tow hitch extension
 

I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once. Hence I'm looking at
getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices so far 4' or 18", it
seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried that 4' might be too long,
any suggestions? For what it's worth I have a 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer now, but
it's an '88, don't know if it will be replaced by another 4x4 down the road.

mike92105 wrote:
I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once. Hence I'm looking at
getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices so far 4' or 18", it
seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried that 4' might be too long,
any suggestions? For what it's worth I have a 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer now, but
it's an '88, don't know if it will be replaced by another 4x4 down the road.


I would not consider extending the vehicle end of the business. You
want an extendable tongue on the trailer. If you think about the
geometery you will see why.

My tongue extension was welded up by a friend using 4" square tubing
recycled scrap sliding through three short 4-1/2 " square tubing
bits welded to the trailer frame. As my trailer is a flat bed made
from a mobile home, I ended up with an odd arrangement where the
tube extends beneath the regular hitch and uses another hitch
coupler which bolts on finger tight and is removed to stow the
extension so as to eliminate interference problems. The extension
is held in position by a drop in pin and binds a bit when the boat
is on the trailer, 'cause it was welded up when the boat was off,
but a gob of grease once a year helps, as does a whack with a hammer
at one critical point.

It is on centre, but need not be, looking after the fact.

You may be able to do it more simply. Mine is 12 feet long, which I
need 'cause its a 29' boat. Keeps the truck dry. Works good. Cost
about 75 bucks all together.

Terry K

I've added and subtracted length from my trailer on a couple of boats.

A good trailer guy can set you up with a sliding insert that can be affixed
with a truck sized pin ( or two, on mine). You can pick your length by
drilling extra holes. Just be sure you have enough still in the tube to be
safe. Lots safer ( I would think) than extending the vehicle end. You can
also tow with the shortest position and only move the extender out just
before launching.
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

"mike92105" wrote in message
news:rmJqd.105138$SW3.48799@fed1read01...
I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once. Hence I'm looking
at
getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices so far 4' or 18", it
seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried that 4' might be too
long,
any suggestions? For what it's worth I have a 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer now, but
it's an '88, don't know if it will be replaced by another 4x4 down the
road.

"mike92105" wrote in message
news:rmJqd.105138$SW3.48799@fed1read01...
I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once.

The end of the exhaust pipe going under water is not a problem. I would
recommend stopping before the water depth was sufficient to spill over the
doorway and get the floor all wet, but otherwise it isn't going to create
any major problems by getting the car wet. If you are launching in salt
water then there may be some issues about corrosion but I wouldn't expect
them to be any worse than what people who drive in the snow have to put up
with.

Hence I'm looking at getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices
so far 4' or 18", it seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried
that 4' might be too long,

I can't imagine adding four feet of extension to the draw bar for towing
down the road. The leverage the boat would have on your tow vehicle would
be awful, and I would expect that you would have a terrible time getting
over speed bumps and out of driveways without dragging the hitch. I would
also expect the rig to sway badly going down the road.

I suppose that you could use the extension just for the backing down the
ramp phase, and then use a standard length draw bar for actually towing.
Having a four foot extension would certainly make the steering while backing
"interesting"......

Rod

Check this out: http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

"mike92105" wrote in message
news:rmJqd.105138$SW3.48799@fed1read01...
I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once. Hence I'm looking
at
getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices so far 4' or 18", it
seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried that 4' might be too
long,
any suggestions? For what it's worth I have a 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer now, but
it's an '88, don't know if it will be replaced by another 4x4 down the
road.

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:53:14 -0800, "mike92105"
wrote:

I'm getting a sailboat (22') ready for trailering, last time out I seem to
remember getting my exhaust under water more than once. Hence I'm looking at
getting a hitch extension. I've seen only 2 choices so far 4' or 18", it
seems to me that 18" is too short and I'm worried that 4' might be too long,
any suggestions? For what it's worth I have a 4x4 Jeep Wagoneer now, but
it's an '88, don't know if it will be replaced by another 4x4 down the road.

If you have a receiver hitch probably the easiest and cheapest fix
would be to buy a piece of 2" square tubing of whatever length you
feel is adequate and drill a couple of holes. You could change out at
the ramp just before launching. Additional length might make backing a
little more interesting but it should be something you can get used
to.

In my experience, added length made backing up MUCH easier. It's the little
12 foot boat trailer that is most difficult. Watch an 18 wheeler back up
versus a small boat. RichG
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

" On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:53:14 -0800, "mike92105"
wrote:

If you have a receiver hitch probably the easiest and cheapest fix
would be to buy a piece of 2" square tubing of whatever length you
feel is adequate and drill a couple of holes. You could change out at
the ramp just before launching. Additional length might make backing a
little more interesting but it should be something you can get used
to.

On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 18:25:04 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:

In my experience, added length made backing up MUCH easier. It's the little
12 foot boat trailer that is most difficult. Watch an 18 wheeler back up
versus a small boat. RichG
A longer trailer is much easier to back but it seems a hitch extension
(as opposed to a trailer extension) would exaggerate the tongue swing
making it easier to overcompensate. The only one I ever made was only
about a foot long and didn't make any appreciable difference but it
seems if you reach out several feet it could cause it to handle
differently.

I suspect that you are right.... that a hitch (vehicle-side) extension would
aggravate the backing up angles..... and a tongue extension on the trailer
would mitigate the same angles. Thanks for the clarification...regards,
RichG
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

"Tom" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 18:25:04 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:

In my experience, added length made backing up MUCH easier. It's the
little
12 foot boat trailer that is most difficult. Watch an 18 wheeler back up
versus a small boat. RichG

A longer trailer is much easier to back but it seems a hitch extension
(as opposed to a trailer extension) would exaggerate the tongue swing
making it easier to overcompensate. The only one I ever made was only
about a foot long and didn't make any appreciable difference but it
seems if you reach out several feet it could cause it to handle
differently.