Trailer Tongue Too Long?

[harringtondav]

New boat and trailer four years ago. Shorland'r trailer under a Regal 1900ESX.
No complaints when towing. Good tongue weight and disc surge brakes.
But I'm more challenged backing than with the previous shorter rig. I don't have the measurements, but the trailer rear tire distance from the hitch ball is longer with the new rig. I also have a tight turn around in my neighbors yard which is more challenging and takes more three point turns. My timing on steering correction backing isn't cutting it.
Trailer to hitch dist is 17'. Towing vehicle wheelbase is 6'.
Tongue from actuator to trailer frame is 66". Boat bow to hitch is 57".
I'm pondering shortening the rear end of the tongue, but that is a no turning back move.
Any benefit in shortening the tongue? Recommendations? ...or just learn to back it up.

 

[cyclops222]

I would use all the traffic lanes before & in front of neighbors driveway.
There are big car battery powered 2 wheeled trailer movers. Use it to pull the trailer off the street and up a PAVED driveway. Some have big drakes to hold on slopes.

 

[Lou C]

I have a long tongue on my old Load Rite trailer and love it, that's how I keep the tow vehicle's tires out of the salt water on my local ramp.
Can you add a front hitch to your tow vehicle? They make maneuvering the trailer in tight spaces a lot easier. Here's one on my old '98 Grand Cherokee...

 

[Pmt133]

I prefer the trailer axle as far away as possible when backing because it's more controlled... that being said, how adjustable is the trailer? If you could move the boat up further and adjust the axle forward an equal amount that would solve your problem as well I'd think.

 

[tpenfield]

Learn to back up. . .

The tongue weight will go up if you shorten the tongue. Not sure if the hinge will be OK with that. It may also prompt you to make other changes for weight balance. Could be a can of worms.

 

[tphoyt]

I was humbled by a short trailer not long ago.
I definitely need some practice.
I can stick the landing with the boat just about anywhere but my buddy’s little lawn trailer just about gave me a stroke.

 

[Lou C]

shorter trailers are much harder to back up because they turn faster and sharper.
the front hitch makes it 100% easier. all boat yards use them, either on a pick up truck or on the front of an ATV or even on a forklift...

 

[redneck joe]

Learn to back, size matters and longer is better. I did better with my 32 foot trai.er than my 22. Have gotten goon on my 8 foot flat trailer.

 

[harringtondav]

It may also prompt you to make other changes for weight balance. Could be a can of worms.

And we both know how that works out for me.

 

[tpenfield]

I'm 4 years into my 37 foot trailer. I only tow it a couple time a year, but learning to make more subtle moves on the steering wheel, which is helping immensely.

 

[Jeff J]

6’ tow vehicle wheelbase? That’s shorter than a Suzuki Samurai. Quick to respond… over correcting?

It shouldn’t take long to get used to it.

A front mounted hitch is a good thing. Much easier to see what is going on, especially going around corners. My little tractor has a quick release loader. Not long after I started doing boat maintenance, I welded up a frame with a ball to hang on the loader brackets. I don’t think I have ever dropped a trailer just to switch to the tractor but it sure makes life easier shuffling trailers around.

The Air Force required us to face the direction of travel for safety so switching from the rear to the front hitch was common but I had been towing long before I joined the AF so I thought the rule was kind of silly in my youthful ignorance.

 

[harringtondav]

6’ tow vehicle wheelbase? That’s shorter than a Suzuki Samurai. Quick to respond… over correcting?

It shouldn’t take long to get used to it.

A front mounted hitch is a good thing. Much easier to see what is going on, especially going around corners. My little tractor has a quick release loader. Not long after I started doing boat maintenance, I welded up a frame with a ball to hang on the loader brackets. I don’t think I have ever dropped a trailer just to switch to the tractor but it sure makes life easier shuffling trailers around.

The Air Force required us to face the direction of travel for safety so switching from the rear to the front hitch was common but I had been towing long before I joined the AF so I thought the rule was kind of silly in my youthful ignorance.

My bad. 6' wheel width. Important with short tongues for 90 deg backing. ...I've got plenty.

 

[dingbat]

Tongue length doesn't matter...the shorter the wheel base (between truck and trailer axles), the harder it is to control the trailer backing up.

My 30' long boat trailer is a heck of a lot easier to back than Mrs. Dingbat's old 16' long horse trailer.

 

[airshot]

Learning to back up should be your first concern, but if the area is to tight, then first choice would be a front receiver if possible ( can the vehicle handle the weight?). Front hitches are awesome, makes backing a trailer a breeze. Whenever you shorten the distance between ball and axle, the trailer will react much faster to your steering input. Really short trailers are a real challenge to backup ! What are you towing/ backing your trailer with ?...With enough practice you can learn to back up anything, but it does take practice and repeated use, to stay sharp...I back my 16' over 300' ft back to my barn, around two shallow corners and often have a vehicle parked that I have to go around when my grandson is home. Normally do it once with no moving back and forth......but so do it often, at least once a week. If I do make a mistake, I pull all the way out and start over....sort of a penality to my self for making the mistake. Each spring after winter is done, I back it in and out at least 6 times to get the feeling down again in preperation for the season. If your tow vehicle can handle it, add a front hitch....your easiest and quickest solution to your problem..

 

[cyclops222]

No substitute for lots of practice.
Why I now do not use the trailer. Simply have the marina do the put it away & put it in the water. Worth the money.

 

[redneck joe]

This came across my news feed this morning

 

[tpenfield]

Extended tongues are often used for sailboat launching. Usually the tongue extension is done at/near the ramp just before launching.

 

[cyclops222]

Or very shallow angled ramps. 1 near me. It is to difficult almost anytime. I drive farther and enjoy it more. I can back in enough to float the boat. Start engine. Back off the trailer and tie up to a dock. Park the trailer.

 

[Jeff J]

I used to fish a small lake that had a shallow ramp. Hated it. Rear axles on the truck would get wet before the boat would float. Nothing like wading to and from the door of the truck. Electric only lake so firing up the big motor to assist unloading and loading was frowned upon.

 

[HoosierHacker89]

The worst "Ramp" I've been on is at a campground in Noblesville. Its basically a busted up concrete pad that leads into the river. I had 4 wheels in the river trying to launch the boat last summer. I found a nicer/steeper ramp upstream so I don't have to use that anymore.