Is my trailer tongue bent

[Bondo]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Yea, I know the posts are too long. Just trying to hard to give info to answer questions asked I guess.
I would like to think I am fairly handy but do have limited tools. I guess if I could take the tongue out I would be able to have a better idea if it is just tipped upward in the mounting or is actually significantly bent. Either way it appears it may need replaced.

Ayuh,.... Long posts ain't the problem, ya gotta use Paragraphs to break it up, 'n make it READABLE,...

'n in the 1st picture in post 18, the tongue is Obviously bent, I'd say, by 'bout 3" or 4",...

 

[limitout]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

is it bent? yes

does being bent pose a problem? not really unless the tongue shows signs of buckling. it wouldn't hurt anything to live with a bend trailer tongue as long as the frame itself isn't also bent or twisted causing it not to track straight.

since trailers don't cost a lot and with the conditions of your old trailer, unless money is very tight, my suggestion would be to replace it with one that can be adjusted.

if you cant afford new you can find a used one for a few hundred bucks and put your efforts into getting that trailer adjusted and set up right.

the trailer you have now doesn't fit the boat well, it is rusty and bent, everything is welded in place so it cant be adjusted, its been jerry rigged, and it looks beat to heck so its time IMO to replace it.

you could probably sell it for a few dollars to offset the cost of a replacement trailer.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Just looking at your latest pictures . . .

Yes . . . the tongue is slightly bent at the point where it mates with the trailer frame and perhaps a bit more at the bow stop. It can be seen fairly clearly in the pictures. However, unless the structure is noticeably weak, then I would not worry about it. . . should not be an issue.

That boat cannot be very heavy, does the trailer seem to tow it OK?

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Just looking at your latest pictures . . .

Yes . . . the tongue is slightly bent at the point where it mates with the trailer frame and perhaps a bit more at the bow stop. It can be seen fairly clearly in the pictures. However, unless the structure is noticeably weak, then I would not worry about it. . . should not be an issue.

That boat cannot be very heavy, does the trailer seem to tow it OK?

I don't believe there are any points that are noticeably weak. No cracked welds or other metal cracks in the frame. I have only towed it home and closeby to a small lake to offload temp to get the trailer weighed for BMV requirements here in Michigan. Other than that it has set since we got it home from buying it. It seemed to pull fine. I think it will likely track better with the boat more forward on the trailer than it was when we got it. It has been moved forward roughly 18 inches as the transom was to far past end brace as were the bunks.

Further the transom previously was about 4 1/2 inches past end of the bunk boards. Should be allot better now. Transom will be approximately 1/2" inside the end of the bunks when re-installed. I have 4 new swivel bolsters brackets in shipment and will be re-installing the bunk boards after they arrive. It should help allot with the bow appearing to be tipped down towards the tongue. I will also be adding another roller on the tongue after that is taken care of. Likely one I can adjust the height of like Tie-Down mfg and or CE Smith has. The boat will be much more stable on the trailer and should tow better even without anything done to the tongue situation.

A nicer used trailer would be nice but is not an option at the present time. Though I will keep my eyes out in the event something turns up. Will need to have a better idea of the size and features I will need to look for at some point though. I am wondering if I could install a higher profile tire to help raise up the height of the trailer somewhat when it is being towed. When the fenders that came with it are back on there is room for a higher profile tire. I think wider would be an option too but new rims might be required to do that.

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

before spending money trying to straighten the tongue (which I think is never going to be as strong afterwards) I would look into buying a replacement tongue for it.

its just a plain galvanized box tube in a 3"x3" size (most likely) and you can get a replacement from anybody that builds trailers or a metal fab shop or other metal supply company for about the same price they would charge for labor to straighten your old rusty one.

also there is a good possibility you can loosen the u-bolt and put shims under the bracket to raise the "A" portion of the frame to align things if its not that far off. you might just need to slide a 1/4" of 1/2" plate under there and bolt it back tight.

I have concerns of how everything is fitting because your trailer looks to have been previously repaired (jerry rigged) to no longer tilt and the way you described it, it sounds like the trailer is too small for the boat and that could be why it is bent.

you should post some pictures for us, show the entire side view of the boat on the trailer so we see it from motor to the hitch. next take a picture from the front by the winch just above the frame height looking right down the keel and the opposite view from the rear looking forward so we see the keel and rollers and how it all looks.

this will help us give you more accurate advise on what to do next.

Okay so it appears that the primary thing that fastens this tongue to the frame is a u-bolt and another main bolt going through the tube near end. Is it just that simple to loosen the u-bolt and take out the other bolt to get the tongue out of the frame?

Would you need any other pix to answer that question? To get the tongue fairly well aligned when replacing the new one would you typically use a string line as well. At least to get it close. Perhaps the string can be used to check straightness with center of trailer as a reference and as in the prior examples to check up/down alignment compared to back end of trailer.

 

[limitout]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Okay so it appears that the primary thing that fastens this tongue to the frame is a u-bolt and another main bolt going through the tube near end. Is it just that simple to loosen the u-bolt and take out the other bolt to get the tongue out of the frame?

yep, that is all there is to it for tilt style trailers. non tilt trailers are all welded at the A frame connection but tilt trailers usually have a bolt or removable pin you pull out to let it pivot up just by that rear bolt that works as a hinge.

you can tell yours was "jerry rigged" a little where they welded that metal plate on and used a u-bolt to hold it. I suspect this was done because of damage from whatever happened to the little metal cap that used to be there with the tilt pin in it.

just thinking it through with the visual clues, I wonder if a tree didn't fall on the trailer with a boat on it before you got it?

that would explain bending the tongue and breaking the tilt connection but with no signs of a direct strike if the boat absorbed most of the impact. if that happened, the tilt pin point (supporting the frame by sitting on the tongue) and the front of the tongue where it was being supported are where all the force would have been concentrated and that is where you see your repaired damage and bending.

bottom line is as long as the trailer pulls straight and true, even if it is bent, the trailer doesn't have to be straight as long as you get your bunks and roller supports lined up evenly the boat will have the proper support it needs.

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

yep, that is all there is to it for tilt style trailers. non tilt trailers are all welded at the A frame connection but tilt trailers usually have a bolt or removable pin you pull out to let it pivot up just by that rear bolt that works as a hinge.

you can tell yours was "jerry rigged" a little where they welded that metal plate on and used a u-bolt to hold it. I suspect this was done because of damage from whatever happened to the little metal cap that used to be there with the tilt pin in it.

just thinking it through with the visual clues, I wonder if a tree didn't fall on the trailer with a boat on it before you got it?

that would explain bending the tongue and breaking the tilt connection but with no signs of a direct strike if the boat absorbed most of the impact. if that happened, the tilt pin point (supporting the frame by sitting on the tongue) and the front of the tongue where it was being supported are where all the force would have been concentrated and that is where you see your repaired damage and bending.

bottom line is as long as the trailer pulls straight and true, even if it is bent, the trailer doesn't have to be straight as long as you get your bunks and roller supports lined up evenly the boat will have the proper support it needs.

Thanks for all the info and suggestions! What your saying makes sense based on the pictures and available information. I realize a different and more appropriatly sized trailer would be best and will seek that option at some point, but for this first upcoming season at least I need to make due as best I can.

When I get the boat off the trailer I will also check keel for straightness, just in case there was any damage to straightness from as you suggested the possibilty of damage from an incident like a tree limb as opposed to vehicle trailer accident. With dealing with all of these concerns I will be one buyer far more aware of what to look for and avoid in the purchase of any future boat and or trailer.

I'm going to measure from both directions from between the axles to check that dimension as well. I already checked keel roller alignment on the trailer and back to are near perfect and from may need some adjustment but I will wait to see how this bent tongue issue plays out before changing that 3rd roller. After it is taken care of one way or another I will add a 4th keel roller on the tongue closer to the bow of the boat.

Again thanks to ALL for your input even with the posts themselves and I will try to improve in the future with that as well. Have a blessed New Year!

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Does anyone know if this 2 x 2 x 3 3/8" u-bolt needs to be replaced with one made of a particular material such as stainless or something that will take a fair amount of torque when tightening it back down on the top of that plate? I took this one loose and it was rusted bad and the nut on one side snapped off. It could have been years old though. Does anyone know if there should be a torque wrench used on either the main bolt near the end of the tongue which has a 3/4" head. If so, any ideas on the amount of torque to use? I know it is really on there tight and I'm going to have to take the boat off the trailer to try to break it loose.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

galvanized


no you don't need a torque wrench.... tight enough that it doesn't come off but not so tight that it breaks or crushes the tubing..

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Thanks I appreciate the info. Further in my ingnorance I didn't know if galvanized or zinc was better when it comes to boat hardware in particular. Will look for galvanized.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

same thing

Galvanization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Does anyone know if this 2 x 2 x 3 3/8" u-bolt needs to be replaced with one made of a particular material such as stainless or something that will take a fair amount of torque when tightening it back down on the top of that plate? I took this one loose and it was rusted bad and the nut on one side snapped off. It could have been years old though. Does anyone know if there should be a torque wrench used on either the main bolt near the end of the tongue which has a 3/4" head. If so, any ideas on the amount of torque to use? I know it is really on there tight and I'm going to have to take the boat off the trailer to try to break it loose.

Ayuh,.... Yer 3/8" u-bolt should be torqued to standard 3/8" bolt torque, 'bout 25/ 30ft.lbs,...

The bolt with a 3/4" head, is a 1/2" bolt, which is torqued to 45/ 50ft.lbs,....

With my calibrated elbow, 3/8" bolts are torqued "Pretty tight",...
1/2" bolts are torqued to "Pretty darn tight",...

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

same thing

Galvanization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for the reference. I have copied it to a notepad file for future reference.

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Thanks for the info. It really helps. I have saved it to a boat folder with notepad information files.

 

[seanymph85]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Here is where I am at on the trailer tongue bend concern: I got the boat off the trailer and took the tongue off. Attached are some pictures of the key areas of obvious bend. The worst is on the end where the tongue attaches to the trailer. Those pictures are taken from two different sides. The other picture was taken by the coupler. The gap between the level and the tongue does not stand out as much in the picture but a slight curve to the side is apparent on that end when you look at it from the other end. Any thoughts on these pictures and the new info on the degree of bend is appreciated.

 

[limitout]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Does anyone know if this 2 x 2 x 3 3/8" u-bolt needs to be replaced with one made of a particular material such as stainless or something that will take a fair amount of torque when tightening it back down on the top of that plate? I took this one loose and it was rusted bad and the nut on one side snapped off. It could have been years old though. Does anyone know if there should be a torque wrench used on either the main bolt near the end of the tongue which has a 3/4" head. If so, any ideas on the amount of torque to use? I know it is really on there tight and I'm going to have to take the boat off the trailer to try to break it loose.

replace any u-bolts with galvanized because they will last longer and resist rusting.

IIRC the only "special" bolts on your trailer are the receiver bolts, the spring plate bolts and the leaf spring eye bolt should be a high strength grade because of the stresses on them, everything else just uses standard grade bolts

zink is fine if you never go in salt water but if you go in brackish or salt water then I recommend you only use galvanized bolts

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Here is where I am at on the trailer tongue bend concern: I got the boat off the trailer and took the tongue off. Attached are some pictures of the key areas of obvious bend. The worst is on the end where the tongue attaches to the trailer. Those pictures are taken from two different sides. The other picture was taken by the coupler. The gap between the level and the tongue does not stand out as much in the picture but a slight curve to the side is apparent on that end when you look at it from the other end. Any thoughts on these pictures and the new info on the degree of bend is appreciated.
View attachment 221283 View attachment 221282 View attachment 221284

Ayuh,.... Just go to yer local Steel Supplier, 'n buy a new piece of 2x2 box tubin',...
It's probably 1/8", or 3/16" wall, both are common,...

It won't be all that expensive, just drill the holes ya need in it, 'n put yer wagon back together,...

That piece you can use on a future project that needs shorter pieces, that you can cut outa the straighter sections,...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

zink is fine if you never go in salt water but if you go in brackish or salt water then I recommend you only use galvanized bolts

You need to read the above wikipedia link..... they are the SAME thing

 

[limitout]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

You need to read the above wikipedia link..... they are the SAME thing

well if you ever used zinc plated anything in salt water you would know that there us a HUGE difference between zinc plated bolts and galvanized bolts. even though both are made using zinc they are NOT the same.

the difference in zinc coated bolts vs galvanized bolts:

Zinc versus Galvanized hardware - which is better

Galvanised Coatings - Zinc Galvanising versus Zinc Plating

When should you use galvanized steel or zinc plated steel? - Graphskill Ltd

Zinc-plating vs mechanical or hot dip galvanized coatings for small parts

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer tongue bent

Oh good grief.... no don't use the crappy el cheapo zinc electroplated stuff from the box stores but nobody here to fore SAID zinc ELECTROPLATED

HOT DIP GALVANIZING is a process where after proper prep parts are immersed in a (when I was a supervisor in a galvanizing plant, 983 deg) vat of ZINC thus coating the parts with ZINC..... The parts can also be tumbled in a drum that looks similar to a clothes dryer with pellets of zinc but I was never involved in that half of the plant so I don't know any more than that.


In practice zinc plating is also a fine process but since it is very easy to get a super thin coating that looks great and zinc isn't cheap, companies often cheap out it is common to have sub par stuff sold in box stores.

sooo to more specifically answer the original question of galvanized or zinc... get ZINC GALVANIZED... they will be dull grey in color. Shiny is not your friend.