Question about tongue box.

[hwbout]

We want to add a tongue box to the front of the tear drop. The widest point which is closest to the teardrop is 41 inches. They don't make 41 inch wide tongue boxes. I don't understand why because the trailer before the teardrop was built was a regular 5X8 trailer so I would imagine that they would make tongue boxes to fit. Has anyone else run into this problem? Or does anyone know a good company that sells tongue boxes of this size? We could go with a smaller box, but that would leave a big space between the teardrop and the box. We plan on putting the battery in the box and don't really want the space there. HELP!

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[citylights]

They make a variety of trailer tongue boxes. Check amazon.

Other than that... Build one!

[hwbout]

They have 48 inch tongue boxes. Will that be too big and too heavy?

[hwbout]

Hi City lights. Thank you for responding. I like your tear drop. Looks great. I'm worried about too much front load if I go with a big box like you have, plus I don't want to take away from the "cuteness" of our little bumble bee pod.

[RandyG]

You could get the smaller box and use the space between the box and trailer for something else; spare tire, water cans, fuel cans, cooler, etc. Maybe a custom built bike rake could fit there.

[hwbout]

That's true too. I just spoke to my Dad who built the tear drop and he suggested Angle iron, put 2 across and the box could sit on that. Like a bracket on both ends.

[wingnut]

hwbout, We did what your Dad suggested to you. The tongue on our TD is similar to the one on your Bumble Bee. We used angle iron to make mount and attached a larger aluminum tool box from Northern Tools. It works great. holds 2 12V deep cycle batteries and still has room for storage for other items. There a few pics of it in our gallery.

[M C Toyer]

The polyethylene wedge shape tongue boxes from Northern Tool, Tractor Supply and others




are 36" wide at the back and you would need to leave a bit of space behind to allow the lid to open but should pretty well match the frame.

You would still need the cross members underneath to carry the battery or any other heavy load.

The style and color would compliment your trailer.

[citylights]

Hi City lights. Thank you for responding. I like your tear drop. Looks great. I'm worried about too much front load if I go with a big box like you have, plus I don't want to take away from the "cuteness" of our little bumble bee pod.

Yours is cute! I just did a search on amazon, they have boxes from 16, 24, 30, 32, 36, 40, 42, ... In steel, aluminum and polymer plastic. Take your pick, though I think the black polymer would go well with your color scheme.

The box I made is very lightweight. It is framed in 2x2, the bottom is 1/2 inch plywood, the sides and front 1/4 inch plywood, then all skinned in 0.04 thick aluminum, with 1-inch by 1/16th thick aluminum angle. The top is double sided 1/4 inch plywood and foam filled. Glued and screwed, it is rock solid.

I think it is lighter than the steel or aluminum plate boxes of the same size. Probably a little heavier than the plastic box. Making your own, definitely less expensive than buying one.

[bobhenry]

It's really pretty amazing what you can put in a simple old cooler.



Alas I had to drill 2 holes in the bottom because of the stealth way I mounted it but it will still serve it's original function when asked to. However , I use it for the jack and hardware type goodies that might snag or grease stain the bedding inside.

and it's cute !


I placed a flat steel plate in the bottom of the cooler and then some closed cell foam two bolts were inserted thru the plate and thru a 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 angle into which a 2" notch had been cut. as the bolts are tightened the vertical edges pinch into the tongue tube and grab hold. It has been on the road several hundred miles and has never needed attention.



It can be removed at any time with little notice except a couple of spots on the tongue where the paint may need touched up.

[TPMcGinty]

It looks like your steel tongue support members don't go all the way to the front edge of your 48" trailer. You might be able to mount a 36" tongue box to it. Go to Northern Tools and ask them if you can take one out to see if it will fit. They always let me do stuff like that. Here is one that wouldn't look bad on your Tear:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_357082_357082

[michaelrsydney]

You could get the smaller box and use the space between the box and trailer for something else; spare tire, water cans, fuel cans, cooler, etc. Maybe a custom built bike rake could fit there.

Something like this? I welded a cross piece to support the smaller box and then a couple of longitudinals to support the spare wheel.

[Shadow Catcher]

The Delta (Tractor Supply re-badges them) are aluminum and very light weight I wanted the biggest one I could find.

[hwbout]

Thank you everyone for your responses and also the photo's. I am definetly going to get the black colored box. Harbor Freight has one on sale for 70 bucks that I think will look nice with the bumble bee. Going to spray paint the angle iron black as well. I will post pictures of the finished project. Hopefully will be completed this saturday if the weather holds up.

[George Taylor]

I got one of the trapezoid shaped ones at lowes and modified it slightly. I ended up cutting the bottom out and droped it 4 inches for extra space works great.