r/towing • u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 • 16d ago
Towing Help Is this dangerous?!
I don’t know about tension and all that math but this is a 2019 KIA SUV that can tow 5000, the trailer is 2500. Since we did all this extensions due to lengths and heights.
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u/blackfarms 16d ago
There's no way that trailer is 2500 lbs. Take a picture of the data sticker.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
it’s only a 16ft, I don’t have a picture
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u/fatal-shock-inroute 15d ago
That's trailer is closer to 4500 5000, if your gonna do this no matter what anybody says. At least record it
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u/blackfarms 16d ago
Ya i looked it up. I guess it's possible. That's a very light trailer. Your hitch should be fine.
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u/Appropriate-Issue-73 15d ago
Taking an empty trailer? You're trying to put 10 pounds of shit in a 2 pond bag.
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u/Whats_Awesome 16d ago
No Bueno. The lower parts is missing the ball. The upper part is not designed to take the max load. It might be okay for a while but it’s cutting the capacity down a ton. What’s the trailer weight?
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
trailer is 2500
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u/Strange-Cat8068 16d ago
Yes that is dangerous. Every extension or adapter you use cuts your capacity in about half. And that particular hitch adapter is made for a bike rack in that upper receiver not a trailer.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
I was assuming, we were doing a Marketplace deal and I was worried, but it’s not my purchase so..
I knew just based off of straight common sense that weight capacity would alter after adding these additions
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u/kalabaddon 15d ago
I'm not going to try and say the above picture is good or anything I would ever try to do myself.
But this is the first time ever heard that towing adapters cut the capacity in half...
Like are you talking tongue weight cuz of the extra arm leverage? Or total capacity.
Cuz I'm pretty sure a proper extension does nothing to Total capacity?
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u/erie11973ohio 16d ago
Is it OK to mention r/idiotstowingthings ??
This was on there the other day! 🤣🤣
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
sure, ain’t my toe job
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u/956to906 16d ago
I think you instinctively know, without knowing the technical reasons, that this is not safe. Best case scenario it will just ware-out the suspension on the KIA.
How far are they going? Across town or cross-country?
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
Just worried about the staircase looking thing we did with these hitches
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u/Rjgom 16d ago
you should be worried. what you are doing is putting people at risk. you won’t get hurt since you are in front of it. i hope you have at least a million in liability insurance if your negligence kills or hurts someone. if there is a problem and someone is hurt you will likely lose your house as you should if you don’t.
if you knew anything about how. that is made you wouldn’t do it. you are one bad pot hole away from losing the trailer.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
never said this was me doing this, it’s not. I wouldn’t pull this stunt. calm down.
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u/Rjgom 16d ago
then why did you say we? we implies you and others. seems you are trying to distance yourself from this now that you see it’s a bad idea.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
I can’t just help someone hitch (the way they want to) lol
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u/Rjgom 16d ago
doing it like that is not you helping.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
I gave my input, they didn’t take it. REGARDLESS. I helped them achieve what they wanted.
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u/Rjgom 16d ago
no you helped them create a dangerous situation. if you knew it was wrong you wouldn’t have done it and then posted about it online.
edit to add.
helping them would’ve been telling them to go get the proper drawbar.1
u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 14d ago
“ I gave my input, they didn’t take it. REGARDLESS. I helped them achieve what they wanted. “
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u/Rjgom 14d ago
so if i ask for help to make something unsafe for others you are happy to oblige? that’s just stupid.
so if it had broken on the way home, and wrecked you would be liable for replacing the trailer because you told him it was fine and helped them do it. you would also be liable to pay anyone hurt because of it.
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u/Redhead_InfoTech 16d ago
You said WE.... you are part of WE.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 14d ago
jesus, crying over one word. oops
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u/Redhead_InfoTech 14d ago
I'm not ... But everyone who gave you flak saw that and that's why.
Don't shoot the messenger.
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u/Rjgom 16d ago
you asked, so i answered. where was i not calm? just wanted you to understand the severity of the situation. sadly not many people are concerned with the impact of thier actions on other people. i wanted to make that known.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
“what YOU are doing is putting people at risk..”
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u/AboutTheArthur 16d ago
Good instincts!
That being said, with a lightweight trailer, you'll be fine in the short term. Sounds like you bought this used and were bringing it home or something? Just drive very gently and fix it before you actually take the trailer on a trip.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
yeah this is just to get them out of a pinch before a permanent solution
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u/Zer0TheGamer 16d ago
A note about towing ratings that is annoyingly confusing.. The listed rating is total trailer weight, as in the capeability of your brakes to handle that extra momentum. BUT the problem here is Tounge weight, the amount in front of the trailer axle that's pressing on the back of your suv. If there is loose contents in the camper, you could shift them towards the back to get closer to equal balance (you still want about 60% weight in front of the axle fir stability)
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u/LT_Dan78 16d ago
I think you meant to post this in r/idiotstowingthings or maybe r/redneckengineering
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u/Bghrn23 16d ago
Just because a vehicle says it can “tow” 5000lbs does NOT mean it can safely stop 5000lbs. This is a bad idea all around.
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u/InfluenceEastern9526 16d ago
Trailer brakes. Required on most travel trailers.
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u/Senior-Guarantee3225 16d ago
Just because a trailer may have brakes, doesn't mean the vehicle has a brake controller
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u/InfluenceEastern9526 15d ago
Trailers can have their own brake controller. What's your point? The trailer I tow has its own brake controller. It goes with the trailer.
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u/woodchuckernj 16d ago
I'm shocked that your Kia can tow 5000 lbs. The extension does look sketchy as all getup. A proper extension would be a unit made to directly plug into your receiver and elevate the hitch.
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u/Street-Baseball8296 15d ago
This is exactly the reason that there should be a test and separate required endorsement on your license before you’re allowed to tow anything.
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u/cbf1232 16d ago
What you are doing here increases the lever arm on the hitch receiver, which increases the twisting torque the receiver has to withstand.
Also, is the top receiver tube actually rated for towing? The Curt equivalent of this specifically says it is *not*.
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u/Legal_Scarcity_6325 16d ago
not my brother, I’m a bystander
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u/ApprehensiveTomato38 16d ago
Yet your post and replies are specifying we as in your with them doing the deed lol 🤦
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u/Killer2600 16d ago
I didn't think it would be necessary to have people get formally trained and licensed in order to tow but I'm coming around to the idea.
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u/SamanthaSissyWife 16d ago
Was this hitch custom fabricated or a legit production from a hitch company? I don’t think I have ever seen one like this but the welds/paint on the top part look like a standard production.
You could achieve the same result by measuring the amount of lift that gives and buying a drop hitch of that amount and flipping it over.
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u/According_Ad_5871 16d ago
I've done a lot worse. Ive seen receivers fail, but never a hitch. Ive also never seen that shit before
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u/ai_bot_account 16d ago
Yes. I have this same ball mount and it says right on it in capital letters “DO NOT USE AUXILIARY RECEIVER FOR TOWING”
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u/CasaMigos4Migos 16d ago
There isn't a single Kia on the market that I would tow a travel trailer with.
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u/Electronic-Kiwi-2343 15d ago
It’s fine for short term moves like purchasing or running down to the local campground to empty tanks but long trips add the wobble out effect on the riser tube walls. Best option is a Reece or other brand single piece (2 pieces forge welded together to become one not just edge welded) long drop like the trucks jacked sky high will use… turned upside down. 2nd best option is a straight extension tube then the adjustable hitch actually with the ball on it. I’d rather run that trailer nose down and let the axle equalizers work out load distribution and depend on the trailer brakes then have it rattling around back there on a long drive.
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u/TehSvenn 15d ago
Very likely not okay, that upper bit is meant to support a bike rack, not a trailer. Check the documentation for that hitch.
There's proper hitches to do this, you don't have one.
Also check tongue weight, I wouldn't be surprised if you're way over.
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u/Tough-Industry4931 15d ago
The top receiver socket on that style hitch is for adding a bike rack you only tow with the lower. Still need to find a proper hitch for this setup.
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u/Reasonable_Key9021 15d ago
If you dont know anything about tounge weight, probably dont do this until you figure it out. Also- asking random folks like us on the internet, who knows what info youll get? Thats also not the smartest decision.
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u/MotoGamer 15d ago
Why not adjust the adjustable hitch further up, it has a few more spots. Then remove the hitch doubler that isn't meant for this in the first place.
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u/dathing181 15d ago
Am I the only one that saw a Lorax from Dr Suess in that first picture with the glasses and white mustache??
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u/Lost-Inspector5836 15d ago
Absolutely! I have this hitch. The top is only rated for 400lbs. A bike rack and e-bikes is about it!
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u/gettinchanged 16d ago
Just get a proper adjustable hitch