Now have pics....revisit tongue strength question.

[b.bodemer]

About 1/3rd of the way into my build my buddy Bill started to be concerned about the fact that my used tilt trailer could cause a problem. I purchased it from my mechanic as he had it made for him to haul his 800+lb motorcycle to Florida every year.

Now that I'm posting pics I thought I could ask anyone to revisit Bill's concern: that the trailer could be weaker and eventually stressed where the tongue meets the trailer at the bolt. The front bolt is new and again the tongue was welded in place. The first pic shows the trailer upside down after priming it. There is a new bolt where the tongue meets the trailer body. There is a second bolt at the end of the tongue.

The second picture is after I painted the trailer and shows the bolt location up front.





Now that I have pics anyone care to advise? Right now there is no problem but could there be a big concern here????

Sincerely,
Barb

[Dale M.]

With new bolts and welded in place it would seem that its a good as it gets... I think you are safe with it.

Dale

[Nitetimes]

I wouldn't be too concerned, there's loads of trailers out there built like that, unless you get really crazy you won't break it.

[Arne]

My trailer weighs 1,200 pounds. The tongue is 2 x 2 x 1/4" wall... no hint of any problems over 25,000 miles.

[asianflava]

My trailer weighs 1,200 pounds. The tongue is 2 x 2 x 1/4" wall... no hint of any problems over 25,000 miles.

My trailer is about the same weight, maybe a little heavier when loaded. I've just got a paltry 5100miles on it but my tongue is half as thick. No problems to report either, I used 2 X 2 X 1/8 square tubing.

[mikeschn]

I can't see the bolt, but if like your arrow indicates, it's going thru a hole in your tongue member, that's exactly the failure area that Dave had.

What is the size of that hole?

The calculations need to be run thru the Dave calculator, which Andrew wrote.

Andrew, are you there?

Mike...

[b.bodemer]

Tahnks for all the responses.......

Mike..........I'll take a closer pic today when I go work on the trailer. My arrows might be a little off for the exact location. I'll make sure I give a definite view tonight.

Barb

[Gerdo]

If it is welded along where the angle meets the square tube tongue I wouldn't worry a bit (given the welds are good). I have a utility trailer with a tongue like that. The tongue on mine is 2x3. That is exactly what I did, I even took out the tilt pin/bolt. I also took some 1x3 tubing and triangulated the tongue (A framed) to eliminate the lateral flex/tail wag my tongue had. I dont need the space on that trailer but it would give a great platform for a tongue box.

[angib]

As long as the bolt hole is reasonably small, under 1/2", it makes little difference to vertical strength (less than 1%). If the drilled hole is ragged then it could be a place for a crack to start.

The horizontal hole does make quite a difference to the horizontal strength, 20% for a 1/2" hole and 10% for a 1/4", but I can't say I've ever seen a trailer tongue fail horizontally, so that shouldn't be a problem either.

Andrew
Nerd to the stars of stage, screen and trailer building....