Trailer Tongue bent.

[_brad_]

I bent the tongue on my 16ft Gator trailer. I think it happened on this nasty bump. Any thoughts on where I can find another replacement tongue? I have a craigslist ad running now but nothing yet.

Its just a little bent with no breaks.. I'm wondering if I could straighten it out some how then re-enforce the tongue somehow...

Thoughts?

[freddyray21]

a welding shop can straighten pretty easy. It will probably take some heat to straighten it.

[_brad_]

Heat as in propane or oxyacetylene?

[burroak]

Heat as in propane or oxyacetylene?

Heat may weaken the metal. Cold straightening would be better. An auto frame shop may be able to help you. Once it is straightened you will still have to address why it bent in the first place.

Check out the boneyards for a replacement or something close to the original. They don't advertise old boat trailers but most have them, especially the Ma and Pa operations.

[freddyray21]

a welding shop can also reinforce after straighten, but a cold straighten would be better just more costly probably.

[_brad_]

I'm going to take it off and inspect it sometime this weekend. Thanks for all the responses!

[gonefishie]

Take it to a trailer shop, they can cut off the bended part and weld on a new piece.

[blue77]

Not sure how comfortable you are with working metal.. but this should be an easy fix if you have the right tools.

To cold bend it all you need is a press (or a bottle jack and some imagination for holding the items flush). If you are comfortable with a welder add some strength items (gussets, etc).

Most trailers are made out of pretty 'thin' walled square tube, it isn't hard to work with, and anyone welding or frame shop worth their salt should be able to fix it pretty quickly.