Attaching Tongue box to HF trailer

[Newman39Fan]

I am planning my tongue box for my TD. It will be wood construction. For anyone who has done this, how did you attach it to the trailer? I am thinking of just bolting it to the existing holes for the spare tire support, but am wondering if I need more then 1 bolt on each side to hold it down. My Tongue box will be used to store the battery, 4 stabilizer jacks and an extension cord.

Thanks for the help

[fishfinder]

A great thread. I have 1720# HF trailer. I also added a tongue box. I started by building one out of excess plywood. It needed to hold my battery as well as some items like the jacks and a few tools and my water tank. I built the box and installed it to the frame using wood to metal screews. They hold very well and I am convinced I would have no problems. By the way I used these screws to fasten the deck to the trailer frame.

Now this is where I went wrong. I forgot to weigh my box loaded before I installed it. My hitch is restricted to 150# and when I weighed the tongue it was 170lbs. Even removing everything except the battery I was still at 150lbs. So I removed my homebrew box. I found a box at Wally World called a trunk box. I loaded up the box with the battery and a few of the necesary items and got it under 150 lbs. I fastened it to the frame with the same wood to metal screws.

Actally I like this install better than the homemade box.



Mike

[Juneaudave]

I welded a couple pieces of angle in front of and behind my box, then fastened across the front with stainless screws. Probably not optimum, but it seems to be very sturdy so far..

[aggie79]

I too am building a tongue box out of wood.



The bottom of the box is 3/4" plywood. Two square-corner u-bolts will go around the a-frame rails into the bottom of the box. I'll use fender washers below the u-bolt nuts.

[sagebrush]

Tom (&Linda) You might want to put a softner between the u-bolts and frame ( rubber sheet or small hose around bolt) If the bolt loosens up and wears on bottom of frame there goes your tongue strength. Will

[Darren]

I worried a lot about mounting my tongue box to the frame, worried about flex. I ended up mounting it right to the front of the tear.



Helps that I had a solid front wall to mount to.


5 years with no problems at all. Hope this helps.

[gregp136]

I am also considering a tongue, but if it contains the battery, it needs to be vented, Right?

(yes, I am seeking advice)

Greg (and Laurie)

[synaps3]

Even sealed batteries need to be vented, so yes -- definitely give it a vent hole somewhere.

[Classic Finn]

Here in the land of Beauracracy we cant weld or drill into the Eu Approved
Towbar so Im also thinking of using U bolts or claps drilled thru the bottom of the box and fastened to the front of the tear.

[Classic Finn]

Even sealed batteries need to be vented, so yes -- definitely give it a vent hole somewhere.

I 2nd that also.

[toypusher]

Here in the land of Beauracracy we cant weld or drill into the Eu Approved
Towbar so Im also thinking of using U bolts or claps drilled thru the bottom of the box and fastened to the front of the tear.

That's about what I did. Used a U-bolt (actually two) and strap almost like a muffler clamp setup.

[Newman39Fan]

thanks for the many responses! I will also be adding vents for the battery in the tongue box

[Toytaco2]

I managed to find a light weight box at Lowes. I put a piece of 3/4" ply in the bottom and use it for a battery box and misc other stuff (the box is vented and has a couple of electrical "cord ports" mounted in the side). It is mounted to the HF tongue using using 2 U-bolts per side (you can see them in the pic).

Like someone else said, the tongue weight got a little heavier than I wanted, but placing my 40lb. Coleman Event shelter behind the rear axle balanced things out just right.

Mike

[bdosborn]

Here in the land of Beauracracy we cant weld or drill into the Eu Approved
Towbar so Im also thinking of using U bolts or claps drilled thru the bottom of the box and fastened to the front of the tear.

That's about what I did. Used a U-bolt (actually two) and strap almost like a muffler clamp setup.

Me three....


Bruce

[dh]

The tradesman box I bought only has 2 mounting holes drilled in it, so I would say yes, bolts should be enough.