Can a High/Low Adapter be Used with a Hitch Extender for Flat Towing

Question:

My Berkshire Motorhome receiver is relatively deep inside my rear bumper. I need all 12 inches on my blue ox tow bar to extend beyond the bumper so the standard tow bar fits and works fine. I have a new tow vehicle and need to add a 4 to 6 inch riser. The 6 or 7 inch length will not clear my bumper. Can I safely add an extender as well as the riser. Hate having all the different parts but I dont think there is any other alternative.

asked by: Pat K

Expert Reply:

I do have a solution for you, but using an extender with a high-low adapter would be using 2 adapters and is not advisable. Hitch extenders reduce the weight rating of your hitch by 50% and will also cause more movement not to mention the torque that will be on both adapters when you are making a turn.

Instead what you can do is swap out your current hitch mount tow bar, like the Blue Ox Alpha # BX7380 for a coupler mount tow bar like the Blue Ox Acclaim # BX4330. This allows you to then use a long ball mount like the Curt # D-28 with the 2" hitch ball # 63845.

This ball mount gives you a 4" rise that starts 8-1/4" away from the center of the hitch pin hole. When I went out to the warehouse to measure the shank # BX84-0052 of the Alpha the sticker on the side measured about 8" from the center of the hitch pin hole so this ball mount should give you enough clearance.

If you don't already have a locking hitch pin then I recommend using the trailer hitch lock # e99039 which comes with locks for the ball mount and for the coupler portion of the Acclaim tow bar.

expert reply by: Jon G