Tongue modification question

[tinksdad]

Build setback #1 (I'm sure there are more to come!!)..... HF lost my order for the trailer!!! Which may be a blessing in disguise. I found the same trailer on Craigslist for almost next to nothing; just have to scrap the funky cargo box they put on it. Plus it gives me the opportunity to step back and ask some questions before it actually costs me any money.

I described my plan intentions in the Newbie thread. Basically I'm going to do a "clone" (more or less) of the Quarter Nelson. I know the tongue on the HF Mini is too short and needs to be extended.

I'm deferring to the experts here for some insight. I planned on triangulating the tongue any how for my own piece of mind. I'm just wondering if the idea running through my head is do-able, sound, and safe. The original tongue bolts to the middle and front cross member. I want to move the tongue forward and just bolt it to the front cross member and add some triangulated braces. I did up some Sketchup views of the trailer bottom with the springs and axle removed. (That's not the final paint scheme, I just color coded them for my own reference.) I didn't draw in a gusset plate where the three pieces come together on the tongue; but I would add one, either bolted or welded. Any input on my thoughts or suggestions on how to do it differently??



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[Nitetimes]

Personally I wouldn't do that. It puts a lot of stress on that first X-member even with the angle bracing. It would probably work, at least for a while but it's better (and safer) to run the tongue back to the second X-member.

[Dale M.]

I'm in favor of tongue connection to at least two crossmembers no matter if you use angle bracing or not....

By grabbing two crossmembers you are less likely to fatigue the single tongue connection at the front (only) crossmember...

Dale

[angib]

Yep, if that front cross-member is open (ie, not tubular) then it provides no real strength to the tongue - so those diagonals must be able to carry 100% of the hitch load. But this is perfectly OK if you pick suitable size material for the diagonals - you can use my tongue strength page and just ignore the rear half of the centre tongue.

Andrew

[del]

I also used that frame, with a tongue extension. I do like your A bracing idea better than mine. But I think you should make the center go all the way back to the second cross member. I had problems with the original tongue and harbor freight extension, namely it would twist when I put weight on the jack(put the jack at a 45 degree angle). Here are the results and my frame with modifications.

My thoughts are replace the tongue with a longer piece of square tubing (http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear84.htm for strength reference)(if you have trouble understanding this engineering chart, someone will help, they did for me), also where the tongue is joined to the cross members is where the weight is transfered from the tongue to the frame, so by attaching to two cross members this joint is much stronger.

Summery use your A frame idea, and replace the center piece of the tongue with a longer piece of square tubing, being attached to two cross members.

my 2c del

[Alphacarina]

Yep, if that front cross-member is open (ie, not tubular) then it provides no real strength to the tongue - so those diagonals must be able to carry 100% of the hitch load. But this is perfectly OK if you pick suitable size material for the diagonals

I agree - Really, the whole issue is moot since you're going to have so little stress on it with such a small trailer

The two diagonals will be much stronger than the single tongue it came with, assuming you're using the same material for the diagonals that the tongue is made of. The front crossmember should also be less stressed than it originally was since the diagonals are halving the load originally carried by the tongue in the center of the crossmember, since the diagonals will be placing half as much load in two places which are nearer the ends of the crossmember

Your proposed modification looks stronger to me than the original tongue . . . . but I would weld everything if it was mine - No bolts nor the holes you would have to drill for them

BTW - I did essentially the same thing on my HF 1740 trailer that you're proposing - It didn't come with a center tongue at all . . . . just the two diagonals with a coupler bolted on where they came together. I wanted to add about 18 inches to the tongue, so I added a center piece which runs from the front crossmember just as yours does and then on 18 inches beyond the junction of the diagonals. I welded everything together and it's overkill if anything but it looks nice and works perfectly

Don

[Gerdo]

Spend the money and do it right. Get a long enough tube that reaches the center cross brace. The tongue is the worst place to scrimp, IMO. Cheap tires, pop and you replace them. The tongue breaks and it's all over. You could have a major problem.