Homemade hitch splitter/extender

M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
I was just wondering about making a short hitch extender that splits when it comes out of my 2inch receiver. I plan on towing the boat behind it and having a bike rack hang over it or use it to hold my 2nd bike rack at times.
Basically this with this on the end going into my receiver. I already got the metal for $10 from a scrap yard, figured I could at least build something to carry my 2 bike racks. What I am concerned about would be strength of it (trailer will be chained to tow vehicle not the hitch extension in case something went horribly wrong) and the legality of it. I'm not worried about my hitch, as it is a class 5 so I'm sure it can take the added leverage from a 3,000 pound tandem axle trailer that already has too low tongue weight, about 6-7% depending if the boat is topped off with gas or not.
I have the tools and some experience fabricating stuff, but nothing like this.
I'll make sure to post some pictures up tomorrow.
 
Last edited:
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

If you don't have the experience to fabricate it I'd HIGHLY recommend that you find a local welding shop and pay to have it done.... you could precut the pieces and prep them for welding to save money..... That said...... the O/P stated that he has a class 5 receiver but for others with a 3 or 4 I feel strongly that towing with that much extension puts too much torque load on your receiver... With the 5 I think it's still less than great, but I agree that it won't likely break

You might consider a front receiver for your truck..... two advantages..... 1 is a place to put your bikes and 2 is that you will LOVE how easy it is to maneuver a boat hooked to the front of a truck
 
Cheetah 210es

Cheetah 210es

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Messages
270
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

+1 on the front hitch, good for hanging a winch off too.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Keep in mind that the closer to the rear axle the trailer coupler is the better the towing handling is. If you stick the coupler ball way out in back of the tow vehicle you essentially create a situation where tongue weight can create a real handling issue (and likely a serious porpoising) issue. Rethink this carefully.
 
M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

smokeonthewater said:
If you don't have the experience to fabricate it I'd HIGHLY recommend that you find a local welding shop and pay to have it done.... you could precut the pieces and prep them for welding to save money..... That said...... the O/P stated that he has a class 5 receiver but for others with a 3 or 4 I feel strongly that towing with that much extension puts too much torque load on your receiver... With the 5 I think it's still less than great, but I agree that it won't likely break

You might consider a front receiver for your truck..... two advantages..... 1 is a place to put your bikes and 2 is that you will LOVE how easy it is to maneuver a boat hooked to the front of a truck
Click to expand...

Well I never though about a receiver in front, but don't you think it would be a little weird to be driving with 2/3 of your view blocked by bikes? I am a decent welder, just not made something going down the highway before. And I already have a lawn mower for parking my boat into my garage plus I'm good with backing a trailer. (Still not a fan of my pwc trailer, but I can carry it around)
 
M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

I was going to get a pic today, but I ran out of time. Got my extension bar, 46 inches long cut. Receiver for bike rack, 5 inches, trailer receiver, 8.5 inches long. (figured some extra length in the trailer receiver would make a longer, therefore stronger, weld and more area to distribute the load)
Tomorrow I plan on sandblasting the rust off the bike receiver piece and making sure I still remember how to use a mig welder. Maybe the next 2 days. :facepalm:
I have less then an hour each day to work on this, so it might be a while till it's finished.
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

I used to have a 38" mud tire on the front of a truck.... never really even noticed it there.... I can't imagine that a bike seat and handlebars poking above the hood would be any issue at all..... they also make bike racks that mount on the bed rails.... If it were me, I'd find ANYwhere else to mount them besides between the truck and boat.
 
M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Well I was looking to do this as low cost as possible, and this is mostly for my 2 bike racks. I just see some situations were if I have the bed full, taking the boat somewhere and want to take bikes: then load then in the boat and risk them tearing up my seats? If I mounted it in the front, you would see this bike rack, it hold one bike far to the left, the other far to the right and holds them up high. Plus it would be over the legal overhang for the front of a vehicle. It's not like every time I tow the boat I will use it for that, just maybe once every 2 years. However to hold 2 bikes racks I would probably use it once a month in spring/summer/fall.
 
M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

Re: Homemade hitch spliter/extender

If it makes any difference my hitch is 7.5 inches long inside and I plan to have the bar in all the way and then a bit more to wedge against my spare tire.
 
R

Rockmere1

Seaman
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
68
Re: Homemade hitch splitter/extender

Best of luck to you! But my $.02...... my gut says uhhhh... not saying it can not be done, but I would not do it, i don't know the legal over hang for the front is but i do like that idea better than the long rear hitch extender. Does D.O.T. approve it? I know around home here the D.O.T. has started cracking down big time on Pick-up trucks. If its legal and you want it go for it, build it. Myself I don't tow anything that doesn't have a certification; as in a hitch; on it. just my dumb .02...
 
L

lamphega

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 11, 2003
Messages
147
Re: Homemade hitch splitter/extender

I have a front mounted receiver on my Frontier that I use with a Snowsport plow and it is very handy for other things too. And boy getting my nineteen in my pole barn is so easy when using the front hitch.
And in case you are wondering a Snowsport is a 7" extruded aluminum plow and does a great job plowing here in Snow country, Western NY...Buffalo area.
 
M

maproy99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
266
Re: Homemade hitch splitter/extender

Got the receiver for the bike rack welded on today. I guess I am only going to be using this to carry my 2 bike racks then, unless anyone can come up with any legal guidelines. The only thing I found so far is that if it failed due to the way it was manufactured, you are at fault like a manufacturer would be. Haven't had a good opportunity to get a picture yet, I guess I'll just do that at the end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top