When the receiver tube on your hitch isn’t long enough to clear an item like a spare tire, bike rack, or RV bumper rack, a hitch extender could be the answer. However, there are several important things to consider before using any type of hitch extension. In this post, we tell you how to use a hitch extender safely and effectively in the right circumstances.
- 1) What Is a Hitch Extender?
- 2) What Are the Benefits of Using a Hitch Extender?
- 3) Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hitch Extender
- 4) How to Measure for a Hitch Extender
- 5) How to Use a Hitch Extender Safely
- 6) Quality Hitch Extenders
- 7) Hitch Extender Alternatives
- 8) UPDATE! NEW TRAILER TOWING & WEIGHT LIMIT POST, VIDEO & CALCULATOR!
What Is a Hitch Extender?
A hitch extender is an accessory that slides into a hitch receiver. Its purpose is to provide additional space/clearance between the RV or tow vehicle and the trailer or car being towed. There’s a shank on one end that slides into your hitch’s receiver tube (just like the shank/stinger on a standard ball mount does), extending the distance behind the towing vehicle to provide additional space.
So, a hitch extender increases the length of your receiver hitch tube. The additional space between the two vehicles provides extra room for items such as a cargo carrier or bike rack… or, if you have a pickup truck, can allow you to extend/drop the tailgate even while your trailer is attached.
A hitch extender can be used on the hitch of an RV, truck, or other vehicle to extend the length of the hitch. Here you see our 1Up bike rack with our RAD e-bikes mounted on the back of our Honda CR-V. If we wanted to mount the bike rack on the back of the RV, we could create the additional space needed by using a hitch extender.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Hitch Extender?
Using a hitch extender can be beneficial in several different ways.
A Hitch Extender Provides Increased Clearance
The extension opens up the amount of space between the back of the towing vehicle and the front of the trailer or car being towed. That space can then be used for a bike rack, cargo carrier, or other platform. Even if you’re not towing, additional space may be needed on the back of your rig. These are the primary and most common uses of a hitch extender.
For example, let’s say you have a Class B RV with a spare tire mounted on the back of the rig, and you want to use a hitch-mounted bike rack. You may need a hitch extender to shift the bike rearward to prevent it from constantly bumping into your spare tire. Without an extender, the bike(s) may not fit at all with the spare tire in place.
Another example is if you tow using a pickup truck. In that instance, you may not be able to lower your truck bed’s tailgate when your trailer is attached (often because the tongue jack is in the way). Adding a hitch extender can move the trailer back far enough that you can now, more easily, access the bed of the truck.
A Trailer Hitch Extender Can Provide Improved Maneuverability
In some cases, an extender can be helpful in improving maneuverability when towing, backing, and turning. The added distance between the towing and towed vehicles allows tighter turns without conflict. Moving the towed vehicle further away from the towing vehicle increases the distance between them on both straightaways and turns.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hitch Extender
There are several factors to consider when purchasing an extender for your setup.
Length of the Hitch Extender
They come in various shank sizes and lengths for different towing configurations. There are cons/drawbacks to using one of these devices related to their length. You’ll want to buy the shortest model that will meet your needs. More on this below.
Weight Capacity of the Extender
As with most towing gear, each model has a maximum weight capacity, which the manufacturer sets. It’s crucial that you choose an extender with a weight capacity appropriate to your setup. As always, weight capacities should never be exceeded under any circumstances.
Compatibility with Your RV or Vehicle
Depending on whether you’re seeking to extend the hitch on your RV, truck, or car, you’ll need to be sure to buy a hitch extender that’s compatible with the rig/vehicle. Both the size of the receiver and the maximum capacity of the hitch have to be taken into consideration.
How to Measure for a Hitch Extender
You’ll need to take three measurements to choose the right extender for your setup.
Receiver Tube & Pin Hole
First, you’ll need to know the size of your receiver tube. This measurement is taken from side to side on the inside of the receiver tube. Most receiver tubes are 1 1/4″, 2″, or 2 1/2″. There are 3″ receiver tubes available for some large trucks, but these are much more rare. 2″ is probably the most common size receiver tube.
At the same time, you’ll want to take note of the diameter of the pin hole. You’ll want the pin hole of your extender to be the same size as the pin hole on your receiver. If the pin hole on your vehicle’s trailer hitch is 3/4″ be sure any extension you choose is the same size.
Accessory Shank
The receiver end of your extender will need to fit the shank/stinger of your hitch accessory (cargo box, bike rack, etc.). Here again, you’ll find that most accessory shanks are 1 1/4″, 2″, or 2 1/2″.
Extender Length
When you’re determining what length you’ll need, keep in mind that extenders are measured from the pin hole on the receiver end to the pin hole on the shank. That means a 14″ extender will move your hitch back exactly 14″.
A hitch extender is measured from pin hole to pin hole.
How to Use a Hitch Extender Safely
One of the most important factors to consider when setting up an extender is weight capacity. In order to safely use one, you must observe the weight ratings provided by the manufacturer at all times. That includes both gross trailer weight and tongue weight capacities. The most important thing to remember is to use the lowest-rated component in your towing system as your limiting factor.
You also need to be aware that both the towing and tongue weight capacities of the hitch will be reduced when an extender is used. One that’s less than 12″ long will reduce your load capacity by 25%. An extender that’s more than 12″ long will reduce your load capacity by 50%! Details should be provided with the extender, and to use it safely, you need to observe those reduced limits.
With all that in mind, it can be perfectly safe to use a hitch extender IF you stay within those guidelines. People use them all the time, but it needs to be done correctly.
Quality Hitch Extenders
There are a number of brands on the market. When it comes to towing, safety is paramount, so you want to be sure to buy a reputable name. Following are a few examples of hitch extensions in various lengths.
CURT 7-Inch Trailer Hitch Extension
- Fits 1-1/4" Receivers
- 7" Length - 1 1/4" Internal Dimension
CURT 18-Inch Trailer Hitch Extension
- CURT 45796 Receiver Extender; For 2in. Receivers; 18in. Length; 3500 lbs GTW; 350 lbs TW; Durable Black Powder Coat Finish;
- Gloss Black Powder Coat
RoadMaster 7.5” Hitch Extension
- Provides Additional Clearance: Adds 8.5" extention to your hitch receiver, providing additional clearance when the receiver is too far under the...
- Protects Vehicle from Damage: Perfect for use with cargo racks or bike racks, as it moves bikes away from the vehicle to prevent interference and...
Bonus: To help lock the extender into the receiver in an effort to prevent noise and movement, consider adding a hitch stabilizer, like this one from Roadmaster:
Roadmaster 061 Quiet Hitch Compatible with 2" Hitch Receivers on Motorhomes, Light Trucks, Vans & SUVs | Reduces Rattle & Movement for Quieter, Safer Towing | Built to Last
- Vehicle Compatibility: Roadmaster 061 Quiet Hitch is compatible with 2 inch hitch receivers on motorhomes, light trucks, vans, and SUVs; Reduces...
- Enhanced Driving Stability: Maintains consistent pressure for steady tracking through crosswinds, curves and quick maneuvers; This reduces driver...
Hitch Extender Alternatives
Most extenders range in length from 8″ to 18″. However, if you don’t want to extend your hitch 8″, or if you simply don’t want to use a hitch extender at all, you may be able to use a ball mount with a longer shank instead. For more on ball hitches, see our post on ball hitch sizes.
As a side note, since it’s possible that extending the hitch length could increase the amount the trailer tongue drops when connected, you may need to take into consideration the proper trailer hitch height. You may also need an extra trailer hitch lock to ensure your extender and ball mount are both secured to the towing vehicle.
Driving a diesel pusher? Now that you’ve got your extender installed, are you tired of seeing oil splatters from your engine all over your bikes and toad? Check out our video tip for reducing that annoying problem:
UPDATE! NEW TRAILER TOWING & WEIGHT LIMIT POST, VIDEO & CALCULATOR!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve released a new video and blog post all about Trailer Towing & Weight Limits. We’ve included a FREE towing and weight calculator that we designed to do all the math for you, making sure your rig is properly balanced and within all weight limits. Don’t let a sagging trailer alert everyone in the campground that you’re overweight, and don’t let the dreaded trailer sway ruin your trip (or worse)!
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Mike
Monday 7th of July 2025
I am curious if an extender will help to dampen the movement between motorhome and truck when flat towing. On our rough hiways I find the truck bounces a lot and wonder if an extender will help with the range of motion at the base plate connection
Mike
Tuesday 8th of July 2025
@TheRVgeeks, Thanks for the reply. I was asking about the motion of the tow bars as I am towing a Chev Colorado with a 45' motorhome with a Roadmaster set up and with the rough hi ways actually tore one base plate right off the truck. Where the base plates connect to the frame, it is just small 1/16" steel and the base plate is +/- 1/4" so that up and down motion just worked on the weakest link and tore the frame connection point. I took it to a welding shop and had them beef it up a bit but the frame is still the weak point and just wondering if we dampen the motion between motorhome and truck, if that would help reduce the stress at connection point.
TheRVgeeks
Monday 7th of July 2025
Hi @Mike. Good question. But we haven't heard of anyone using an extender for that purpose. If anything... we'd think that increasing the distance would only increase the lever arm (and, thus, the effect on the motorhome). Since our 43' diesel pusher was SIGNIFICANTLY larger and heavier than our little Honda CR-V, we never even noticed when it was back there. But if the truck you're towing is large & heavy, and your RV is smaller and lighter, it can definitely be an issue.
A couple of other thoughts... you might want to get a hitch stabilizer (like the Roadmaster model we linked to in the article) to help secure the tow bar's stinger into the RV's receiver. Doing that will help to stiffen up the connection and reduce movement. You may also want to inspect the towbar arms to ensure that everything is sufficiently secured AND lubricated... so things that shouldn't move, don't... and things that SHOULD move, can do so easily. If you're going to be at an RV rally at any point in the future, it might also be worth having your tow bar manufacturer's service team do a once-over on it (they often attend rallies just for that purpose).
Hope that helps.
Erik
Tuesday 9th of July 2024
Another reason to extend would be to allow the tailgate to open without hitting the trailer tongue jack. Only a small extension might be needed. In case an elaborate anti-sway and load distribution hitch is used, it might be impractical to lengthen the shank. Is it possible to find and extender that adds only a couple of inches, and how much would the maximum tongue weight have to be de-rated?
Mark
Monday 8th of July 2024
How would you recommend extending the safety chains? Replace them completely with longer chains (which might drag when not using the extender)? Adding short extensions of chain to each existing safety chain with a properly rated chain repair link (threaded style so it can be removed)? Other ideas? Thanks for the article.
TheRVgeeks
Monday 8th of July 2024
Hi Mark! If you plan to ONLY use a trailer that requires longer chains, replacing them is definitely an option. If you'll be towing more than one trailer, and only need longer chains sometimes, your idea of adding properly-rated links that can be removed when desired is a good one. Of course that plan will work for a single trailer, too, but just not as clean and continuous, which is really just a matter of aesthetics. So we'd suggest going with that (adding extensions), considering it sounds like you sometimes pull a different trailer. Just be sure that both the chain extensions, and the connector links, are properly rated. Also, links that can be added and removed by hand, without tools, would probably be easier to use. Hope this helps.
Harvey serota
Monday 10th of July 2023
You should mention the blue ox 12 hitch extender which does not change the towing capacity It’s solid steel and you pay the price but it’s worth it. It allows you to make a full u turn when towing a large pickup truck all four down without jack knifing
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 11th of July 2023
Hi Harvey. That Blue Ox 12" extender is designed hitch-mounted accessories or for 4-wheels-down flat towing another vehicle. But in their documentation, they mention the following:
Note: This hitch extender is designed for using hitch-mounted accessories or for flat towing only. Do not use to tow a trailer. Using this extension will reduce your hitch's tongue weight capacity by 50 percent.
So the same rules apply when towing a trailer.
Erik Basilier
Monday 10th of July 2023
I am on my second truck/travel trailer combination. In both cases, when I try to open the tailgate while hooked up, it hits the tongue jack. It looks like a hitch extension of just 1 inch would suffice to eliminate the problem. I understand that such an extension would have a negative impact on equipment ratings, but I think the impact would be much smaller than with the much longer extensions mentioned in the article. Don't many others have the same need? Why can't I find a really short extension on the market?
Erik Basilier
Monday 10th of July 2023
@TheRVgeeks, The hitch ball mount is part of the Equal-i-zer hitch, so I don't see a way to replace it. It is mounted to the 2 1/2"receiver through the adapter provided with the RAM truck, so maybe it is possible to find a longer version of such an adapter?
TheRVgeeks
Monday 10th of July 2023
Sorry to hear about that, Erik. It does seem like the towing equipment manufacturers haven't quite figured out that most people are towing with a pickup truck and would like to be able to open the tailgate without it hitting. Seems like that should've been top of the list on the original design spec. But, go figure.
Instead of getting a hitch extender (which, as you've already seen, typically come in larger lengths than you need and reduce the towing capacity), you could consider finding a hitch ball mount that's slightly longer than the one you have now. Possibly a multi-ball option (like this one on Amazon) may be just enough longer than your current mount that it would allow the tailgate to open completely. And would have the benefit of not reducing your maximum towing capacity.