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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1026 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2012 : 9:23:23 PM
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Just got home from a weekend trip and on the way home we hit some road construction with a 4" road transition that about got us airborne. The end result is my 18" hitch stinger bent. Now I'm perplexed about whether to go back to what I had and chalk this up to a freak incident or go the complete other way and pay through the nose for a super hitch. The stinger I have has worked for years under normal use so I've previously had confidence in it. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
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2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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lwokral
Contributing Member
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 09:04:41 AM
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Dave,
My previous camper was 9 1/2 foot in length. I used a simple shorter extension like yours for quite a while with no problem at all. I did use chains on both sides for stabilization. I assume that you have a factory receiver. I presently have an EC 1150. I have not yet pulled a trailer, but I will want to. Because of this longer camper, I'm looking at the Super Hitch vs. a 2 1/2" receiver. It will be interesting to see how you go.
Larry |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1026 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 09:51:44 AM
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| My extension is only 14" but the 2" hollow piece is the weak spot. I've got a friend that thinks he has a 2" solid bar out in the barn so he is going to start digging and call me back. |
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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admin-Rich
Founder
USA
2525 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 3:38:31 PM
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The hollow piece might be a good idea if thought of as a safety failure point.
It didn't fail - but like a popped circuit breaker, it let you know that serious damage could have occurred.
Had you a stronger part in that place, would something else have been damaged?
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Tinbender
Senior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 8:13:20 PM
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| I think I would stay with the hollow tube type. I have a Reese brand 18 inch extention and have used it for years towing utility trailer loaded with motorcycles, kayaks and gear. Seems it would take a lot of force to bend it and not damage the truck receiver. |
2007 950 w/slide, genset, satellite
TV, AC and Wave 3 heater. F350, 6 liter,
srw, airbags with pump and dual control.
Rickson 19.5's |
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rcgreb
Contributing Member
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 12:36:31 PM
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Dave,
I'm using a a super hitch currently, but on my old truck what we did is just beefed up the old hitch to look like a super hitch and then also made the stinger to copy cat the super hitch stinger and actually still using the same stinger now with the super hitch receiver. So that is a much cheaper option if you have a welder or know someone who does. |
2007 chevy classic 3500 Crewcab Dually.
2004 1150 Eagle Cap ser# 776
3000 watt Inverter
honda eu2000 |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1026 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 1:43:56 PM
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| I stopped at hitch shop this morning and the manager said he has never sold a hollow extension in his life. He had a solid bar in the length I needed right there. I'll try it and see what happens. The old hollow tube lasted 5 years until this unexpected road hazard. I am not trying to be a penny wise and pound foolish but every option I have explored got pricey real quick. |
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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wnjj
Senior Member
USA
317 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 7:27:41 PM
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I use a solid 18" under a 950. I wouldn't trust hollow unless it was really thick walled.
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2007 EC950 slide #0179
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Edited by - wnjj on 05/07/2012 7:28:13 PM |
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moomoomeow
Contributing Member
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 6:26:52 PM
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| Excuse my ignorance, but doesn't a solid extension have to have a hollow piece on the end for the hitch to go into and wouldn't that become the weak point? Am I thinking wrong....but the extension goes into the receiver and the hitch goes into the extension? |
2007 850 w/slide genset
2002 2500HD 8.1L 5spd Allison
74 Nova drag car Runs 11's |
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moomoomeow
Contributing Member
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 7:03:18 PM
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| Another newbie question: My extension is 36" .....that's because mine is a short bed truck? Got it from a friend who pulled his car trailer everywhere behind an 11' camper. It's 2 1/2" od 1/4" wall tube and I put chains on both side to stabilize. Maybe another risk I'm taking? |
2007 850 w/slide genset
2002 2500HD 8.1L 5spd Allison
74 Nova drag car Runs 11's |
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SuperDave
Advanced Member
1026 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2012 : 07:16:49 AM
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Don, since you are a car guy, think about busting a tough nut with a short wrench vs. a wrench with a bar. Where is the force applied? A short hollow tube at the end of the extension has very little force on it compared to where it meets the receiver.
Do you have a 2 1/2" receiver for the 2 1/2" extension or does it drop down to 2" OD where it goes into the receiver? If it does drop down to 2" at the receiver I believe you are risking castrophe with a 36" extension. If it is 2 1/2" where it goes into the receiver, you have affectively a CL V hitch and extension so would be just fine. |
2006 Dodge Dually
2007 Eagle Cap 850 Camper
2003 - 21' Jetcraft, 150 HP Yamaha, 8 HP Yamaha Kicker & 4 Cannon Downriggers |
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moomoomeow
Contributing Member
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2012 : 8:31:25 PM
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| Thanks Dave........I got it now, makes sense. OH I changed from the stock 2" receiver up to the 2 1/2" soon as I realized I had to use an extension to pull the car trailer. I've also got a camera on it so I can switch over and keep an eye on it. Of course I haven't figured out yet what I'm going to do if I do see something going wrong with it. PANIC I guess! |
2007 850 w/slide genset
2002 2500HD 8.1L 5spd Allison
74 Nova drag car Runs 11's |
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lwokral
Contributing Member
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 8:14:36 PM
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On this topic, I will need to use a 48" extension to pull a trailer. That means that I will need to replace my factory hitch. How many of you went with Super Hitch and how many went to a 2 1/2" receiver like Reece? How did you make your choices? I also see a Super Hitch Magnum now that has a 2" and a 2 1/2" receptacle. Anyone have one of these and why?
I already have a 2 1/2" 48" extension bar from the previous owner of my 2005 EC 1150. He made it himself in two pieces of heavy square stock. The tail half inserts into the front half (like in the receiver) and is pinned. He said that he made it in two pieces because it is so heavy and for easier storage.
My truck is a 2003 Dodge 3500 Cummins.
Thanks,
Larry |
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moomoomeow
Contributing Member
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2012 : 4:07:36 PM
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| Don't know if you can go by me...........I'm new at this and CHEAP, but I went with the Reese 2 1/2" receiver due to the cost and I was able to mount it myself. It just bolted on using existing holes in the frame. I've pulled a 6000# car trailer with a 36" extension, a half-a-dozen times now with no problems. Not a recomendation, just what I've done. |
2007 850 w/slide genset
2002 2500HD 8.1L 5spd Allison
74 Nova drag car Runs 11's |
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ZuluSafari
Contributing Member
35 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 2:42:56 PM
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| I went with the Super Hitch. Is your 203 Dodge hitch factory welded, or dealer installed bolt-on? The D1102 was what I needed, as the trucks I have used it on both had the factory welded hitch. The Super Hitch goes on easily, and I did it twice! I had Torklift send me a new hardware pack to remount my Super Hitch after trading for my newer truck. Cost about $60.00, and the hitch was the same for the 2006 3500 Mega Cab and the 2010 CreCab 3500 dually. The tie down brackets were different, though. I ran the 48" truss with the 2006, but don't need that much length now. I haven't decided on the stinger for the newer truck -- the Torklift extensions all seem the same price, no matter what the length. |
2010 850
2010 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4 Dsl. |
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Topic |
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Hitch stinger problem
