Longer trailer tongue?

[KeyWestBoater]

I have a Karavan trailer for my KW 1520CC with a swing tongue. The boat is very close to the back of the truck and I usually have to back in pretty far to float the boat off. I've seen a lot of others with longer tongues. I'm thinking about having the part of the tongue which swings lengthened by around 2 feet. I asked the dealer about this. He recommended a place to get it done and said it's quite commmon plus it will tow better. It's a galvanized trailer and I think the tongue is 3" tubing. Before I get it done I wanted to see what you guys think. Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

it makes a tremendous difference, in launching, trailing, and backing. but it is not as simple as just having the swing tongue lengthened. they have to lengthen or change the tongue, and put the swing are back on. they won't take the added stress of lengthing them. if you don't have a storage issue, do away with the swing tougue.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

Lengthening the tongue will make it tow nicer, backup easier, etc. The only concern I have is for the swing mechanism. Lengthening the swinging part of the tongue will put more stress on the hinge. Not sure how much more stress or if it is even worth worrying about. But you should inspect it to be sure the hinge is in top condition without any wear before doing the modification. Just something to think about.

edit: TD types faster than I do!

 

[canman]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

i went to the local scrapyard last year and got a 8 foot length of 3 inch square steel , i painted it black to match my trailor . i pulled the old tongue out and put in the new one . it works great , and its 3 feet longer than the old one .

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I need the swing tongue for it to fit in my garage. The trailer is new 2008, so it's in great condition. I don't have the option of getting rid of the swing tongue.

 

[TAV MAN]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

What about putting a extra hich under the one you have and when you need it just pull it out

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

don't know how it would work with the swing tongue, but look here.
http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I think they still make an on-off tongue extension...slides over your short tongue like a sleeve and locks in place for towing. Slides off when you need the shorter tongue for storage.

 

[sandiegosteve]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I lengthened mine, but I don't use the swing hitch. I think some of the swing hitches may have a maximum extension length, check on that.

Trailers are easy to work on, they are just erector sets. After you lengthen, you will need to extend the wiring. You may just want to go with a whole new wiring harness so that you don't have a bunch of splices that can corrode and be a pain to troubleshoot.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

don't know how it would work with the swing tongue, but look here.
http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

I think TD has hit the best solution. You can have one made at any good hitch or welding shop. I had one four ft long that I used to pull a boat with while hauling a 12 Ft truck camper. It worked just fine and I did it for years. The one I had was NOT A TUBE it was solid steel stock drilled with the long threaded 2 inch ball attached that went into the Receiver. I often wish I had kept it. My Boat trailer has an extra long tongue so I guess I wouldn't have any use for it unless I was to buy another truck camper over 8ft. Going the other way as I described would be a lot cheaper then the one in the picture at this link.

 

[BillP]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I'm currently doing an 8' extension for a 20' trailer sailer. The trailer has a 3" sq tongue. The existing coupler is coming off and I will be inserting an 8' x 2-1/2" sq tube ($8 ft) with a new coupler at one end. It slides in and out of the 3" tongue and uses hitch pins (thru new holes) to hold it. Even a caveman can do it.

I'm using the extension ONLY for lauching to keep my car out of the water and plan on sliding it back in for towing. For your shorter storage needs, the original tongue could be cut down and the insert with coupler removed.

If you're launching down in the keys, the longer the tongue the better choice you have with ramps and no waiting for tides. Add on hinged tongues don't give much length and is why I decided on the 8' slider.

bp

 

[cbavier]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I'm currently doing an 8' extension for a 20' trailer sailer. The trailer has a 3" sq tongue. The existing coupler is coming off and I will be inserting an 8' x 2-1/2" sq tube ($8 ft) with a new coupler at one end. It slides in and out of the 3" tongue and uses hitch pins (thru new holes) to hold it. Even a caveman can do it.

I'm using the extension ONLY for lauching to keep my car out of the water and plan on sliding it back in for towing. For your shorter storage needs, the original tongue could be cut down and the insert with coupler removed.

If you're launching down in the keys, the longer the tongue the better choice you have with ramps and no waiting for tides. Add on hinged tongues don't give much length and is why I decided on the 8' slider.

bp

Why wouldn't you go the other way? Like I tried clumsily to explain in my previous post above. Unless of course you don't have a Receiver hitch. Then you don't have to change anything on the tow vehicle. It will work on any tow vehicle in the future.

 

[BillP]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

Why wouldn't you go the other way? Like I tried clumsily to explain in my previous post above. Unless of course you don't have a Receiver hitch. Then you don't have to change anything on the tow vehicle. It will work on any tow vehicle in the future.

There isn't one way that works for all but a couple of reasons for me...I need every bit of 8' to launch at one specific ramp. Doing a telescoping extension means the extension is stored and easy to access/operate. Having a loose 8' bar with ball attached is just another piece of gear I don't want to carry. I thought about doing it other ways but what I'm doing works best for my application. Also, if towing, your way greatly increases tongue weight leverage on the receiver...100lbs x 4' = 400lbs additional tongue weight. Can your receiver handle it? Weight moved 4' aft can also greatly disrupt tow vehicle stability. Ever had a car control taken over by trailer sway due to poor weight distribution? I have and I'm sensitive about it.


bp

 

[cbavier]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

There isn't one way that works for all but a couple of reasons for me...I need every bit of 8' to launch at one specific ramp. Doing a telescoping extension means the extension is stored and easy to access/operate. Having a loose 8' bar with ball attached is just another piece of gear I don't want to carry. I thought about doing it other ways but what I'm doing works best for my application. Also, if towing, your way greatly increases tongue weight leverage on the receiver...100lbs x 4' = 400lbs additional tongue weight. Can your receiver handle it? Weight moved 4' aft can also greatly disrupt tow vehicle stability. Ever had a car control taken over by trailer sway due to poor weight distribution? I have and I'm sensitive about it.


bp

I've been RVing for 43 years. I have had five Truck campers, 3 or 4 Travel trailers, three Fifth Wheels and three Motorhomes with a Toad behind plus four boats so I have a lot of experience towing. I understand the not wanting the extra gear but rest assured a solid extension bar not 8 ft of course is a lot stronger than a hollow tube. I always tow with a truck with the factory equalizer hitch. I don't know how much your boat weighs but you had better leave at least 2 ft slid up in the trailer frame. I was just trying to save you some money. My way about $100 your way about $350

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

An alternative to modifying your trailer is get an extension for your hitch. Northern Tool & Equipment Co. sells a couple different lengths that are inserted into your receiver. Your hitch is installed into the extension in the same manner as your receiver. On their website, the 12inch version is p/n 330694 priced at $44.95 and the 18inch version is p/n 330695 priced at $49.95. NOTE: Use of this device reduces the capacity rating of your hitch!

 

[BillP]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I've been RVing for 43 years. I have had five Truck campers, 3 or 4 Travel trailers, three Fifth Wheels and three Motorhomes with a Toad behind plus four boats so I have a lot of experience towing. I understand the not wanting the extra gear but rest assured a solid extension bar not 8 ft of course is a lot stronger than a hollow tube. I always tow with a truck with the factory equalizer hitch. I don't know how much your boat weighs but you had better leave at least 2 ft slid up in the trailer frame. I was just trying to save you some money. My way about $100 your way about $350

Must be a communication gap here...I have some 40+ yrs trailering small boats (under 24') and in 2002 bought a Sterling rig with 3126B CAT (300hp turbo) as a business venture (sold). I've got 4 boats sitting on trailers now. So, it's fair to say I have somewhat of a clue about trailering too...but put the experience away. My trailer sailer is a totally different deal from the big stuff. It's a Class I being towed behind a Towncar with Class II hitch. I need an additional 8' extension to keep the car from getting too wet. Strength of the 2-1/2" sq tube extension for launching FAR exceeds the strength needed and is retracted all the way back into the original 3" sq tongue for road towing. I didn't want the extra weight of a solid or heavy wall tube either. Cost is actually under $100. $65 for the tube, $9 for a new coupler and hitch pins/SS bolts another $5ish. I get couplers and hardware wholesale which saved a couple $$.

Here's a link to similar setup...

http://captainslog.janktheproofer.com/trailerextension.htm

bp

 

[cbavier]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

Ok BillP got ya now. I thought you was considering what TD recommended or
a similar set up. I couldn't see/ feature paying the price this company wants.
I also now understand the extention would just be used at launch and not while towing. Sorry I misunderstood. Now the question is. Would you have to unhook the boat every time at the pre- launch area in order to slide the hitch extention out the 8 ft? How much does your boat weigh loaded?

http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

 

[BillP]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

Ok BillP got ya now. I thought you was considering what TD recommended or
a similar set up. I couldn't see/ feature paying the price this company wants.
I also now understand the extention would just be used at launch and not while towing. Sorry I misunderstood. Now the question is. Would you have to unhook the boat every time at the pre- launch area in order to slide the hitch extention out the 8 ft? How much does your boat weigh loaded?

http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

Yep, I thought there was a communication gap. The rig weight is just at 2200 lbs and is one reason I didn't want to go with a heavier tube...actually it's a class II trailer but I'm doing the smaller tube at the coupler and playing safe by trying to maintain near Class I loading. Yes, I will have to unhook the trailer and extend the tongue at the ramp but this is doable without too much hassle. I haven't decided on whether to use "fast" hitchpins or bolts though. It's a long tongue...yesterday I measured the fully extended length to be 14' forward of the boat. BTW, I have a tongue jack wheel on the front of the trailer (as usual) and one on the aft trailer crossmember to help stabilize when unhitched from the car.

bp

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

The dealer recommended a welding outfit (where I got my hitch installed) who's been doing trailers and hitches since 1950. The owner said it's no problem to add 2' to the swinging part of the tongue and he's done a lot of them. So I plan on unbolting it and bringing to him this week. Thanks for all the input.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Longer trailer tongue?

Well I dropped the tongue off at the welding shop earlier this week. They're getting ready to do it but I'm a litle troubled, maybe over nothing. It's a galvanized trailer but the shop doesn't have galvanized in that size so they will use non-galvanized steel tube, 3 X 3" I think. I talked to a couple of experienced folks and they said just paint it with cold galvanized and don't worry about it. I can't paint the inside of the tube so I'm worried about possible rust. I keep it in the garage so maybe I'm worrying about nothing. What do you think? Thanks!