Longer trailer tongue?

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
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!

Painting or cold galvanizing isn't a deal breaker to me on the extension but galvanized tube IS available. It costs about 2x of cold steel and in my area has to be ordered. The welds have to be painted no matter which you use. I used cold galvanzing on a previous rebuild and it worked ok but isn't as good as hot. I finished my 8' sliding extension Tuesday and used cold steel. It isn't painted yet but will be with cold galv. You might want to consider a slider type insert instead of welding 2' on. Heavy wall 2.5" tube will slide inside the 3" and the whole job will take about an hr...if the coupler isn't welded on. It will give the option of a longer tongue for difficult ramps. It's so easy a caveman can do it!
 

cbavier

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
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!

If your boating in salt water as your profile indicates you are. You surely want galvanized steel no matter which way you go. Billp has the best idea in my opinion. Go with a six foot galvanized extension drill a couple different holes and you can either extend it long or shorter and push it almost all the way in for storing it in the garage.
 

KeyWestBoater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
235
Re: Longer trailer tongue?

I found a piece of galvanized at a shop yesterday and already dropped it off at the welder. I'm not sure if they will get it done today. When it's done I'll spray the whole thing with cold galvanized spray and put it back on. I can't wait to try it to see how much difference it makes in how far I need to back up. I might also get some of that EZ roller spray for the bunks depending on how things go. :)
 
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