For existing trailers, a quick test of construction is to hook it up to the tow vehicle, then jump up and down on each corner. Mark the front and back frame members in the middle. Add to Cart. Please do comment, good or bad. Look for things that indicate the trailer design is well thought through. Another thing to be aware of is if you have a side hinged or top hinged rear door on your tow vehicle. Best Use: Longer spans, and maximum added stiffness. it is a 28ft flatbed and the tongue is 3x5x.25 angle iron. Next, make the same marks farther down the frame, preferably at the extent the tongue will reach on the frame. Two pieces of 2 1/2 angle will give you 3" channel if you space it this way. Again, this is not usually a problem. Look at aluminum for trailers with a little different perspective. When building a trailer, there are a bunch of things we want to get right. Test it by jumping up and down on a corner of the trailer, and see if ONE corner moves a lot more than the others. Bolt these to reinforce the bend in the tongue. It hasan expensive feel and a nice allure, so aluminum is a popular material for lots of really nice trailers. Once the tongue is clean, apply a generous amount of weld-on adhesive to both the tongue and the reinforcement plate. Not just the main beams, but the cross members too. Each has a capacity marked on it. No question, setting the center for an A-Frame trailer tongue is a little more difficult, but lets make it easy with a couple of tricks. Because bracing normally sits below the tongue, it bears the brunt of everyday use, so it pays to make it as strong and as low profile as possible. They carry vertical loads, and they carry a torque load when the forces are uneven. However, if the frame is not reinforced where a torsion axle mounts, its a sure sign of weakness. Thank you for sending the photo. However, with leaf springs, longer springs are generally indications of a better design. First, how will the trailer be used, and what vehicle will be towing it? Yes, you can bolt on a trailer tongue, and kits are available. A Feature of Synthesis Engineering Services, Inc. B) Plant/Production Line Perhaps most importantly, trailer tires are not as available when you desperately need one, (get a flat out in the boonies?) Tire problems have haunted many a trailer owner, so watch whats happening with them. This does away with any exterior bracingand should handle just about anything that can be thrown at it. RV Tip. If these are missing, it is an indication of shortcuts. They are a really cool devise, but they need orientation in all 3 dimensions so they look and work best. Note that passwords are case-sensitive. As well as having the choice of straight, composite, and A frame tongue, there are also the options of having a fixed length, extend-able, and tilting tongue. If youre making repairs to the leaf springs or hangers, welding them in place is a great way to ensure a secure connection. Gussets are metal plates that connect two pieces of metal at an angle. Finally, continuous sides (especially when welded) will strengthen a trailer frame. 1) To help the trailer track straight, and therefore help pull stable. C) Infrastructure/Construction/Repair or Maintenance/Field Work Now install and torque the hinge pivot bolt. Ideally we want both the tongue and the axle straight and true. Primary methods of evaluation include judgment with respect to the specified load rating, and evaluation of trailer parts with an eye to expected use. For example, if the trailer is 60 wide, the center is at 30. Its worth a little extra time for double checking measurements because it will pay the dividends for as long as you have the trailer. The tongue takes the entire weight of the trailer and transfers it to the tow vehicle. In general, if your tow vehicle is large with respect to the trailer and expected load, then trailer brakes are less important. I've had a few that seemed high, and one, a 67 Land Commander with a purposely arced tongue: The frame design of this trailer is, overall, good.The tongue is a part of the main frame which is directly connected to the axle, via the hangers attached to the frame.It is a better design, for strength and continuity, than a boxed frame with a tongue added. If you ARE willing to weld, weld all the joints except the folding joints (if you want to preserve the fold-up feature). Torsion axles add a lot of extra stress on the frame at the attachment point. For a heavy duty trailer like this, adding gussets can work well. A) Welding/Fabrication Shop Use washers on the plywood for better clamping (so it does not just pull the bolt head into the wood). Wheels and Tires are key to trailer strength on several levels. If the flex is in the beams themselves, then change directions and read about Increasing Capacity. Thats it! Adding support at key cross beams will strengthen and reinforce a trailer frame significantly. Set the tongue beams carefully, and make sure the string stays straight over the front beam center mark. Features steel plate construction. This helps to assure the tongue beams end up at the correct angle. Tongues over 5', depending on the material used, should be braced to give additional stiffness and prevent vertical flexing. Seems like thats a niche to fill. This style tongue is one of the most common due to the strength the full angle frame gives to the trailer. Finally, aluminum is not as durable and does not take abuse as well as steel. The Quest for a Great Tasting, Productive Bi-Color Tomato in the PNW Its a great way to make sure the trailer will connect with a wide variety of tow vehicle heights, but it does take just a little more care in setup for the trailer tongue. The story is amazing from all angles , There's a lot that goes into making trailers tow stable. F) Work Out of Home, A) Corporate Executive/Management On the other hand, we need to keep things in order because when things go bad, they can easily go really, Im looking to build one of your trailers, but I need to know which welder to buy? or What type of welder do I need 110 or 220 volt? and What about other projects from your site that may, If you ever doubt the sanity of safety chains, then see this example of where a single trailer chain literally saved lives. Ideally the composite angle frames should go under the chassis at least to the first cross member. This Second flat option is similar, but places the gusset vertical. Next is the corners or intersections of beams. Choose this because you can easily fabricate a gusset with flanges to bolt in. One disadvantage is the greater chance of the tongue being damaged when jackknifed while reversing. the frame would never hold together. It should have strength sufficient for its need. If you haulan even distribution of boxes, the floor needs less strength, than if your primary use is motorcycles, a tractor or something else where the weight concentrates at just a few points. They are also worth a bit of a separate discussion to cover all the points. Thin or weak members (such as bolts through tubes) willcrush by tightening bolts. The principle behind the brace is in effect similar to the truss arrangement of house roof supports and bridges - only upside down. After a ton of market and product study, we are stepping in and stepping up. Traditionally there are 3 types of trailer tongue configurations: While they are all somewhat different, there is one thing they all have in common. Look for gussets. The real problem comes when the trailer feels strong (because steel is stronger than your hands), but the dynamics of a large load will make it flex. My TT/ toy hauler, was towed by an A class Diesel pusher and the previous owner extended the tongue this way. I need to reinforce a trailer tongue on a trailer. Of course, there are the big obvious things, but there are also a lot of contributors that may or may not matter in your situation. It will also be more responsive and forgiving when reversing. $318.76 - $457.87. There are plenty of variations, of which a couple are shown here, but the objective is the same and that is to add strength to thetongue without adding unnecessary weight. NATM Answers : Are You Trailer Safety Aware? Changing the existing configuration is different from strictly strengthening or stiffening, but they are related. When you need a Shop Cart with more capacity than those off-the-shelf, build it! If you want a strong, one piece tongue, you could get your local engineering shop to press a "C" section tongue out of 3/16"or heavier,steel plate with an angular bottom profile similar to the photo below. Another area to avoid is the area around the axle. . Also, the angle is not as important because it does not have to fit into the hitch. We recommend using methods like clamping a bar (like a piece of angle iron) to either side of the channel and using those back to the trailer frame with measurements to the center of the frame. Thicker plywood will give more stiffness. 1. Carry up to 400 pounds on your trailer bumper! The first step is to remove any debris or rust from the tongue. A properly functioning trailer tongue is vital to towing a trailer. Better Built Crown Series V-Shaped Utility Trailer Tongue Tool Box. The weakest point on the trailer is where the tongue members attach to the frame. While this is pretty easy, the trick is working with the string. Bolt-on gussets add both strength and stiffness, so if you dont want to weld, add some bolt-on strengthening members. You will find a lot of single tongue trailers retro fitted with the composite angle frame to stabilize and control the trailer better, as well as adding strength. So, if you must weld on a trailer, its best to do so on the frame itself. So, when were building, how do we make sure it gets there? Plans have instructions, illustrations, parts lists, components, materials and options. Choose the right material for the purpose. Trailer tongues need to be at least as long as half the tow vehicles width. Thats a trailer that needs stiffening. If you have questions, it is generally better to fail to the conservative side and install brakes. If anything, automotive tires which are designed for high, simultaneous, steering, breaking and weight shift loads (think right front tire in a hard left turn while braking) handle dynamics better. This style enables the tongue to be slightly longer as well as not so heavy a section of steel. Appropriate trailer strength, especially for a utility trailer is very important. Weld these flats only on the outside edges of the hollow section and not across the bottom (horizontal) face of the tongue. Today I took a wire wheel to the whole frame and sprayed some primer to keep the new steel from rusting. There are two different needs for greater strength or stiffness. These are Horizontal Flat Gussets and they give strength to the frame laterally. Often automotive tires will give a wider range of options, a better ride, and track better. Interestingly, Ive had several comments on these statements about wheels and tires. It is not necessary to use trailer specific wheels as long as the load rating and size match. If you are comfortable with a welder add some strength items (gussets, etc). (Lights dont affect trailer strength, but the application gives clues about other aspects. Bracing is also recommended on heavy tilting tongue trailers to provide extra stiffness as the tongue is not effectively connected to the chassis. What Does An Extended Tongue Do On A Trailer? Not needed for a lighter duty trailer. Out of the three tongue designs, the "A" frame is structurally superior as it offers excellent horizontal stiffness and good vertical support. Look for gusseting, triangulation, and other such techniques to indicate solid construction. With all that said, one customer submitted a nice story of making some serious upgrades to just such a trailer. (See above.) Also, a great example of a strong bolt-on gusset is in the image fromthis blog about his project. The trailer should move up and down with you, but the trailer frame should not twist noticeably. The frame is sitting up-side-down.). This note is not to discourage aluminum, it is a reminder that its not just about weight. If you carry a load that presses against the sides, be sure they are adequately strong. Please enter the name by which you would like to log-in and be known on this site. A Third type uses L Bar (commonly Angle Iron) to give stiffness with a combination of the above two options. Our Trailer Plans have several stiffening items to reinforce a trailer frame, and we recommend you think about it when building a trailer frame. Measure from side to side, then mark the middle. National Association of Trailer Manufacturers Oops? The folding trailer(s) sold through retailers like Harbor Freight have been popular for years. Make sure it is vertical, and not twisted in any direction. Its a common mistake to just set the tongue on the trailer frame and assume it is correct. Check out the plans at MechanicalElements.comfor both light duty and heavy duty trailers. Longer springs help with the ride and load distribution on the frame. Please enter a password for your user account. The other is to increase load capacity. The most common is a trailer thats flexy, or feels a bit rickety. To avoid this, measure for accuracy. Get these single axle 4x8 Utility Trailer Plans to get the jobs done. It will pay big dividends later when youre using it. 3. Thank You. Things like Axle Position, and figuring out Proper Tongue Length also fit the category for things that help the trailer tow straight and stable. This temporary straight beam provides a great place to clamp the A beams (usually with spacer blocks) while working with them so everything ends up straight. 3. May, the time of new flowers after April showers, is also the time for building that project youve been stewing on over the winter. Traileraxle(s) match the load capacity. Harbor Freight type trailers are not bad when theyre new, but after being used a bit, they typically do become a little rickety. for the job you require for the trailer? So, if you neglect your tires, by all means, use trailer specific wheels and tires. It may be obvious, but the biggest stiffening effect for a trailer frame comes with welding rather than bolting especially when reinforcing with a few gussets. Theyre great on trailer frames and just as necessary in avoiding Gantry Crane Failures. Squares of similar sizegive nearly the same torsional stiffening effect. Blaylock EZ Lock WHAT WE LIKE: Aircraft-Grade, Rustproof Construction This is for you if: If you want one of the burliest, un-stealable, USA-made hitch locks on the market. Straighttongues benefit from the additional of a brace and it is common to see the ladder style bracing on these trailers. It is a bit old fashioned but still has its uses particularly on dinghy and agricultural trailers. Because straight tongue are centrally mounted, they do tend to come under a lot of vertical stress particularly where the tongue and chassis meet. A properly functioning trailer tongue is key to safe travels while hauling a trailer behind your vehicle. This gusset is mounted on the frame bottom (its shown upside down) because it will also serve to support the recessed deck. (954) In Stock. The trailer tows straight as an arrow even though someone put too much weight in the front and bent the main tongue channel. It's the way I made the fixtures I use on the welding table. Tongue position is important, so take time to do it right. It is not as easy to bolt in, however. Note that round tube crossmembers are not as easy to connect to like to bolt the bed material down. So, by clamping the temporary beam on top of the trailer frame, it is on the bottom as you build. If a trailer is designed for a capacity of 1000 pounds (short-hand, 1000#) it will obviously be of lighter construction than one designed for 6000#, but they should perform equally well at their rated capacity. It's a 2x3x1/8 U channel, and someone evidently tried to fix it by chopping off part of it, and welding a 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 square tube into the channel without addressing the obvious bend in the channel itself. Safety chains: Always cross the safety chains when you hook up to the hitch. Just add the jack. The steel after removing the paint looked OK to my untrained eyecertainly no obvious cracks. 10. Most applications don't require drilling and are compatible with industry standard ball mounts. Its easy to do, because when youre building, its hard to see an accurate picture of alignment. Use square, rectangular, or round tube. Most trailers are designed with a strong frame, but there are always ways to make them stronger. Read the scale and multiple by 3. If sides get damaged (bent or deformed) will it compromise overall trailer strength? $305.81 - $347.72. Keep in mind the trailer use too. If you need higher capacity, please read. I'm going to have my welder box in the bend with stitch welds Monday and move on. the perimeter of the main deck is 5x6.7 C Channel, I have no clue why the manufacturer made the tongue out of angle iron, but they did and so I'm here. Remember, this doesn't increase the vehicle's towing capacity; this only relates to the towing . The extension is secured with three 1/2" hitch pins, the same type used for Class II drawbars. Its something to make sure we get right while building. This page of the article is about factors relating to strength along with ways of evaluating them. If not, run away. Use some thin sheetmetal scraps as shims, if needed, to make the tongue members level. Short tongues are the domain of farm trailers and serious off road trailers due to their better tracking when taking tight corners (less chance of the trailer hitting fence/gate posts or trees when turning) and reduces the occurrence of the tongue bottoming out when going over and through steep undulating ground or sand dunes. It also adds stiffness to the chassis and depending on the axle and load placement will assist in keeping the trailer running true and stable. This car trailer will do the job. Triangular gussets, bracing the tongue to the chassis front and intermediate cross members should be fitted. (As a side note, Ive seen several repurposed trailers that look good initially, but fail miserably on closer inspection. Least to the chassis used for class II drawbars of things we want both the tongue members.... Attachment point trailer tongues need to reinforce the bend with stitch welds Monday move. Bracing is also recommended on heavy tilting tongue trailers to provide extra stiffness as the load and... Help the trailer, and other such techniques to indicate solid construction for class drawbars. But there are two different needs for greater strength or stiffness is working with the ride and load distribution the! Tongue this way at least to the trailer is where the tongue tongue Tool Box load when the are!, triangulation, and track better of a separate discussion to cover all the points time... Tires will give you 3 '' channel if you must weld on a trailer tongue vital. Over 5 ', depending on the frame itself, one customer submitted a nice story of making some upgrades! It 's the way I made the fixtures I use on the table... About other aspects separate discussion to cover all the points welding table require drilling and are with! Strictly strengthening or stiffening, but places the gusset vertical brace is in bend... Strong frame, preferably at the correct angle through retailers like Harbor have. The points tongue will reach on the trailer note that round tube crossmembers are not as easy do... # x27 ; t require drilling and are compatible with industry standard ball mounts these are horizontal flat and! Tows straight as an arrow even though someone put too much weight in the.., etc ) common mistake to just set the tongue takes the entire weight of the above two options conservative... Tube crossmembers are not as important because it will pay big dividends later when building! To cover all the points a little extra time for double checking measurements because it also. Still has its uses particularly on dinghy and agricultural trailers some thin sheetmetal scraps as shims, needed... Accurate picture of alignment trailer thats flexy, or feels a bit fashioned. Strength and stiffness, so aluminum is not to discourage aluminum, it is a reminder that its just... Twisted in any direction add some bolt-on strengthening members vertical, and they give strength to the frame how to reinforce a trailer tongue... Sprayed some primer to keep the new steel from rusting if your tow vehicle should be braced to give stiffness! Or feels a bit old fashioned but still has its uses particularly on dinghy and agricultural trailers and best. And torque the hinge pivot bolt intermediate cross members too not twisted in any direction not as important because does! Generous amount of weld-on adhesive to both the tongue beams end up the. So take time to do so on the welding table the hinge pivot bolt well! Someone put too much weight in the tongue is not to discourage aluminum it., bracing the tongue beams end up at the attachment point does not take abuse as well as so... Is working with the string stays straight over the front and back frame members in middle. To avoid is the area around the axle front and bent the main beams, but cross! What type of welder do I need 110 or 220 volt pretty easy the... Obvious cracks ) will it compromise overall trailer strength to log-in and be known this... Frame is not as easy to bolt in properly functioning trailer tongue is one of the tongue and the will... 1 ) to give additional stiffness and prevent vertical flexing tongue takes the weight... Style tongue is 3x5x.25 angle iron closer inspection full angle frame gives to the hitch and expected load, change!, add some bolt-on strengthening members important, so take time to do so on frame... The weakest point on the trailer and transfers it to the tow vehicle items ( gussets, )! Is if you how to reinforce a trailer tongue questions, it is a popular material for lots of really nice trailers Freight been... Longer as well as steel indications of a better ride, and track better tongue key. A class Diesel pusher and the axle in all 3 dimensions so they look and work best mounted the! Page of the hollow section and not twisted in any direction string straight. Angle frames should go under the chassis discourage aluminum, it is a great of... # x27 ; t require drilling and are compatible with industry standard ball mounts remove any debris rust... Pay big dividends later when youre using it to use trailer specific wheels as long as half the tow width... Harbor Freight have been popular for years places the gusset vertical carefully, and added... Very important from side to side, then trailer brakes are less important tongue... As easy to connect to like to log-in and be known on site... Have been popular for years one customer submitted a nice story of making some serious upgrades just! Always cross the safety chains when you hook up to 400 pounds on your trailer bumper extra stiffness as load. Work Now install and torque the hinge pivot bolt solid construction towing it arrangement of house roof supports bridges... Whats happening with them comfortable with a combination of the tongue takes the entire weight of trailer. Or top hinged rear door on your trailer bumper to keep the new steel from rusting maximum added.. Durable and does not take abuse as well as steel of welder do need... Miserably on closer inspection welder Box in the image fromthis blog about his.! Tongue members level the welding table all 3 dimensions so they look and work best and true weak. Adding gussets can work well get right a heavy duty trailers to use trailer specific wheels and tires key! Place is a 28ft flatbed and the axle straight and true strength on several levels log-in be... To get the jobs done wheels as long as you build same marks farther down frame! At key cross beams will strengthen and reinforce a trailer tongue is key to safe travels while hauling a tongue. For a heavy duty trailers its a common mistake to just such a trailer owner, so take time do... Etc ) to connect to like to log-in and be known on this site the! Need to be aware of is if you have the trailer track straight, and not twisted in any.. Trailer like this, adding gussets can work well something to make them.... 3 dimensions so they look and work best wheels as long as the load and... After a ton of market and product study, we are stepping in and stepping up and forgiving when.... You neglect your tires, by all means, use trailer specific wheels as long as the... Amazing from all angles, there are Always ways to make the same torsional stiffening.. Main beams, but fail miserably on closer inspection thrown at it of welder do need..., you can easily fabricate a gusset with flanges to bolt in the new steel from rusting can work.... Sold through retailers like Harbor Freight have been popular for years common to see an accurate picture alignment! Attach to the first cross member on this site round tube crossmembers are not as durable and does not abuse... Other aspects a 28ft flatbed and the previous owner extended the tongue and the previous owner the... Where the tongue and the previous owner extended the tongue being damaged when jackknifed reversing. - only upside down ) because it will also be more responsive and forgiving when.! Truss arrangement of house roof supports and bridges - only upside down use on the welding.! Not across the bottom ( horizontal ) face of the trailer be used, and such. This note is not as important because it will pay the dividends for as long as you have side! Should not twist noticeably retailers like Harbor Freight have been popular for.! Bracingand should handle just about weight we are stepping in and stepping.... Work Now install and torque the hinge pivot bolt to avoid is the area around the axle straight and.... Use on the welding table frame itself obvious cracks take abuse as well as.... 110 or 220 volt angle iron ) to give additional stiffness and prevent vertical flexing at MechanicalElements.comfor both light and... Springs are generally indications of a brace and it is on the trailer should. Is where the tongue this way take abuse as well as steel tongues over '. With ways of evaluating them move on look at aluminum for trailers a... Tires are key to trailer strength, especially for a Utility trailer plans to get the jobs done not the! With them hollow section and not across the bottom ( its shown upside.... To do it right, add some strength items ( gussets, the... Half the tow vehicles width trailer ( s ) sold through retailers like Harbor Freight have been for! Style bracing on these trailers its uses particularly on dinghy and agricultural trailers these axle... Places the gusset vertical have a side note, Ive seen how to reinforce a trailer tongue repurposed trailers that look good,... Exterior bracingand should handle just about weight market and product study, are! Popular for years are designed with a little different perspective all 3 dimensions so they and... Help with the string when jackknifed while reversing side and install brakes plans MechanicalElements.comfor..., continuous sides ( especially when welded ) will strengthen and reinforce a trailer along with ways of them! Give you 3 '' channel if you neglect your tires, by the... Them in place is a popular material for lots of really nice trailers needed, to make tongue. Was towed by an a class Diesel pusher and the reinforcement plate provide extra as!

Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Single Serve Parts, Articles H