A rebuilding the tongue box question--Photos Added

[angib]

Dang, I loaded this page and then went to make some coffee - when I got back there's like a hundred extra posts in it!

That 21" length (that is, front to back direction on the trailer) was my guess based on scaling a photo of the tongue box Ira has now!

Mary, on the angle thing, I don't think 70 degrees or 65 degrees of swing are really that different - once you're into the big angles, the differences between them are not that great.

Ira, is your problem that you can't see the trailer and/or the tongue box over the tail of your humungous truck, so you can't tell when they're about to hit? (You know what they say about guys with big trucks, right?). Maybe it would be a good idea to add some of those parking feelers (like a radio aerial on a spring) to the top of the tongue box so you can see where it is. Or are you doing that audible reversing thing?

Ira, my last drawing has a different design (and colour) on each side - that's why one side overhung the A-frame and the other didn't. I think some overhang is OK.

Andrew

[mikeschn]

I went to the basement one day, eariler this year, and out popped this tongue box.

No CAD models, no drawings... nothing... it just popped out. I don't know what size it is... I don't know about any angles... I just know that I eyeballed the JC Whitney box before I went downstairs...

Hope it helps Ira...



Mike...

[Classic Finn]

Mike

You must have a magical basement... you go down and up pops a tongue box Would ya go down once more and pop one up towards Finland?

Very Nice Indeed...

Heikki

[Nitetimes]

Mike

You must have a magical basement... you go down and up pops a tongue box Would ya go down once more and pop one up towards Finland?

Very Nice Indeed...

Heikki

Still laughing!! Thanks.

[Micro469]

Ira.... Easy fix. Get a piece of ply the same legnth and depth as your old box. Thats the floor. From the back edge draw a line Parrallel to the A frame of your trailer. Do the same on the other side.Cut off the triangles you just drew. You now have the shape of your new box. Hammer your little sticks around the bottom. Screw more little sticks going up until they are tall enough. Screw more little sticks on top to join everything together. Cover with thin plywood. Make lid to fit. Attache hinges..attache crabs.......there ya go...... A new tongue box...... Oey Vey.... So much complaining Allready!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ira]

John, that DOES sound like an easy way to do it. I just have to trace it along the frame. And Andrew, yeah--I can't SEE it at all, But this was a good lesson for me--and next time, even with the new box, I'll get out and look if it looks like I'm too tight on the turn.

Here are a few shots, taken at night, so a little dark.

Here's the side that I hit:



Here's the front:



And this is the damage caused to the other side. (Note the guity Silverado in the background.)

[Mary K]

Oooch, you smooched it up...yikes....

Well Ira, I have sent you a PDF file via email. The individual views are on their own pages, so you can print them out.

here is an overview of what I have drawn.



I just guessed at the height of the box, add or subtract inches as needed.


John's Idea is a lot easier that this drawing... so good luck.

Mk

oh almost for got, I took a pic of the miter box for you, just to help you get an idea of what you will be doing.



Mk

[Ira]

Mary, can you send it to:

[email protected]

[Mary K]

Okay I sent it.

Are you going to use the same trim on your new box? If so you can now use your new miter box to cut the trim using 45 degree cuts and make it all pretty.

Mk

[Ira]

Yep--same trim. (I think.)

Let me check my mail, and thanks AGAIN!!!


------------

Edit:

Cool. I just printed and will study during lunch!!!

[Mary K]

How's the Box Building going Ira????

Are my drawings any help or did they just mess you all up?


Mk

[Miriam C.]

Gosh, almost 6 hours and no Ira. Is Florida still there. He can't be working that long. Maybe he fell in his crab and can't get out.

[Elumia]

hey Ira...
http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=42654

$40 and you can outsource those arms going back and forth. Besides you can tell when you've cut it too short in much less time. I don't vouch for the quality, but I suspect if you don't have to use it much it would do for you. I prefer a 10" as you can cut bigger stock.

Mark

[kayakrguy]

hey Ira...
http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=42654

$40 and you can outsource those arms going back and forth. Besides you can tell when you've cut it too short in much less time. I don't vouch for the quality, but I suspect if you don't have to use it much it would do for you. I prefer a 10" as you can cut bigger stock.

Mark

Ira,

Mark advice is good!! I bought a mitre saw when I was doing some work on trim on the house several years ago--it is a great piece of machinery...makes everything both easier and nicer when finished...

Jim

[Classic Finn]

I went to the basement one day, eariler this year, and out popped this tongue box.

No CAD models, no drawings... nothing... it just popped out. I don't know what size it is... I don't know about any angles... I just know that I eyeballed the JC Whitney box before I went downstairs...

Hope it helps Ira...



Mike...

Mike whats the best way to get that curve drawn to the Magical Box you recovered from the basement? That is very nice as well..

Looks like Mary K has become famous with her design... way to go Mary.

Heikki