Tongue Repair Help

Ask questions about Harbor Freight trailers, or questions about building your own...

Tongue Repair Help

Postby clarkbre » Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:07 pm

I recently was gifted this old golf cart trailer from my in laws as an upgrade from the old Harbor Freight utility trailer that I had. As this trailer is fully welded and has a 2k pound axle, it is a bit more stout than my previous trailer. The overall plan is to use mainly as a utility trailer, retain the tilt function for moving riding mowers and stuff and then eventually build a small camping pod to slide within the 1" square rails on the bed.

New Trailer.jpg
New Trailer.jpg (753.15 KiB) Viewed 4336 times


In order to get it roadworthy, I will need to do the following:
1. Change out the wheels, tires and bearings.
2. Move the axle back 10" by welding on new spring hangers.
3. Fix the tongue that at some point was bent in a jackknife incident.

Tongue bend.jpg
Tongue bend.jpg (648.51 KiB) Viewed 4336 times


My thought is that the original tongue cannot be bent back as it had stock bends to raise the coupler about 2 1/2". With this in mind, I am planning on cutting the front of the tongue (Red line) off and then sistering a new 2 1/2" square steel tube (Blue rectangle) on top of the factory tongue and supports. How would be the best way to attach it? Would welding be strong enough, should I use some bolts to mate the new and old pieces together? I'm totally open for suggestions. Realistically, this trailer will not see more than about 200 lbs of tongue weight but I want to fix it once and fix it for life. Please let me know your suggestions.

Mod.jpg
Mod.jpg (627.17 KiB) Viewed 4336 times
Brendan
Everett, WA
clarkbre
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:25 pm

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby David H. » Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:50 pm

Cut off damaged tongue. Weld a receiver on top of original frame. Have it welded by someone that knows how to weld it. Now you can slide in a hitch and it is removeable for theft deterrent
David H.
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 14
Images: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2019 2:45 pm

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby GTS225 » Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:25 pm

David as a good point about the receiver and removable coupler. I might suggest you weld plates on the sides the sides of the new receiver to tie the original tongue and new receiver together.

Roger
GTS225
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 298
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:11 am
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby halfdome, Danny » Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:01 am

Since your thinking of sistering on parts I'd use grade 8 bolts and welds.
I bolt and weld the coupler to my removable tongue but the 4 foot hitch receiver is an integral part of the welded chassis to the first cross member.
Dosen't hurt to be extra safe. :D Danny
ImageImage
"Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing". William Feather
Don't accept "It's Good Enough" build to the best of your abilities.
Image
Teardroppers Of Oregon & WashingtonImage
User avatar
halfdome, Danny
*Happy Camper
 
Posts: 5882
Images: 252
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:02 pm
Location: Washington , Pew-al-up
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby twisted lines » Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:46 pm

Realistically, this trailer will not see more than about 200 lbs of tongue weight

That would be nearly doubled if I stood on the front of the bed :lol:
Racking up; And Rapin foam
User avatar
twisted lines
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1218
Images: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2018 4:37 am
Location: Jefferson
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby Philip » Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:27 am

take the wrench off and post another pic please.
Philip
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 498
Images: 323
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:57 am
Location: Peru,Indiana
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby clarkbre » Thu Jul 25, 2019 11:04 am

Philip wrote:take the wrench off and post another pic please.


I will when I get the trailer. It's currently 130 miles away and won't get it for a couple more weeks. Before towing it anywhere, it's getting the bearings, wheels and tires refreshed. Once it's home, I can start dismantling it for the tongue repair and axle placement.
Brendan
Everett, WA
clarkbre
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:25 pm
Top

Tongue Repair Help

Postby Pinstriper » Thu Jul 25, 2019 11:28 am

I had a tongue issue recently with my TD, also. I will share in the hope it help your situation.

The trailer was built on a Carry-On, rated for 1800#. It scales in at a bit under 1100#.

However, the tongue was held in place by bolts, to a cross member that was just angle iron, and only 18” in from the front of the frame. It bent like this:

Image

What we decided to do was build a new tongue with larger tubing, upgrade the coupler from 1 7/8 to 2” for conssistency with my other trailers, and have it connect deeper into the frame. As part of that, we built a box structure from 1.5” tubing, much stronger than the angle iron, and designed to carry the entire front of the trailer.

Image

You can see the difference in dimension of the material, plus the deeper and wider structure overall. We extended it wider than the trailer frame so I would have stepup structures.

The whole thing was stitch welded to the existing frame every 8” or so, and with 2 plates on each side.

Image

We also added 6” of length to the tongue to improve turning clearance and can now open the tailgate with the trailer attached.

Image

New wiring throughout, of course. She feels much more substantial and stable, plus I now have steps to let me reach the kayak up on the racks for tying down.

I had upgraded the tires from 12” to 15” last year, new fenders of course but no spacers required. She got brand new bearings at the time.

Image



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Let's eat, Grandma !
Let's eat Grandma !
Commas. They save lives.
User avatar
Pinstriper
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue May 16, 2017 3:40 pm
Location: Outer SW Portlandia
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby Philip » Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:20 pm

clarkbre wrote:
Philip wrote:take the wrench off and post another pic please.


I will when I get the trailer. It's currently 130 miles away and won't get it for a couple more weeks. Before towing it anywhere, it's getting the bearings, wheels and tires refreshed. Once it's home, I can start dismantling it for the tongue repair and axle placement.


That's fine. When you get the pic then I cam see if it can be repaired or replace tubing..

Repairing a minor bend isn't hard. That one looks like a minor bend till I see the wrench removed.
Philip
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 498
Images: 323
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:57 am
Location: Peru,Indiana
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby clarkbre » Thu Jul 25, 2019 6:28 pm

Thank you for the ideas everyone. It's helpful to get some insight and make a plan prior to starting the repair. Below are a couple more shots of the underside of the trailer.
underside.jpg
underside.jpg (908.9 KiB) Viewed 4108 times

20190713_143035.jpg
20190713_143035.jpg (1006.91 KiB) Viewed 4108 times
Brendan
Everett, WA
clarkbre
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:25 pm
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby Philip » Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:13 am

Those pic's helped a lot. The bend is forward of the wrench. What I would do is take a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel. Looking at the hitch from the front of the trailer. I would cut threw the right side of the tube to the left side rail. Leave the left side rail intact. I would start at the point the bend starts. Heat the left side rail up and bend it back. If all the bend doesn't come out. Move forward and make another cut at the next widest part of the bend. Do as many cuts as you need to bring it back.

After it is straightened. Weld back together. Then plate over the welds.
Philip
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 498
Images: 323
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:57 am
Location: Peru,Indiana
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby Atomic77 » Fri Jul 26, 2019 9:08 am

Cut it off, weld in a receiver and a removable coupler like Tony.Latham does. Nice, clean and anti-theft as well. Best way to fix this.

Image



Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Michael

"The Strength is in the Sum of the Parts..."

The Astroliner

Follow The Astroliner Blog Here!

Check out our YouTube video
User avatar
Atomic77
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1463
Images: 309
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:29 pm
Location: Fort Wayne Indiana
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby clarkbre » Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:19 am

Philip wrote:Those pic's helped a lot. The bend is forward of the wrench. What I would do is take a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel. Looking at the hitch from the front of the trailer. I would cut threw the right side of the tube to the left side rail. Leave the left side rail intact. I would start at the point the bend starts. Heat the left side rail up and bend it back. If all the bend doesn't come out. Move forward and make another cut at the next widest part of the bend. Do as many cuts as you need to bring it back.

After it is straightened. Weld back together. Then plate over the welds.


I will look into that for sure. I was thinking how I could plate or reinforce what is already there.

Atomic77 wrote:Cut it off, weld in a receiver and a removable coupler like Tony.Latham does. Nice, clean and anti-theft as well. Best way to fix this.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


I do really like that coupler idea; however, I need to keep the existing coupler height for the trailer to ride level. Behind my F250, the trailer already requires a 6" drop hitch (same as my boat trailer). If I were to cut the existing bend off and come straight out, the trailer would ride really nose. The 6" drop gives me a top-of-ball height at about 17".

Another option would be to use a receiver on top of the existing triangle and a longer 2" tube with the coupler on it. No matter what, the winch will come off either way and likely not be replaced.
Brendan
Everett, WA
clarkbre
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 55
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:25 pm
Top

Re: Tongue Repair Help

Postby twisted lines » Fri Jul 26, 2019 1:36 pm

clarkbre wrote:Another option would be to use a receiver on top of the existing triangle and a longer 2" tube with the coupler on it. No matter what, the winch will come off either way and likely not be replaced.



Tying that triangle together with a 1/4" plate & piece of 2.5" Receiver tube on top would be Nice :thumbsup:
That's a nice score!
Racking up; And Rapin foam
User avatar
twisted lines
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1218
Images: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2018 4:37 am
Location: Jefferson
Top


Return to Trailer and Chassis Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests