Hey anybody use a hitch extender on this forum to launch a boat in shallow water ramp. I just bought an 18" extender. Is it safe to tow a 3500 ilb boat with it a short distance.

2004 FX4 5.4 crew cab 3.73

#500 lb boat and trailer

 

You will probably be ok. If it starts to bend then you'll have to do something different. I couldn't let down my tailgate when I had a utility trailer (with the jack mounted on the front) hooked up. I took a hitch I wasn't using to a machine shop and had them remove the tubing and add a piece 4" longer and 3/16" thick walled. Only cost me $20. The extender was $35.....

 

Personally I wouldn't tow with it. They are designed to drive to the ramp, drop the trailer, put extender on, rehook trailer and launch. Reverse that after reloading the boat.

When you extend your hitch like that, you are giving the trailer a lot more leverage on the rear of your truck and will have a lot more 'effective' tongue weight.

Also, with your hitch extended 1.5 feet, your truck will have much less of a departure angle. Not sure where you boat at, but the areas I drag mine to are filled with roller coaster type roads.

Going through a dip in the road could slam your ball/coupler into the ground quite easily. Also, going over a hump would lever the coupler high into the air as the truck clears the hump, possible slamming your lower unit into the ground.

Depending on your specific boat, areas, etc., you may be alright, but these are just some things to think about...

 

I work at a marina and tow all sorts of stuff. I would NOT recommend towing any distance with an extension for all of the reasons noted above. (Even though you're talking a very light boat.) I'd also add that the amount of additional play you'll get between your hitch and the new effective end of the draw bar will cause all sorts of havoc as things bounce up and down and side to side. Try wiggling one of those things around a bit and you'll see what mean.

 

There always seems to be disclaimers with those extenders that capacities are significantly reduced.

I would put the extender on and off at the ramp and not tow with it.

If we are talking about salt water, the tide will change the whole dynamic of a ramp. I go past two ramps that are a lot closer to me so I can launch at a decent one, unless I know I'm launching at High and coming in at High.

 

I just back my whole truck in, that's what 4x4 low is for. Never had a problem. On my lake you have to back 25 feet into the lake before it's deep enough.

 

This is my low-tide procedure...

In order to keep my truck dry, I normally release the wench but keep the strap hooked to the bow eye. Then I get into the truck and back into the water and step hard on the brake just before my rear wheels get wet. That normally launches the boat - but it is still attached to the strap. I then have to get wet or walk carefully on the trailer and up onto the bow.

I've got a 20' CC with a 12" draft. This may not work on larger boats with higher bows or deeper V's.

 

He probably has bunks instead of rollers.

 

This is better info then I got on the boat forums. I own a bunk trailer and the boat wieghs 3000 lbs. Man I suck at typing. I use to back up my 200 f-150 into the water with the weels halfway submerged but I dont want to do that to the new truck for obvious reasons. Also it is salt water and cant be good for the brakes. My old truck suse to lock right up after I washed it. The brakes would just stick shut.

I guess I can go throught he whole ordeal of recoecting the trailer.