A Few trailer questions.....

[gunner1]

So I had to move my trailer today to mow under it and I started checking it out. First off, I noticed that my trailers' tongue measured from the center of the ball receiver to the spot on the trailer where the "V" comes together and connects to the tongue is only 45", while on my dad's trailer the distance is 66". Could this be why I have an easier time backing his up as opposed to mine? I also noticed that the tongue is only held in place with ONE BOLT. The are no welds holding the tongue in place. Is this dangerous? The bolt looks to only be 3/8" in diameter. Finally, I noticed my winch post looks a little funny how it's mounted. Here's a pic- tell me what you think.

Any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

well the hitch should deff have more than 1 bolt, and that winch post looks like the next time you winch the boat on it will come off. that post i would take off, and take it to a welding shop and have them cut off the old plate on the bottom and weld a new, thicker piece on. as to the tounge length, is a different style trailer or a different size boat???

 

[Knightgang]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

I agree with fishingman220 as far as the bolts in the tounge and the winch tower. Fix those ASAP to avoid a really bad boat outing...

Now, as far as the tounge length. How long the tounge is will depend on the make of the trailer and the size of the boat. But, tounge length itself is not the determination of easier backing. Rule of thumb is that the greater the distance from the pivot point (hitch) to the axle, the easier it is to back... If all else on your trailer and your dad's trailer is equal, then the tounge length is the factor. Othersize, it is not the tounge, but the distance form the hitch to the axle...

 

[gunner1]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

I agree with fishingman220 as far as the bolts in the tounge and the winch tower. Fix those ASAP to avoid a really bad boat outing...

Now, as far as the tounge length. How long the tounge is will depend on the make of the trailer and the size of the boat. But, tounge length itself is not the determination of easier backing. Rule of thumb is that the greater the distance from the pivot point (hitch) to the axle, the easier it is to back... If all else on your trailer and your dad's trailer is equal, then the tounge length is the factor. Othersize, it is not the tounge, but the distance form the hitch to the axle...

I just got done measuring the two trailers and mine is 53" wide and 13 feet from the pivot point to the axle and my dad's is 55" wide and 14 feet from the pivot point to the axle. I guess I'll be buying some tube steel and lengthening my tongue a foot or so in the spring.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

Why lengthen the tongue? You create a weak point and will upset the current tongue weight in the process. Ease of backing a trailer comes with experience. One foot of length is not going to make a great deal of difference. The winch post definitely needs some help.

 

[gunner1]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

Why lengthen the tongue? You create a weak point and will upset the current tongue weight in the process. Ease of backing a trailer comes with experience. One foot of length is not going to make a great deal of difference. The winch post definitely needs some help.

Yeah, that winch post is a bad joke. The whole trailer was a joke when I got it. Now, I'm no expert, but something tells me that I shouldn't see daylight under the winchpost!

 

[captharv]

Re: A Few trailer questions.....

If it were mine, I would buy new bolts for that winch stand and replace them, ising a 2' breaker bar to tighten, or about 100 ft #.
As far as lengthening the tongue, we engineers have a saying "If it ain't broke, don't screw with it."
The 1' of difference won't make THAT much of a difference.

My boat trailer is almost 20' from the hitch ball to the axles. My utility trailer is about 8'. There is a hugh difference in backing....