Increasing Tongue Length

[ken52]

I have a galvanized trailer and was wondering is it safe to extend the center square beam that attaches to the coupler by welding to it?

The reason is that the boat is easier for me to get it off trailer in deeper water but seems like to much of my truck is in the water too. So I thought if I had an extention added to it say 12"-18" I could get in deeper with the truck not.

 

[likalar]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Have a trailer/truck shop help you; no reason that couldn't be done, as long as it's done right. An alternative idea is to add some length with a swing away tongue, if garage length is an issue:
http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=HDPB230101&eq=&Tp=

Larry in SF

 

[roscoe]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Buy a hitch extension, cheap , easy, made for the job, no welding to galvanized.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008FUH6E

 

[surge006]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

if you extend it it will be fine you just have to get a smaller square tube ID of the main tube to help brace were the weld will be

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

I've seen these extensions. Do you think there safe with say 200lbs tounge weight? Seems like a lot of torque on the receiver.

 

[surge006]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

those exstentions work however i would pick and choose what i would use em for. I worked doing hitches and trailor for couple years and my choice would not be to use one of those for a boat. You will be using two pins one to your hitch then to your draw bar in the extension

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

The reason is that the boat is easier for me to get it off trailer in deeper water but seems like to much of my truck is in the water too. So I thought if I had an extention added to it say 12"-18" I could get in deeper with the truck not.

The boat in your avatar looks to have a plenty long tongue. The ramps around you must be very shallow. I never even get my my feet or truck wet.
I would look and see if you can find a deeper ramp. If not then go with the tongue extension of the trailer. Use a good welder and a person that is certified just in case you run into any trouble.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Do not recommend welding to galvanized. Tongue extension makes sense. Be careful with the tongue weight though.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Do not recommend welding to galvanized. Tongue extension makes sense. Be careful with the tongue weight though.

dido galvanized metal does not weld well.

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

It welds fine if you grind the gal off. I put about an extra 18" onto mine a little while back.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Yes, you can do it. The key is to find a welder who knows what he is doing.

I added 36" to one of my trailers two years ago, for the very same reason. I chose a welder who works on and builds boat trailers regularly. He used an insert and welded it in place through the outer pieces. In addition, he ran a bead all the way around the point at which the outer box frames met. That weld also penetrated into the insert.

ALthough your welder may do this, the exterior part of the joint should be painted with cold galvanizing spray, which comes in aerosol cans.



???

 

[roscoe]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

I use my extension only when needed. Like when I launch from the beach at desolate wilderness locations. I see no need to tow down the highway with it.

I thought about having a 6' extension made for me, but then I found this one, just haven't decided if I need it or not. It gives you 5 to 10 FEET of extension.

http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Welding galvanized material in automotive sub assemblies is an absolute nightmare. I agree with the yes you can do it but you have to know exactly what you are doing group.
Safeguard in case the weld looks good but has a penetration issue is to put a bolt through both tubes after welding or a draw pin like you do at the hitch.

 

[ken52]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Thanks for all the great advice. I don't weld so I would look and ask around if anyone local knows of a good welder who has done this type of work before.

Yes the ramps here are not the best and this boat is heavy, a friend suggested spraying the bunks with a spray designed to aid in letting the boat slide on and off easier too.

I've also tried moving the boat back on the trailer but to much weight to the rear seems to cause the tongue to be very light and bouncy.

Biggest problem is usually when I'm alone and putting the boat back on trailer. I'm usually half way up the rear wheel on my truck so I can crank the boat on trailer. Is that a normal depth for loading/unloading?

Will take some carefull consideration before doing anything. Thanks again to everyone for their input and suggestions.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Good Luck and keep us all posted how you make out.

 

[109jb]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

What are you guys talking about. Galvanized steel is not hard to weld and there is no magic to it. Galvanized steel is nothing more than low carbon steel with a eletrically deposited layer of zinc. Grind the zinc off and all that is left is the steel. Even if you don't grind it off the welding process will burn it off. The ONLY case where the zinc coating may cause a problem is where it is unusually thick. Even then, grind it off and go. The thing to worry about is the fumes given off can make you sick. As far as producing a good weld, it is no harder with galvanized than other steels.

On the subject of putting a tube inside at the joint, you can do that, but I prefer diamond shaped doublers on the outside of the tube. Truth be told though, if the weld is good then you don't need either for anything except peace of mind.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Even if you don't grind it off the welding process will burn it off.

Sort of dangerous advice IMHO. Burning off the galvanized coating will give off a very poisonous gas. It doesn't take much to make you sick. It doesn't take much more than that to make you worse.

Not saying you can't weld galvanized, you absolutely can, and I have. But you shouldn't just burn it off. Bad things can happen when you just start welding stuff without fully understanding what you're getting in to.

I urge anyone that welds to read this story (it's short) :
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

 

[ken52]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Again thanks for all the great info. Still curious how deep you guys get your truck in the water when unloading/loading?

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Here's a dumb question from someone who always launches in fresh water.

Would the grinding and welding of a piece of galvanized steel leave it very suseptible to corrosion in the salt water or salt air environment? He is from Florida. Even if he launches in fresh water, it still is a salt water/air environment.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Increasing Tongue Length

Again thanks for all the great info. Still curious how deep you guys get your truck in the water when unloading/loading?

I normlly don't even get the back tires of the truck wet...

On a shallow ramp, and i go to a few from time to time, I get the back tires in, but never have the truck bumper touching the water... I do not like shallow ramps...