Hitch Extenders

Kermit · Sep 3, 2013

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=155053

This thread came up not long ago. I always wanted to try it but was told it's a bad idea. I would NEVER tow like this. Just change hitches before backing. We never did get an answer as to how well it works, though.

dave_ren · Sep 4, 2013

Have your buddy fabricate a tongue extension to your trailer rather than an extension to your receiver hitch. You want the tongue weight as close to your bumper as possible to reduce the moment (weight x length) at the hitch. It could put too much stress on your receiver causing it to fail. It becomes a lever, just like a breaker bar for loosening stubborn bolts.

You can fabricate a stronger tongue extension to the trailer which will actually reduce the tongue weight on the hitch when extended. Many C-22 trailers have extendable tongues which is simply a smaller square steel tube that slides inside the larger tube of the trailer frame held in place with two pins.

Check out this thread:
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=141050

and this page:
http://home.comcast.net/~catalina22fleet20/techtips/trailer.htm

Caish · Sep 23, 2013

Here is an Idea I had for those long shallow ramps.
Make/tire to the top of the trailer beside the keel.
Now your not overloading the hitch and you an keep your truck/car out of the water.
Another option was just to line it up and hook it to a chain and clevis that will not come loose. Let it roll into the water with chain taught ad will roll straight back.

watercolors II · Sep 23, 2013

Caish has the simplest, easiest and cheapest idea.

Can be made as long or adjustable as needed, could be bolted rather than expensive welding and no additional fabrication needed.

A very simple device and made even simpler to build with using this;

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-trailer-dolly-69898.html

Chief RA · Sep 23, 2013

I don't see any reason why a 3' extention can't be used in the truck reciever as well as the trailer tongue extention. I used the trailer extention to get my 250 wing into the water at Bodega Bay but had to put my rear wheels into the salt water to get it off and didn't like that! In November I will have to get her back on and intend to use a 3' truck reciever extention and the trailer extention. This will only be used at the launch and the tongue wheel will be down to just touch as I back down. My spare tire is designed so it can be rotated and lowered for tongue support if needed. Chief

Chief RA · Sep 25, 2013

Using as low a tow ball as practical is also an inportant concept as lowering the front of the boat/trailer can help launching a lot. Adding more length to your trailer entension would work great. Just be sure the extension addition is STRONG! Chief

Chief RA · Dec 6, 2013

Follow up for all trailer sailors. I retrieved my wing keel Cat 250 just before Thanksgiving from Bodega Bay launch site after it had been in the marina for 2 months. I had a 5' extension made for my truck reciever,used that and used the tongue extension on my trailer and pulled her out with no problems! Tires just in the water. Chief

Chief RA · Dec 6, 2013

upslims: I messed you and others up with my post. I just corrected it to be 5' not 5"! Sorry about that. Chief

Time_Out · Dec 6, 2013

I hope that I'm not hijacking this thread, but I have a question relating to hitch extenders. I have an F350 long bed quad cab truck with a single rear wheel axle and have been considering getting a truck camper for it. There are many options out there and the one that we like best has an 11 foot floor. Trailering the C22 with this camper would require about a 3' extension, which the manufacturer shows in use with their literature. The truck weighs about 7000 lbs and the camper about 2500. The camper's CG is 51" back from the front edge of the forward end of the truck bed, placing it well forward of the rear axle. Im not concerned with the towing capability, as we'd only be at about half the capacity. I'm just wondering if there are any others who have experience with this or a similar configuration and how it worked for you?

Chief RA · Dec 7, 2013

upslim: I missed your query about towing with the extension before. No, I would not tow with any extender in my reciever. My 5' unit isn't much of a problem to use at the launch and if it isn't then anything shorter should be easy! Chief

Tom J · Dec 7, 2013

SeasTheDay said:
I hope that I'm not hijacking this thread, but I have a question relating to hitch extenders. I have an F350 long bed quad cab truck with a single rear wheel axle and have been considering getting a truck camper for it. There are many options out there and the one that we like best has an 11 foot floor. Trailering the C22 with this camper would require about a 3' extension, which the manufacturer shows in use with their literature. The truck weighs about 7000 lbs and the camper about 2500. The camper's CG is 51" back from the front edge of the forward end of the truck bed, placing it well forward of the rear axle. Im not concerned with the towing capability, as we'd only be at about half the capacity. I'm just wondering if there are any others who have experience with this or a similar configuration and how it worked for you?

My son has an F350 quad cab dually with an Amerigo camper. He tows a heavy dual axle trailer with a 5' extension from the truck hitch to the trailer hitch, under the camper. He installed air bags on the truck, turnbuckles on each side of the extension, and a leveling harness on the trailer hitch. The rig rides level and is very stable on the highway. I couldn't believe it when he showed me the speed recorded on his GPS during his latest trip!

Tobydaisy · Dec 7, 2013

Way over kill. Any small SUV or small truck, Tacoma or Mazda B2000 can easily tow and launch a C 22. These are just trailers with Fiberglas bath tubs on them.

hewebb · Dec 8, 2013

To launch my 25' WK, I use a 16' extension made from a 2" piece of channel iron. Ball on one end and hitch coupler on the other. (Some folks use a rope or chain) Trailer has third wheel that I attach to the front of the trailer that takes the load and keeps the trailer straight going down the ramp. Some what of a pain to use, but works well.Most of the 22' boat trailers have an extension that is built in.

Snowman80 · Dec 8, 2013

if you don't mind a picture would be great. i have a good idea of what your talking about but im a visual person....lol

Time_Out · Dec 8, 2013

Tom J said:
My son has an F350 quad cab dually with an Amerigo camper. He tows a heavy dual axle trailer with a 5' extension from the truck hitch to the trailer hitch, under the camper. He installed air bags on the truck, turnbuckles on each side of the extension, and a leveling harness on the trailer hitch. The rig rides level and is very stable on the highway. I couldn't believe it when he showed me the speed recorded on his GPS during his latest trip!

Thanks Tom, that's what I was looking for, someone with some experience with towing with a truck camper. Somewhere I saw a pic of a C22 owner who was showed his rig behind his truck camper but not sure if he required an extension. I realize its more truck than needed to pull a C22, but it's what I have and the idea of having a bit more creature comforts available on trips and the ability to bring the boat too just really appeals to my wife and me.

Again, with apologies for what I now realize should be on a separate thread.

Snowman80 · Dec 9, 2013

Heres a link to another one. Very expensive but a solid idea

http://xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/pictures.htm

Hitch Extenders

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