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05-22-2013, 08:15 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 35
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Double Hitch Extender Question
I bought a Curt double hitch extender so I can tow my 2013 Honda Fit and carry our bikes. The E-Trailer website says the hitch extenders/drop hitches reduce you hitch rating by half! I have a 5000 lb hitch on my Jayco Redhawk class C motorhome. So using their math my new hitch rating is 2500 lbs. Well my Honda Fit weighs 2580 lbs slightly more with our kayaks on top.
Do I need to buy a better hitch or is 100~150 lbs over 2500 lbs a big deal? Our bikes and tow bar only weigh about 150 lbs total so tongue weight is not the issue. It seems crazy that the hitch extender cuts my hitch rating in half. I can understand cutting the tongue capacity in half due to the longer lever but cutting the tow rating in half is crazy.
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05-22-2013, 08:20 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,569
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Be aware, flat towing a car is not the same as pulling a trailer! A trailer follows no matter what but a car HAS to be steered putting side load on the hitch. Just my honest opinion.......I would not even think of doing it.
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American Tradition 42R-Cadillac SRX Blue Ox Koni 5050XL MCD Scangauge D Samsung rf197
Fulltime since 2012
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05-22-2013, 08:24 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,971
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What they should clarify is that it reduces the pin weight by 1/2. So a 500# limit on pin weight would become 250#.
This is due to the increased lever arm on the hitch attachment points.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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05-22-2013, 08:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Which do you have specifically?
Curt Accessories and Parts - D-192
Curt 8" Dual Purpose Ball Mount - Combined weight rating of both receivers: 350 lbs TW/3,500 lbs GTW
- Top receiver opening not for towing use
- Bottom receiver for towbar or trailer use
- Pin and clip not included
Curt Dual 2" Receiver Tube Adapter, 8" Extension Curt Accessories and Parts D-192
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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05-22-2013, 09:09 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
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This is the one I have. I am well within the limits of the extension. But if I have to reduce my motorhome's hitch rating by half than my Honda Fit is just over the limit. I will try to find the E-Trailer webpage and link to it.
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05-22-2013, 09:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TXiceman
What they should clarify is that it reduces the pin weight by 1/2. So a 500# limit on pin weight would become 250#.
This is due to the increased lever arm on the hitch attachment points.
Ken
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That also holds for all forces on the extension, horizontal as well as vertical.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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05-22-2013, 09:54 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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I'm not sure any of us here are qualified to answer that. I guess the answer is "how lucky do you feel?" and "how good is your insurance?"
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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05-22-2013, 10:18 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 35
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It's tough and clearly not an exact science. I found another website that says the extension reduces only your tongue weight by 1/3.
I will probably switch the hitch out. Jayco puts a lower end model tubular hitch. I really don't care for the round or tubular hitches.
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06-03-2013, 11:13 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 585
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This is the one that I bought.
http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-.../RM-077-4.html
Recommendation is flat towing or 4 wheels down ONLY. I think they may be referring to a reduction in tongue weight.
__________________
07 Monaco Dynasty Diamond IV 42 ScanGuage D, AG Performance Module, Koni FSD, Safe T Plus, Ready Brake Elite, Ford F150 4x4 EcoBoost
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06-03-2013, 04:40 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 48
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Good info here.
I have a class C motor home without a generator so I made a 2 x 4 rack to slide into my trailer hitch to carry the generator. Then I figured that hey, just extend the 2 x 2 hitch tube further out the back of the carrier and I then could hook my Jeep to that and go down the road with the jeep and generator in tow.
I came to this forum to see if anyone knew where I could get a piece of 2x2 inside diameter section that I would use for the receiver.
After reading this post and thread I guess I will go a different route. Was'nt worried about the tongue weight because it 4 wheel tow the Jeep, but didnt think about the side torque the Jeep would cause on the extended hitch when making turns.
As usual, great stuff on the forum
Larry
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