Extending Tongue

[RTripp]

So, I lowered the the bunks and tried launching at my favorite ramp today. Didn't make a difference.

I am not concerned with the boat coming off the trailer or sliding forward. I strap it to the trailer with two heavy duty straps. One across the rear over the back seat and one across and over the front seat. The boat cannot move.

So...I'm now thinking about adding a hinge close to the coupler and adding a five foot extension with its own coupler which will swing back and attach to the frame and only be used when I am at this shallow ramp. This will keep the original tongue for towing and only add the length at the ramp.

This original tongue works at other ramps just not where my favorite places to fish.

What do you think?

 

[M2HB]

I've made a few boat trailers with extendable tongues. They were designed that way from the beginning. I used considerably smaller internal tubing with steel tabs for spacers so that there wasn't much surface area to ride on. Otherwise they will rust solid and you will never move them. Those are the trailers that would really benefit from being hot dipped galvanized. I quit doing them years ago because I rarely used the extensions.

 

[RTripp]

I was thinking of something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmmp7vvPczs

Not sure where to get the brackets though.

 

[M2HB]

That is a neat idea. Just remember you need to extend the tongue on level ground since you need to uncouple to extend it.

 

[RTripp]

Thanks M2HB! I think I've come up with an even easier idea. Probably take a few minutes longer at the launch site, but not much longer.

I got a 10' piece of 1/8 inch tubing and a new coupler, a jack w/wheel and some 5 inch pins ( the kind you attach your hitch to car with.) I have some heavy duty bolts to fasten the new tube to the existing tongue.

So... the new 10' piece with new coupler will ride in the boat as I go down the road with the existing tongue. When I get to the launch site I will jack the trailer off of my car's coupler. Attach the 10' coupler to my car and then pin the 10 footer to the trailer tongue. Back the boat into the water deep enough for the boat to float off while my car stays high and dry.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll let you know how it works.

 

[M2HB]

Thanks M2HB! I think I've come up with an even easier idea.

I got a 10' piece of 1/8 inch tubing and a new coupler, a jack w/wheel and some 5 inch pins ( the kind you attach your hitch to car with.) I have some heavy duty bolts to fasten the new tube to the existing tongue.

So... the new 10' piece with new coupler will ride in the boat as I go down the road with the existing tongue. When I get to the launch site I will jack the trailer off of my car's coupler. Attach the 10' coupler to my car and then pin the 10 footer to the trailer tongue. Back the boat into the water deep enough for the boat to float off while my car stays high and dry.

Thanks for all the responses. I'll let you know how it works.

You can find some kind of receiver tube and weld two of them (approx. 6" long) under your existing tongue to accept your 10' new tongue. In the retracted position it's coupler would be under and behind the existing coupler. Remove one pin and extend it out to the desired length and then put the pin back in at that length. With two short receiver tubes, the likelihood that it would rust or bind up is minimal.

 

[RTripp]

Another Great Idea! Thank you. I do appreciate you and others who have made constructive suggestions.