked by: Doug R

Expert Reply:

Some hitch extenders provide more clearance but are for flat towing a vehicle behind an RV. There are other extensions, such as # HE06 which can be used for towing. With these or any extender it will reduce the tongue weight capacity of the trailer hitch by 50 percent.

For example if the tongue weight capacity of your hitch is 500 pounds, using the extender will reduce it to 250 pounds. So the tongue weight of the trailer cannot exceed 250 pounds. Adapter # HE06 has a 350 pound tongue weight capacity and 3,500 pound gross trailer weight capacity. But if the reduced tongue weight capacity is less than 350 pounds, that is the capacity you need to go by.

Another option is to use the longest ball mount you can find such as # EA40 (3 inch rise or 4 inch drop, 6k gross trailer and 600 tongue weight). This ball mount measures 16 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the ball hole without reducing the tongue weight capacity of the hitch.

expert reply by: Michael H