Does 7" Extender and 18" Extender Really Both Reduce Hitch Capacity by 50 Percent

Question:

I can see the longer extenders Changing the hitch but. 50 on the smaller one doesn’t seem right. 6” ver 18” and longer. Can someone explain I’m confused. Especially when the extenders has a rating of 10,000 lbs GTW AND 1000 lbs tongue weight. I really need to extend my hitch 2-3 inches Also if we’re happen to use one what could happen?

asked by: Gary S

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you're asking about the reduction in hitch capacity when using a hitch extender, and why this doesn't change with the actual length of the extender. I completely understand your confusion, as it stands to reason that a shorter extender like the 7" Brophy # HE06 would allow for a stronger setup compared to a longer extender like the 18" # HE18, while both options state a 50 percent reduction in trailer hitch capacity.

We use this general 50 percent rule for all of our hitch extenders, as it's the safest and clearest method for communicating the limit that a hitch extender (and really any type of hitch adapter) adds to a setup. In reality this figure might be less depending on the adapter, but it's extremely difficult to determine a specific number because it's based on many variables and not all extender manufacturers provide this information.

Now I can say that in reality, the smaller 7" Brophy Extender # HE06 is going to reduce your hitch capacity by closer to around 33 percent. The longer 18" extender on the other hand will indeed be closer to that 50 percent reduction mark.

The 7" extender is the shortest adapter we have available, so as long as the combined weight of your accessory and loaded cargo falls under the reduced capacity of your hitch (reduced by 33 percent), it is going to work great. I have attached a short video review on the adapter below that you can also check out.

expert reply by: Chris R