1/8 inch 2x2 tubing for a tongue extension

[wingloader]

New here, but I spent an hour searching posts and I didn't find a concise opinion on this.

Like many others, I am adding a tongue extension to my HF trailer (4x8 2800#). I already bought an 8 foot piece of 1/8 inch 2x2. Did I waste my money? It was $85 bucks for 3/16ths and to me, 1/8 felt pretty strong. The 1/8 was 48 bucks. The guage of the steel on "A" part of the mfgs hitch section seems pretty pathetic as is. I'm surprised the trailer is rated for 2700 pounds with that setup. I guess that's why I thought 1/8 would be ok.

Does anyone think I will have a problem with 1/8? I was planning on welding a piece of flat stock to the sides of the tube end so I could fit the locking hitch thingy to the extension because it is way to wide for the 2x2.

If I were to SECURELY support the two ends of the tube off the ground, I think I could jump up and down on it without it even flexing. However there are things I may not have considered such as torsion, minor flexing etc.

I would be grateful for advice.

Thanks,
Joe

[jeff0520]

I used 3/16 for mine because that's what the steel dealer reccomended. I have no way to judge beyond that. I am using a piece of 1/8 to make a back bumper though.

[wingloader]

Well, I guess I have enough bumper material now!

[bobhenry]

You are adding extra strength to the A tongue that is already existing so I see no real concern. As a single tongue you would have found it a bit weak but you have the additional existing strength so you should be good to go. You might want to shop for a 2" coupler rather than trying to shim out the 2 1/2" coupler they are not real expensive.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

You should be fine with 1/8, but that price seems really high!! I just got a 7' length of 3/16" 2x2 for my friends trailer for $30. Had the welding/fab shop also drill all the holes we needed, which was another $30.

[wingloader]

Have I told you guys how much I love you! Man-love of course.

I went to the "Metals Supermarket" for the piece. He may have seen me as some dumb ass noob because I came in wearing my business attire and raked me over the coals on pricing. I will definitely get the 2" coupler rather than scabbing on some metal. Thanks man.

I plan to run the 2" tube back to the second spar. If the 2 foot extension seems "flexy", I could always weld a piece of angle underneath that section to beef it.

Thanks guys.

Zach, when you took your trailer to get your load of wood, did it have lightes and a plate? :-) Don't wanna wait to get it legal so I can get some sawdust going.

Joe

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Zach, when you took your trailer to get your load of wood, did it have lightes and a plate? :-) Don't wanna wait to get it legal so I can get some sawdust going.

We hooked up the lights temporarily just to make it somewhat legal. Didn't have a license plate though. I figure if I did get pulled over, I'd just try to explain to the cop what I was building, and that I couldn't get tags until it was finished. The license plate laws differ from state to state.

[wingloader]

Stopped by my new favorite store: Harbor Freight. What the heck would we do without them? It would be really hard to get the things we need for this build without having to order it, pay shipping etc.

Just bought the 2 inch coupler on the way home. I will do exactly what you did Zach re: the lights.

The wheels look like they came greased already. Do you still recommend that I clean them and re-grease them? I read somewhere (I think on your build pages Zach) that they needed to be re-done.

I would like to thank you guys for taking the time to help me out with my noob questions. I really appreciate it.

Joe

[jeff0520]

DEFINATELY clean and repack your bearings. That brown stuff in there isn't grease. It's called cosmoline, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline and it's a long term storage rust inhibitor. It will NOT lubricate your bearings for use. It's just for storage.
Get some good degreaser solvent, and some good grease of your choice. I used black moly grease, but that's just my personal preferance. any general purpose bearing grease will work fine. Either use a bearing packer, or get yourself a big handful of grease and push it into the spaces and around the rollers till it's all greased up good, then put it all back together

[Dale M.]

For those who have a quest or want to know, steel is sold by the pound, and there are charts out there what steel size weighs per foot per specific dimensions....This is just one site that gives weight per foot by dimension....

http://www.metrosteelfl.com/

More comprehensive listing in PDF format...

http://valleyiron.com/doc/valley-iron-weightbook.pdf

For instance a 8 ft piece of 2x2x.120 weights just 20.65 pounds.... You paid $2.17 a pound... Kind of high...

Also there are various qualities of steel..... I can purchase "unwarrented" steel ( actually made in INDIA with INDIA stamped on it) cheaper than "standard" steel.... What steel I would use would depend on application.... Also some shops will nick you for cutting fee...

Call ahead to check price...

Dale

[absolutsnwbrdr]

ever read the tread on how lengthing out your tongue on harbor freight trailers can create a leaver effect and break your leaf springs????????????????

you all might want to think twice about lenghting out a tongue on a harbor freight trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


sounds like some people are having broken leaf springs on this as the el cheapo harbor freight trailer leaf springs can't stand added tongue weights!

slow

Ummm... No. Lengthening the tongue has nothing to do with broken leaf springs.

I've read one post on here about broken leaf springs, and it was on an old salvaged trailer. If I recall, it didnt even have anything to do with a Harbor Freight trailer.



Lengthening the tongue ALSO allows you to be able to back the trailer up without jackknifing it as easily. With my tongue extension, I can get the car and the trailer perpendicular to each other, and still have room, even with my cargo platform. Great for backing the trailer into tight spaces and maneuvering through trees at primitive campsites.

[bobhenry]

THE SKY IS FALLING !!



THE SKY IS FALLING !!


chicken little

[absolutsnwbrdr]

THE SKY IS FALLING !!



THE SKY IS FALLING !!


chicken little

I wondered what just hit me on the head!

[Bogo]

THE SKY IS FALLING !!



THE SKY IS FALLING !!


chicken little

I wondered what just hit me on the head!

I stepped aside.

Then the chunk that was falling next to it hit me. It wasn't supposed to rain today.

[Dale M.]

Usually broken leaf springs are from over worked springs (excessive weight from overloading) or poor heat treat that makes them brittle and they fatigue and fail under load over time.... Tongue extension has noting to do about increasing weight on trailer axle....

Dale