Extended hitch for towing with a truck camper

Lud04X · 03-16-2009, 09:12 PM

I have a '95 F250 Powerstroke Diesel that I use to tow my Jeep on a 16ft tandem axle trailer. Now I've added a truck camper to the truck and the back sticks out about 1 and 1/2 feet past the rear bumper. Looks like I need an extended hitch. Does anyone have experience using one and where should I be looking?

**Joe Dillard** · 03-16-2009, 11:38 PM

I have a slide-in camper as well which sticks out past my bed ~2'.

I run a Reese Titan Class V (yes, class five) and a 2.5" x 2.5" x 32.75" extension. The extension has a 7 pin pigtail incorporated into it. The hitch is major beef. I purchased the hitch from a local RV supply store.

I run airbags as well with the heavy camper and ~700# tongue weight of my trailer which I tow my Jeep on. It does work pretty well although I do want to add a quality aftermarket rear swaybar since the idiots at DC don't even offer them as an option.

Silver_Hilton · 03-17-2009, 02:25 AM

As mentioned, these extended hitch bars are readily available. There are several online sources where you might also get them cheaper than locally.

Two things that I'd be leary of though are:

1. The total weight of your combination camper and traielr/Jeep and your F250's GVWR - Aren't you overweight?

2. Sway. When you extend that hitch you'll increase your sway. Make sure you've got a good sway control hitch set-up.

PhilipG · 03-19-2009, 02:42 PM

I drive a '97 F250 PSD. I carry a Lance 1030 slide-in which is 11'10" long. This puts the dropped down over the bumper part at about 36" out. I had the folks at Discount Hitch make me an extension long enough to fit my Class C receiver with the ball end welded to the hitch. It then comes to just even with the back of the Camper. This way I don't get banged in the legs. I have two chains that are bolted on to the frame of the truck and then cinched up to the end of my tow bar with large chain boomers. I only tow flat so tongue weight is not an issue for me. Have successfully towed a Samurai, then a Cherokee and now my new-to-me Wrangler with no worries. Got maybe 175 bucks in bar and chain and boomers. PG

deltabravo · 03-22-2009, 09:15 PM

The BEST way to do it is with the TorkLift "Super Hitch" and the hitch extension, which the Super Hitch is made for.

**Joe Dillard** · 03-27-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltabravo

The BEST way to do it is with the TorkLift "Super Hitch" and the hitch extension, which the Super Hitch is made for.

You must have never seen what a local dealer offers.

Lud04X · 03-29-2009, 02:55 PM

I actually bought the superhitch from an RV dealer. 500 bucks. I got lucky on craigslist and found the 32" superhitch extension I needed for 300 bucks. I have firestone airbags in the rear of my 250 and put my camper on it and towed my Jeep with no problems and a level ride height.