saggys
WI
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Joined: 02/02/2008
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I am considering making my own hitch extension. I think duplicating something like a super hitch and super truss extension from my current receiver is doable. Add another 2 inch box below the original and beef up the mounts from the box to the receiver frame. Building the super truss should not be that hard if one can find stock. Current hitch is 10,000WD 1,000TW: 5,000WC 500TW it is a V5 Ford OEM 2" receiver. Extension needed is 24", load to carry 3,000lbs.
You can buy a 18" extension for a 2" receiver, so you would think 6" more with a homemade truss and turnbuckles should work. Any one have pic's of their handy work?
1999 F350 4WD CC SRW V-10, 4.30 Tow Package, HD Camper Package.
2004 Northstar 850SC with 3 jack Stable Lift.
2006 Triton Frontier 17 with 60hp Merc 4 stroke tiller.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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You can get 1/4" wall 2" o.d. hitch tube as well as seamless 2" i.d. reciever tube from most steel yards in 20' lengths. No problem finding enough length of tube for the project.
You're only talking about what, a 350-lb tongue weight on a 24" extension, but your factory hitch is only rated to 500 lbs without weight distribution. Start with a heavier built reciever platform, like a Reese Titan or Tow Beast or Curt Magnum or Torklift Superhitch, then put your home made extension into it.
Or build your own reciever platform using material sized like the above-mentioned hitches. My Magnum uses about 4" square 1/4" or thicker wall tube for the main cross tube. The reciever tube pierces the cross tube and is welded at both ends. Side plates are 1/4" or thicker, extend forward on the frame about the same distance as any reciever hitch. The Titan hitch's side plates extend alot further forward and I think they have a better design than the Magnum I have.
Make sure your welds are structural quality full penetration full fusion and fully filled beads appropriately sized for the base material thickness with no voids or porosity that you are confident will pass a destructive weld test! Otherwise, leave the hitch manufacturing to the pro's...
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jimh425
Western WA
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It might be doable, but I'd rather have someone to blame if the welds break. I'd look for a used on on Ebay, Craigs List, Rv ad sites, etc, first.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
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DanAKAL
Alaska
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Joined: 06/17/2007
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I have made hitch extensions in the past out of the 1/4" x 2" square hitch tubing. I can't address the rated towing capabilities of such things. I guess we are sort of on our own when it comes to this. The only grief I really experienced is drilling holes in the tubing. This isn't any fun. I recommend a drill press to make things much easier. If you don't have a press take it to someone who does. Even if you have to pay them it is money well spent to avoid the aggravation of drilling through 1/2" inch of steel and keeping the holes in each side concentric with each other.
Dan
2002 Dodge CTD - Duelly
1995 Lance 945 - Hope It Is Half As Tough As My Cameo Was
1990 Dodge Ram W250 - SOLD! Could Make A Hemi Shimmy!
1987 Cameo 9 ft TC - SOLD! One Tough TC!
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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jimh425 wrote:It might be doable, but I'd rather have someone to blame if the welds break. I'd look for a used on on Ebay, Craigs List, Rv ad sites, etc, first. And if it does break I want a receipt from the local hitch shop that carries liability insurance for just such issues. Things happen..
* This post was
edited 05/26/08 01:09am by SCVJeff *
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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INSAYN
NW Oregon
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Joined: 12/29/2003
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I do alot of metal fabrication and trust my welds, but still left it up to those with engineering degrees to design, manufacture, and sell hitch and extentions that are "rated". I feel very comfortable with my decision and for the amount I paid for each part. 
1997 F350 CrewCab PSD 4x4, auto.
2005 SnowRiver 8'10", Loaded + EU2000i.
2005 8.5'x16' Interstate West Cargo trailer, Line-X'ed
2005 16' Fish-Rite Rogue welded aluminum boat, 2005 40HP Yamaha 2-stroke O/B.
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Crumm
Fairbanks Alaska
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saggys wrote:Any one have pic's of their handy work?
I added a upper link on mine to transfer the tongue weight from the extension to the truck bumper. Setup is very stout and easy to build. Some guys have trouble seeing how it helps but if you look at the first pic and see that the upper link goes up on a angle you will see how it pulls the extension up and removes all twisting stress from the receiver cross tube which is what normally fails with a long extension. My extension is only 18" long but I still wanted the extra support. When I tighten the threaded upper link it pulls the extension up in the receiver tube and even with a heavy trailer hooked up it remains tight on the top rather than how most receivers are with the slack on the top.
96' F350 PSD with smoke added, Airbags, Trailmaster SSV shocks, 315/75R16 Toyo M/T, Centering guides.
06' Adventurer 90FWS
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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that looks like a nice solid design.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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Steve_in_29
29 Palms (SEMPER FI), CA 92277
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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The stock Ford hitch isn't up to the task. Even if you make your own extension you should still start with an aftermarket hitch (such as a Titan or Tow beast) for the base. A 350lb tongue weight on the end of a 2' extension is approx 700lbs of force on the receiver.
On the extension use 2" solid bar stock for the stinger that goes into the receiver and run it as far as you can into the extension tube. You could also look into some 3/8" wall tube for the extension.
Are you sure you need 24"? On my combo a 18" extension places the ball exactly at the rear of the TC. I don't know the brand of my extension as it was an option when I bought my TC. It is a heavy sucker though as it does have the solid stinger.
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
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saggys
WI
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Nice job Crumm, how did you anchor side chains and to what? The receiver? That looks every bit as stout as what could be purchased. Thanks for the photo's. I am going to weigh the tongue on my boat and scale the boat also. One of the main reasons I want to avoid buying a whole new reciever and extension is I will have to replace my rear Torque Lift tie downs, they are curved for the factory OEM Ford receiver. I know poor planning on my part.
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