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Old 06-13-2019, 08:09 AM   #1
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Infiniti QX80 liftgate clearance

On our 2019 19' with the 2" drop Curt hitch bar Escape provided, the distance from the ball center to the hitch pin is 8-1/2". This seems to be a standard bar length.

With this distance, our Infiniti QX80 lightgate hit the motorized tongue jack. From looking at the contact point, we estimated we needed > 1-1/4" additional length on the hitch bar.

We contacted Escape, and they did not have an alternative in stock.

For the solution, we purchased the Draw-Tite 40343 Class III hitch bar at Camping World in Burlington, WA. This is the same as the Reese 21343, with a 2" drop and a 10-1/2" length (center of ball to center of hitch pin hole). It now clears properly.



We also installed a Reese 7011300 stainless steel 2" hitch ball, with nut torqued to 250 ft. lbs.

73/gus
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Old 06-13-2019, 08:30 AM   #2
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Looks like a decent solution. Do you think turning the head on the power jack 90 degrees would have provided enough clearance as well?
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Old 06-13-2019, 08:38 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
Looks like a decent solution. Do you think turning the head on the power jack 90 degrees would have provided enough clearance as well?
I'd turn it if for no other reason than to keep the jack from rubbing against the propane cover.
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Old 06-13-2019, 09:31 AM   #4
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Infiniti QX80 liftgate clearance

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Turned one one a friends stick built, only took a few minutes and solved the tailgate clearance and propane cover issue.
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Old 06-13-2019, 09:31 AM   #5
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Just remember the longer ball mount exerts more stress on your hitch see here from ETrailer
Does Length of Ball Mount Affect Tongue Weight on Hitch Ball

Question:
Does going with a Longer Ball Mount decrease the tongue weight exerted on the trailer ball by the trailer?
asked by: Drue B
Expert Reply:
The length of the ball mount used in a trailer hitch does not affect the amount of tongue weight (TW) applied to the hitch ball by the trailer, but it does affect the amount of stress applied to the hitch's receiver tube by the ball mount.

A very long ball mount would apply MORE pressure to the hitch tube than a shorter one, much in the same way that adding a cheater bar to a tire iron (to make it longer so you have more leverage) will allow you to put more pressure on the lug nut.

This same geometry consideration is why just about all hitch adapters will cause you to lose some of your hitch's rated capacity.

expert reply by: Adam R
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Old 06-13-2019, 11:19 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
A very long ball mount would apply MORE pressure to the hitch tube than a shorter one,
Agree. Understand your concern.

Yet, I would not describe ours as "very long". Our hitch bar length is similar to the length of both the regular 4" drop and 6" drop bars.

We did notice that the Draw-Tite (Reese) bar has a 6000 lb rating, while the Curt #45040 2" drop, 10-1/4" long, has a 7500 lb. rating. Would have purchased the Curt if available when we needed it.

The Infiniti QX80 has an 8500 lb towing capacity with a 850 tongue weight. Infiniti specifies the hitch is Class IV.

When we inquired about the QX80 towing, Philip Tipler at canamrv.ca responded: "I spoke with Andy and we found a picture of the frame assembly. That hitch is solidly overbuilt and does not need a reinforce. It's on a very short list of vehicles that don't need it done."

Believe we should remain in the safe zone with our 19'.

73/gus
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Old 06-13-2019, 11:25 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
Looks like a decent solution. Do you think turning the head on the power jack 90 degrees would have provided enough clearance as well?
Not sure. Didn't know you could turn the head. Thanks for the info.

We also didn't want to turn the light away from the hitch.

73/gus
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Old 06-13-2019, 04:05 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gklott View Post
The Infiniti QX80 has an 8500 lb towing capacity with a 850 tongue weight. Infiniti specifies the hitch is Class IV.
Right - any hitch rated higher than 5000 pounds (trailer gross weight) is by definition Class 4 (or IV), under both VESC V-5 and SAE J684 standards.

The hitch weight capacity - typical for the trailer weight rating - is generous enough to allow for a slightly long ball mount with the Escape's tongue weight... assuming that is a weight-carrying (not WD) rating.
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Old 06-13-2019, 06:52 PM   #9
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I need to use an 11-12" long (hole to hole) towbar on my F250 so the massively huge Ford Super Duty tailgate can be opened while hitched, I have the manual jack. with a 2" drop towbar, the tailgate doesn't touch the handle.

a longer towbar (aka stinger aka ball mount) does reduce your vehicles max tongue weight some, but since mine is around 1200 lbs an my trailer has about 400 lbs tongue weight, its a non-issue. it also can decrease your turning circle if your bumper otherwise would hit the propane tanks at a full turn.
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