Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:20 am
Randy
I've got a sixteen foot long tongue that I bolt to my axle to carry lengths of steel or oak planks. Tows like a dream, as long as I don't have to back up, so I don't think a tongue can be "too long."
I suggest that you extend the tongue back through your frame, and add racks on both ends of the existing box. I made my kayak rack using pairs of floor flanges bolted to the tongue, and threaded 1 1/2" pipe. Height would depend on if you want to open the box with kayaks loaded. Shorter is better. I would size the tongue to reuse the existing coupler. Go with 1/4 inch wall if you want to drill and tap connections. Set the axle back ten percent+ more than halfway, or trial and error with your usual load to set tongue weight.
I don't know if you're carrying short creek boats or long sea tourers, but you CAN order tube in ten meter lengths!
I've got a sixteen foot long tongue that I bolt to my axle to carry lengths of steel or oak planks. Tows like a dream, as long as I don't have to back up, so I don't think a tongue can be "too long."
I suggest that you extend the tongue back through your frame, and add racks on both ends of the existing box. I made my kayak rack using pairs of floor flanges bolted to the tongue, and threaded 1 1/2" pipe. Height would depend on if you want to open the box with kayaks loaded. Shorter is better. I would size the tongue to reuse the existing coupler. Go with 1/4 inch wall if you want to drill and tap connections. Set the axle back ten percent+ more than halfway, or trial and error with your usual load to set tongue weight.
I don't know if you're carrying short creek boats or long sea tourers, but you CAN order tube in ten meter lengths!