"A" Tongue Advice?

[jjlentz]

Hello All,

I went and picked up my axle today from the Dexter distributer and I am planning to purchase my steel tomorrow. I was going over my frame plans and re-checking my dimensions for my purchase list. I have become sort of concerned with my plans of an "A" style tongue. The coupler I purchased is your standard "A" stlye and is 9" wide (smallest one I could find). I drew the frame size out on my driveway with chaulk and then used some wooden 2x2's to simulate the tongue with the coupler just to get an idea of how far into the frame the ends will end up. This is what has concerned me it appears that the ends of the "A" tongue will only be "under" the frame for right at 22" before they exit the side and will have to be cut off, I will also place the first crossmember here. (Geometry works too but I needed a visual)


Is this sufficient??? My tear will be a 5x10 , 2x2x1/8 tubing, tongue box (battery).......Should make the tongue tubing thicker because its not going that far under the frame or change to a "Y" design...I like the way tongue jack fits into the "A" coupler this is one of the biggest reasons why I chose this stlye.........Is 22" enough??????


Advice and Opinions Welcomed!!

Jeff

[jjlentz]

I forgot the length from the ball to the frame will be 45".

[aggie79]

Haven't completed my build, but on my frame I have the distance at 16" back from the cross member.



In painting the trailer, I supported it at the coupler and at the furthermost rear crossmember and there is almost no flex at all. I used 2" x 2" x 1/8" steel tube.

[angib]

22" overlap is fine - I wouldn't start to worry until below 12".

Andrew

[Gerdo]

My TD isn't here at my house so I can't measure it. I would bet that mine is about that. There is one place that if a frame failed would be very bad and the tongue is it. I would/did use 2x3x 3/16 tube for my tongue. This is one place I would never skimp. The axle/tires are the next place not to skimp.

2x3 is way stronger than 2x2, verticaly.

PS I do prefer an "A" frame tongue. I belive that you will have less sway since it has more lateral strength.

[Mike_La]

I'd have to agree with Andrew.
22" is plenty enough for 2X2X1/8".


Mike