Hitch Reciever Extender

isutherl · **Posted:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:22 pm

I need to tow a 5'x8' U-Haul trailer about 300 miles, does anyone use a hitch extender, and if so is it and 8" of 14"? If you don't use an extender do you have problems with trailers hitting the spare tire during sharp turns?

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:31 pm

depends on the jack how its layed out. i took my spare off and put it on my roof rack when i had a small baby enclosed trailer on it. i couldnt even get the trailer on the ball, well it would go on, but the lever i couldnt pull up to lock/latch it because the tire was there. so i latched the hitch and ball on the trailer first, then had my friend hold it and guide it in as i backed up slowly. but later on realiazed if i made too sharp of a turn the jack touched the tire. so i just put my tire on my roof.

but with another trailer i had, it didnt have a jack, it was a tiny 4wheeler trailer(yamaha rhino) and you can roll the trailer around by hand with nothing on it. so i did the same thing by latching the ball on the trailer first and sliding it into the hitch by myself. and there was no jack to hit the spare when i turned or went over steep driveways or hills, so i left my spare on for that trailer.

so if your trailer has a jack, i would probably just put the spare tire in the trailer, only 3 lugs holding the spare on anyways

droptop · **Posted:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:00 pm

The easiest thing to do is get an extra long ball mount. You will need to look to find one, but I got one that is 4 inches extra long (4 inches longer than a standard ball mount) this extends the ball under the back edge of the spare tire which puts it back far enough that it won't be a problem. You still need to open the door to put the trailer on the hitch but its a good solution.

callaway · **Posted:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:25 pm

I towed a uhaul car dolley with the liberty using a standard 2" drop hitch. Plenty of room bewteen the spare and the ball for the trailer to mount properly.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:47 am

I usually open the rear gate, mount the trailer and then close the door. haven't needed a hitch extender.

valoflyby · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:09 am

If you read the "fine print" on either the extra long ball mounts or the receiver extenders, you'll see that they significantly reduce your hitch weight and towing capacities. I would avoid them @ all cost unless you're towing something that you could also tow w/ a Civic or Corolla.

As others have said, taking the spare off, while a bit of a PITA, only takes a second. Usually once the trailer is hitched, you can pop the spare back on. Also, it all depends on the trailer's coupler and/or tongue-jack clearance. This may serve as a reasonable excuse to lift the jeep. (Get more clearance between the tongue height and the spare!)

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:17 am

I just use a longer drawbar. It is around 3-4" longer than the standard hitch drawbar with the ball mounted on it. This is perfect and extends well past the spare tire, so makes it easy to hook up a trailer, and take turns. I bought it off the previous owner who had bought if for Liberty while towing his travel trailers. He got it quite reasonable on Ebay.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:18 am

i just flipped my spare tier bracket and i have not had any problems hooking up a trailer or anything

sandracer · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:12 am

In order to keep my boat trailer tounge at the right height I went with a longer ball mount. I am just able to hook up the trailer without opening the gate or moving the spare. It was much cheaper than a hitch extender.

kjfishman · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:11 pm

sandracer wrote:

In order to keep my boat trailer tounge at the right height I went with a longer ball mount. I am just able to hook up the trailer without opening the gate or moving the spare. It was much cheaper than a hitch extender.

I did the same thing. A good place to buy one is etrailer.com

I think this is the one I bought http://www.etrailer.com/pc-BMC3~80232.htm

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:02 pm

As someone else mentioned you have to watch the weight with extra long draw bars or extenders but if you're within their specs you should be allright. I recall looking at extenders and using them reduced the rated towing capacity by 50%.

I have done a few things. The first draw bar I got from the local Jeep dealer who installed the factory rear reciever - they said they had to "order one special for the Liberty", and it was longer than the typical draw bar, was a 4" drop if I recall and had no clearance problems. This was originally for my 20' travel trailer and worked fine. I'm now using a Reese weight distribution setup which puts the ball well clear of the tire.

I then picked up a 4x6' utility trailer, and bought another draw bar with a 2" drop which allows the trailer to sit level. When hooking up that trailer (easily moved around when empty) the problem was as mentioned above, the ball latch would not open fully under the tire.

What I typically do (full or empty) is get it in position near the ball, then open the door, drop it on and latch it and close the door. Reverse for removal. Easier than messing with the tire.

Flipping the spare tire mount is also an option which increases the clearance below, I haven't tried that with the utility trailer but I might.

Dave

slikjr · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:20 pm

easiest thing I have found... with my lift and tires, I have a 3" drop hitch reciever. That way it sits about where it would at factory ride height and I have zero issues with the spare. Simple fix!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:42 pm

Yup, get a lift then you can use a drop hitch. works out great.

isutherl · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:42 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

i just flipped my spare tier bracket and i have not had any problems hooking up a trailer or anything

Any problems with the spare hitting the glass when opening the rear window?

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:31 pm

nope its good. it does clear the window. when i got my jeep it was flipped upside down, im like why is my tire tipped like that? lol

isutherl · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:57 pm

It looks like if I flip the tire carrier it will be lower than it is now,maybe I don't understand what you mean by flipping the spare tire?

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:26 pm

isutherl wrote:

jsc7002 wrote:

i just flipped my spare tier bracket and i have not had any problems hooking up a trailer or anything

Any problems with the spare hitting the glass when opening the rear window?

I have a 245/70/16 spare, it grazed the tire at first, added a couple of washers behind the two top bolts and it moved it out enough so it cleared.

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:28 pm

isutherl wrote:

It looks like if I flip the tire carrier it will be lower than it is now,maybe I don't understand what you mean by flipping the spare tire?

Removing the spare tire and rotating the spare tire carrier 180 degrees, raises the tire up (I'm not sure how much, thinking about 1") and tilts the bottom in/top out a bit, as I recall. Mine is back in stock configuration now.

Albert · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:08 pm

I have several trailers that I tow. A utility trailer and a regular drawbar with a 2" drop works fine and clears the spare. My boat trailer won't work with that drawbar because the surge brake unit mounted on the tongue hits the spare so I just got a 12" drawbar with a 2" drop and it works fine. I have also towed several other boats and a camper and I use whichever one works best. I have 3 different drawbars. I have also read that the longer draw bars reduce capacity but I have not had any problems. You can get them at any camper/boat dealer and they should let you put it on to check your clearances between the ball and spare tire.

parc · **Joined:** Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:14 am **Posts:** 13

RAYMAN975 wrote:

nope its good. it does clear the window. when i got my jeep it was flipped upside down, im like why is my tire tipped like that? lol

what size is your rim and tire?

I have a 245/70/17 !

Hitch Reciever Extender

Who is online