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Author Topic:   detachable trailer tongue

renolarry posted 05-09-2003 11:17 PM ET (US)
My trailer has an exeptionally long tongue and is 1 ft too long to fit in my garage. has anyone installed or made a detachable tongue? EZ loader makes one for their newer trailers but not my older one, traler has 3X3 tubing and 3.5 X 3.5 x.188 tubing will slip over it if I want to make my own, Any suggestions?
triblet posted 05-09-2003 11:58 PM ET (US)
I have.
The additional tubing is inside. A local
hitch shop (Eyers) did the cutting and welding,
and I had it hot dip galvanized. It's built
so I can use it to extend the tongue another
18" by using a second set of holes in it.
I think
JimH posted pictures somewhere in Cetacea.

Chuck
Whalerdan posted 05-10-2003 10:57 AM ET (US)
Me too.
I just cut the tongue off with an air cut-off wheel and use four grade 8 bolts. Two on the trailer side, and two on the hitch side of the cut (didn't want to deal with a welder). On each side I put one of the bolts through horizonally, and on vertically. The ones on the hitch side I never take off. Unbolting and bolting adds an extra step to getting ready and putting away, but its not too bad. Got to keep the bolts sprayed with WD40 or they'll rust.
seasicknes posted 05-10-2003 11:34 AM ET (US)
I have that removeable tongue on my trailer. Works really nicely. My montauk fits in the garage easily.
Ken
FLUKEDUKE posted 05-10-2003 11:37 AM ET (US)
Ditto to Whalerdan's post, including having to cut and re-flare the surge brake line it was about a 2 hour job.
hooter posted 05-10-2003 02:30 PM ET (US)
Wonder if anyone has run across a detachable tongue Ah could buy f'mah mother-in-law?
Jimm posted 05-10-2003 07:50 PM ET (US)
FLUKEDUKE posted 05-10-2003 11:37 AM ET (US)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ditto to Whalerdan's post, including having to cut and re-flare the surge brake line it was about a 2 hour job."
So Fluke, you cut your tongue even though you have surge brakes? What do you do while the tongue is off - just bend the rubber brake line and leave the tongue on top of the trailer?
triblet posted 05-10-2003 08:32 PM ET (US)
Instead of bolts, you can use the same sort of
pins that hold the drawbar in your trailer
hitch receiver.

Chuck
FLUKEDUKE posted 05-12-2003 12:59 PM ET (US)
Jim,
As stated, the process I used to shorten the tongue length was exactly the same as Whalerdan, except with surge brakes the steel brake line had to also had to be shortened the same amount.
1. Remove brake line from master cylinder in coupler.
2. Remove (2) 1/2 bolts attaching coupler to trailer tongue, remove coupler.
3. Saw tongue to desired length.
4. Drill new bolt holes thru tongue using coupler as a template.
5. Rebolt coupler to tongue.
6. Cut, reflare and re-attach brake line.
7. Fill master cylinder, bleed brakes. A large c-clamp attached to the coupler hitch ball socket worked fine for actuating the master cylinder for bleeding.
Hope this answers your question.
lhg posted 05-12-2003 05:04 PM ET (US)
Why not just cut off the tongue section as needed, and re-install the coupler so it will fit in the garage. I have shortened the tongue on both of my trailers. They all tend to be longer than needed.
triblet posted 05-12-2003 06:02 PM ET (US)
Larry, you clearly aren't a saltwater boater.
Most trailer tongues are too short too keep
your truck out of the briney. I have several
friends with short tongue trailers that have
had to replace the rear brakes because they
corroded away -- not just the shoes but the
whole shooting match: drums, springs,
cylinders, ...
Chuck
Whalerdan posted 05-13-2003 07:57 AM ET (US)
Triblet - Thought about using pins instead of bolts but I think the slop in the pins when pulling the trailer would be too annoying. I think it would be safe enough, just noisy. With the bolts I can actually clamp down on the inside tube and every things real tight
triblet posted 05-13-2003 08:45 AM ET (US)
I get more noise from the pin in the hitch
than from the pins in the trailer.
I also go more noise from my old rusty
springs (gone with new springs).
West has pins that have plastic coating
that quiets things down a lot. It helped
the hitch a lot.

Chuck
renolarry posted 05-13-2003 09:16 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the great suggestions, Triblet your right , I'm not a salt water boater but want to keep the long tongue for the same reasons, a couple of the lakes out here are somewhat high in alkalinity and the long tongue is a definate advantage, not to mention I dont always use a ramp out here and keeping the rear tires out of the soft sand is a lifesaver, thanks again

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Author	Topic: detachable trailer tongue
renolarry	posted 05-09-2003 11:17 PM ET (US) My trailer has an exeptionally long tongue and is 1 ft too long to fit in my garage. has anyone installed or made a detachable tongue? EZ loader makes one for their newer trailers but not my older one, traler has 3X3 tubing and 3.5 X 3.5 x.188 tubing will slip over it if I want to make my own, Any suggestions?
triblet	posted 05-09-2003 11:58 PM ET (US) I have. The additional tubing is inside. A local hitch shop (Eyers) did the cutting and welding, and I had it hot dip galvanized. It's built so I can use it to extend the tongue another 18" by using a second set of holes in it. I think JimH posted pictures somewhere in Cetacea. Chuck
Whalerdan	posted 05-10-2003 10:57 AM ET (US) Me too. I just cut the tongue off with an air cut-off wheel and use four grade 8 bolts. Two on the trailer side, and two on the hitch side of the cut (didn't want to deal with a welder). On each side I put one of the bolts through horizonally, and on vertically. The ones on the hitch side I never take off. Unbolting and bolting adds an extra step to getting ready and putting away, but its not too bad. Got to keep the bolts sprayed with WD40 or they'll rust.
seasicknes	posted 05-10-2003 11:34 AM ET (US) I have that removeable tongue on my trailer. Works really nicely. My montauk fits in the garage easily. Ken
FLUKEDUKE	posted 05-10-2003 11:37 AM ET (US) Ditto to Whalerdan's post, including having to cut and re-flare the surge brake line it was about a 2 hour job.
hooter	posted 05-10-2003 02:30 PM ET (US) Wonder if anyone has run across a detachable tongue Ah could buy f'mah mother-in-law?
Jimm	posted 05-10-2003 07:50 PM ET (US) FLUKEDUKE posted 05-10-2003 11:37 AM ET (US) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ditto to Whalerdan's post, including having to cut and re-flare the surge brake line it was about a 2 hour job." So Fluke, you cut your tongue even though you have surge brakes? What do you do while the tongue is off - just bend the rubber brake line and leave the tongue on top of the trailer?
triblet	posted 05-10-2003 08:32 PM ET (US) Instead of bolts, you can use the same sort of pins that hold the drawbar in your trailer hitch receiver. Chuck
FLUKEDUKE	posted 05-12-2003 12:59 PM ET (US) Jim, As stated, the process I used to shorten the tongue length was exactly the same as Whalerdan, except with surge brakes the steel brake line had to also had to be shortened the same amount. 1. Remove brake line from master cylinder in coupler. 2. Remove (2) 1/2 bolts attaching coupler to trailer tongue, remove coupler. 3. Saw tongue to desired length. 4. Drill new bolt holes thru tongue using coupler as a template. 5. Rebolt coupler to tongue. 6. Cut, reflare and re-attach brake line. 7. Fill master cylinder, bleed brakes. A large c-clamp attached to the coupler hitch ball socket worked fine for actuating the master cylinder for bleeding. Hope this answers your question.
lhg	posted 05-12-2003 05:04 PM ET (US) Why not just cut off the tongue section as needed, and re-install the coupler so it will fit in the garage. I have shortened the tongue on both of my trailers. They all tend to be longer than needed.
triblet	posted 05-12-2003 06:02 PM ET (US) Larry, you clearly aren't a saltwater boater. Most trailer tongues are too short too keep your truck out of the briney. I have several friends with short tongue trailers that have had to replace the rear brakes because they corroded away -- not just the shoes but the whole shooting match: drums, springs, cylinders, ... Chuck
Whalerdan	posted 05-13-2003 07:57 AM ET (US) Triblet - Thought about using pins instead of bolts but I think the slop in the pins when pulling the trailer would be too annoying. I think it would be safe enough, just noisy. With the bolts I can actually clamp down on the inside tube and every things real tight
triblet	posted 05-13-2003 08:45 AM ET (US) I get more noise from the pin in the hitch than from the pins in the trailer. I also go more noise from my old rusty springs (gone with new springs). West has pins that have plastic coating that quiets things down a lot. It helped the hitch a lot. Chuck
renolarry	posted 05-13-2003 09:16 AM ET (US) Thanks for the great suggestions, Triblet your right , I'm not a salt water boater but want to keep the long tongue for the same reasons, a couple of the lakes out here are somewhat high in alkalinity and the long tongue is a definate advantage, not to mention I dont always use a ramp out here and keeping the rear tires out of the soft sand is a lifesaver, thanks again