Tongue Length Options??

[jjlentz]

Hello All,
I have ordered my axle and planning on purchasing the steel for my frame next weekend. After taking some measurements and using my neices' play chaulk to draw out my profile and size of my future tear on the driveway it has now grown to a 5'X10' project. The tongue will be an "A" style. I was wondering what lengths some of you frame builders decided on for the tongue of your custom frames, whelther or not it has suited you, and would you lengthen or shorten it if possible. I measured some factory built 5'x10's at the local TSC and they measure 45" from the end of the coupler to the first cross member. I plan on adding a tongue box around 18" wide and the bumper of my TV is 72".

The information that I have gained form this forum has answered so many questions and has become a priceless tool for my project.

Thanks Jeff

[asianflava]

Min length would be to make it long enough for the trailer to jccknife with the TV without hitting it. Max length is as long as you can (within reason). I shortened my tongue by about 18in (different story) that little bit made a lot harder to back up.

[wattsworth]

The shorter the tongue, the quicker the trailer jack-knifes when backing up -- just as asianflava says. Unless you're a trailer-backing guru, a longer tongue will help you keep it straight when backing up -- you may not have to pull forward and try again as many times.

I prefer to make tongues just long enough so that I can jack-knife without the trailer body hitting the tow-vehicle body. Probably the first contact point on my trailers would be between the tongue and tow-vehicle bumper. For your A-frame tongue, this might mean you can jack-knife the trailer to about 60 degrees to one side without damage.