Anyone trailering with a hitch extension

[boatrboy]

I don't like the fact that my truck is so far in the water when launching my RX. I am looking at extending my drawbar by 18 inches (making a new one). Has anyone done this or anything similar? Any issues towing? I realize I have to weld a bar to connect the chains and make an extension for the wires.
My trailer is a single Karavan.

Mark

 

[racerxxx]

Um, just put it in at the ramp.

 

[boatrboy]

Was looking at this and think it would be better to just make a longer drawbar.
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Brophy/HE12.html

 

[boatrboy]

Um, just put it in at the ramp.

please elaborate. Do you mean put the drawbar in at the ramp? If so that would not really be worth it to me.

 

[racerxxx]

That is exactly what I meant. It would take all of about 2 minutes to swap. Personally I hate the janky-ness of the trailer behind me and putting extra joint would be the end of me. So I strive to keep the joints rattle free so I don't have to hear it while driving 8 hours. That would work but for 2" shorter and almost $50 cheaper you can get a 12" from harbor freight. Only set you back a $20. Or for $30 you can get a 17" with an extra receiver on the top (just cut it off). Or if the beam is replaceable on the trailer just buy a section of 3X4 Galvanized box tubing, which would be my preferred method.


http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-hitch-extender-69882.html


17" (probably a tad shorter)
http://www.harborfreight.com/Dual-Hitch-Extender-69881.html

 

[mikidymac]

Honestly those are the wrong way of going about it. You are increasing the leverage on the tow vehicle receiver with those products and it can have a very bad result in addition to adding another "joint" to fail. The also add slop and extend your hitch pivot point. The further you move away from the rear axle the worse it all becomes, that is why 5th wheels tow so nice because they are directly over the axle.

The cheapest and easiest solution is to just extend the trailer tongue. Go to your local steel yard and dig into the scrap bin.

On the Shorelandr trailer is is one bolt and one u-bolt to replace the entire tongue. I added 30" to mine by replacing the entire tongue for $15 in remnants from the local steel supplier and it took about 5 minutes to drill the new holes.

 

[Strizzo]

You could add a folding tongue kit and at the same time, extend the trailer tongue. Depending on the trailer weight, you can add like 30-something inches. This will do two things for you: not require backing so far down the ramp, and make the trailer easier to back up.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

my single is a LOT shorter than my old double and right after I got it I was thinking about adding to the tongue, vs extending the hitch but it looked like too much work.

I did look at one of these on e-trailer which might add 3 or 4 inches over my standard hitch ball holder but never bought it.

http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Hidden-Hitch/80233.html

I currently have sliders on the trailer which allows me to not have to back down too far on the more shallow ramps (one really bad ramp in my area, the rest are no problem)

I can slide my RXTX off the back of the trailer even when only a couple of inches of the bunks are in the water with no problem, did it Saturday.

so maybe sliders might be a cheap solution?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

The load-rite double uses the same frame as their pontoon boat trailer... it's massively oversized for two smaller skis...

 

[boatrboy]

my single is a LOT shorter than my old double and right after I got it I was thinking about adding to the tongue, vs extending the hitch but it looked like too much work.

I did look at one of these on e-trailer which might add 3 or 4 inches over my standard hitch ball holder but never bought it.

http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Hidden-Hitch/80233.html

I currently have sliders on the trailer which allows me to not have to back down too far on the more shallow ramps (one really bad ramp in my area, the rest are no problem)

I can slide my RXTX off the back of the trailer even when only a couple of inches of the bunks are in the water with no problem, did it Saturday.

so maybe sliders might be a cheap solution?

Well I decided to make an extended hitch like the one you have shown only 18" longer than the standard ones. I did a short test towing around the block and it seems to be no problem but after a trip to the ramp I will know for sure. Not really worried about the few extra tongue weight pounds as I tow a 9,000 lb Sea Ray with no issues. I welded brackets to hold the chains and made an extension wiring harness.
I am also glad I was scrutinizing the tongue of the trailer because I noticed the bow stop was setup wrong. The strap went over the stop roller so one good quick stop and the ski would have launched over the roller. I added a safety chain while I was in there too. I do realize that the best way was to extend the trailer tubing or add the folding tongue, but this drawbar was free (I have access to the machine shop at work) and extending the trailer would require a costly galvanized tube and a complete rewire. I will see how this works and take a picture shortly.

Also my corrected bow roller setup