Folding A-Frame Tongue

[aggie79]

In planning for a second build, I am looking to see if anyone could direct me to a design for a folding a-frame tongue. The tongue would fold up to allow storage in a garage. I have seen one on the Eco-Tourer camper/caravan from New Zealand manufacturer. (You can see it at about 48 seconds into this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvHmIDz2qCA).

I am aware of a horizontal folding tongue for a 3" square tube single tongue that swings to the side. This would probably be structurally okay, but I don't like the aesthetics of this design.

Thank you for your time.

[Loader]

A second build, huh Tom?

Although I haven't seen the folding tongue, I do know that WarPony built a nice trailer with a removable draw bar, might be an option if the folding A-Frame falls through.

From his photo album






Good luck in the planning!

[aggie79]

Earl,

Thanks for that idea. I hadn't considered "removable" but that's a possibility too.

About build #2, I've been kicking the tires on some ideas. My wife is ready for me to be back in the garage. She's made one request and that's to have a shower (and indoor porta-potty.)

In addition to length, I need to consider height too - especially with the shower request - and the need to make it all fit into a garage.

Thanks again,
Tom

[Loader]

Sounds like it's standy time!

[48Rob]

In addition to length, I need to consider height too - especially with the shower request - and the need to make it all fit into a garage.

Tom,

Don't forget about the sit down shower option.
Small tub that has a "seat" built in.

Not a lot of head room needed.

Rob

[mezmo]

Hi Tom/aggie79,

I recalled that Trailmanor [ www.trailmanor.com ] offered a swing-away
tongue as an option, but their current brochure doesn't show any pics,
just that it is an option.

If you Google "trailmanor swing away tongue" using 'Images" you can see
a couple pics.

And from that, here is the patent link for it:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6648361.html

Also came across this - may be more for boat trailers though:
http://www.pacifictrailers.com/swing-aw ... inge-kits/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[aggie79]

Earl - It will at least be a slouchy if not standy. I've ben kicking around a mish-mash of myoung's Where or When Jr., a bread loaf trailer, and this: http://www.goldbrand.info/.

Rob - Thank you for the reminder about the sitting shower. I had seen it many times, but lost the mental picture of the sitting tub in your cabin car.

Norm - thanks for the link. I had seen those single-tongue swing-away but didn't know that they were available in the higher load capacities as your link showed.

[StPatron]

Don't forget about the sit down shower option.
Small tub that has a "seat" built in.

Or, you could use the porta-potty as your shower chair.

I'm anxious to see what you design, Tom.

[Treeview]

I can imagine a removable tongue with center pull and two angled tubes too.

Use trailer hitch receivers and let the angle tubes swivel using flat plates top and bottom with large bolts. Slip in the three tubes and secure with bolts using castle nuts and cotter pins.

This would make a trailer that is almost theft proof as long as the tongue is stored separately.

[48Rob]

Or, you could use the porta-potty as your shower chair.

I've seen similar done in many RV's, and it is a great space saver/double duty area.
However, in their quest to squeeze more into a given space than is realistic for normal use (camping, in a "camping trailer" must not count?) they make the setup too small/crowded for the average person to be able to use comfortably.
Yes, I know, its camping, and you're supposed to rough it.
But hey, if you spend good money on a camper because a tent and pit toilet with no shower is too rough, why give the consumer a product that is only half way thought out?

Anyway, the idea is fantastic, it just needs to be made large enough for the end user to be comfortable with it, or it will be wasted space.
Lots of ads for campers out there that state "never used bath, or bath too small so didn't use".

Rob

[Sonoma ZR2]

On our cattle chute they have a removable triangular drawbar that is held in with two hitch pins. Not sure how heavy it is but it's heavier than a small camper.

[Larry C]

In planning for a second build, I am looking to see if anyone could direct me to a design for a folding a-frame tongue. The tongue would fold up to allow storage in a garage. I have seen one on the Eco-Tourer camper/caravan from New Zealand manufacturer. (You can see it at about 48 seconds into this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvHmIDz2qCA).

I am aware of a horizontal folding tongue for a 3" square tube single tongue that swings to the side. This would probably be structurally okay, but I don't like the aesthetics of this design.

Thank you for your time.

Hey Tom,
You have hardly used your work of art, and your wanting to build another?
You could make a removable A frame like the HF folding trailer has, but you would have to crawl underneath to pull the pins. Or make a combo A frame/straight tongue like Loader's photo. That would make it easier to line everything up. The straight tongue would insert into the receiver, and the A frame would line up with brackets that take pins.

The nicest set-up that would be really cool is the NZ trailer folding tongue.

This one:


Larry C

[droid_ca]

I like the idea of a removable tongue it is the ultimate anti theft device you combine that with the "fish house" design so you would pull into the site park unhitch remove the tongue and lower the trailer ...sounds like it would be good for people that have mobility problems and it would be great for confusing other campers no wheels no tongue how'd it get there

[glenpinpat]

what about a removable one like they use to tow cars behind rvs? they are a frame and have 2 pins that pull out to remove the whole assembly. Patrick

[Treeview]

Like this:

http://images.campingworld.com/is/image ... g?wid=1488

Except that the vertical pivot would have to be removed for trailer use.