Tips on Towing a boat w/ cabover camper - extension receiver

bustout · Post by **bustout** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:11 pm

Please help. I currently have a full size 3/4Ton short bed diesel truck and tow a 20ft Nitro.

I was looking into buying cabover campers and many models require the tailgate down. In order to tow a 14" extension is needed on the hitch receiver in order for the tow vehicle to have adequate clearance?

Anyone tow in this similar configuration? Is it safe? I worry about the extra stress on the receiver since the tow point is much further away.

thanks in advance
Jack

B.Carpenter · Post by **B.Carpenter** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:52 pm

I have a Dodge 1/2 Ton short bed with the 5.7 Hemi and tow a Ranger 520. I do have air bags on my truck. I recently purchased an 8 ft. Cab over Camper which goes 1 1/2 feet past the bed (No Tail gate). I use an 18" extention and it tows nicely. I was told the extention cuts your tow capacity in half. I called Ranger for the dry weight and I still have plenty to spar. Your 3/4 ton should have no problem. I use locks on the extention just like the hitch and receiver. It does look a little scary, but after towing a few times I got use to it. Hope this helps

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:34 am

I have a F-250 Long Bed and a Host 9.5 ft camper. I had a hitch built (class IV vs the Class III that comes on most tow packages from the factory). The hitch is welded into the frame and I use a 30 inch extension. This is the best way to ensure you have enough tounge capacity. Air Bagging the truck is a must in my opinion because of the added weight from the camper. My Host is about 3400 pounds. With the truck bagged and the hitch with the extension I have had no problems.
Smitty

Ron T. · Post by **Ron T.** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:47 pm

Had a one ton duely and an eleven foot lance . When I had the extention built by Accurate Hitch they STRONGLY recomended having an aftermarket hitch welded to the truck frame as the bolt ons will bend . Also had to use a larger solid square reciever . Remember with my application my reciever was over three feet long so it really had a lot of leverage from the boat . Personaly I wouldent take any chances. You have a lot at stake pulling a rig like what your talking about . Even if it costs you seven or eight hundred bucks its money well spent knowing your rig wont end up on the asphalt half way to your destination ! Find a quality shop that specializes in custom hitches not just some run of the mill fabrication shop . If your anywhere near the so. cal aria I recomend Accurate hitch .Its well worth the piece of mind knowing its done right .
Good luck .

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:14 am

Ron,
Those guys at Accurate Hitch are awesome. They did mine and all in it was around $600 bucks. If I ever get a new truck I will probably make the trip down there to have them do the hitch again.
Smitty

PF3352 · Post by **PF3352** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:39 am

Air bags are a must...Need to have that extra lift...Cant add anything new to what the guys have said already unless you live in the bay area and then I have a great guy that does awesome air bag work in Concord...

Make sure you remember to extend the light wires on you boat as well unless they reach with the extention..No fun to have everything ready to go and then try and plug in boat

I tried to upload a photo but dont know how...sorry

ironmanlu377 · Post by **ironmanlu377** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:22 pm

there is also another hitch out there that has two recievers like an over under shot gun and the extension is also two tubes welded together they then have chains that go from the sides of the reciever to the end of extension to remove horizontal movement cant think of who makes it though

PF3352 · Post by **PF3352** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:28 pm

This is the one I have..The double..It works great and it is nice to have my BBQ. The BBQ opens and swings way out so as to not block the door.[albumimg]839[/albumimg][albumimg]840[/albumimg][albumimg]841[/albumimg]

eagle123777 · Post by **eagle123777** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:45 am

if for only one or 2 people checkout sixpac campers in woodland, mine fits on 6.5ft bed inside so no extension needed. i didnt add air bags but did add super springs read to many times where air bags went out..3/4, duramax pullin a triton 21x2......jack

SKTR 20i · Post by **SKTR 20i** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:53 pm

I had an 11 1/2 foot Lance camper on my Ford F-350 which required a 3 1/2 foot extension. I installed a Class 5 hitch and it worked flawlessly. The Class 5 requires a 2 1/2" square bar where a Class 4 only accepts a 2" bar.

John.