extending trailer tongue

[gator79]

I have a 24 foot boat with a tripple axle trailer. boat weighs about 5000 pounds, you have to back the truck way down the ramp to launch it, almost to the waters edge. I was thinking of extending the tongue, my question is how much can I extend it? it has plenty of tongue weight now and I know extending the tongue will decrease the tongue weight some. I was thinking about extending it about a foot

 

[mattttt25]

Re: extending trailer tongue

you can buy a tongue extension that inserts directly into your hitch. you just use it for launch and recovery. should be able to find it at west marine, boat u.s., or even iboats.

 

[roscoe]

Re: extending trailer tongue

Lengthening the tongue will not decrease the tongue weight. You will still have the same amount of weight behind the axles. But now you will have the added weight of the longer tongue in front of the axles. <br /><br />Only two ways to decrease tongue weight. One is to move the boat back. The other is to move the axles forward.

 

[Bondo]

Re: extending trailer tongue

There are Several ways to Stretch your Wagon.......<br />Being an Ex-Trucker, I know a longer trailer handles Better......<br />I removed the 4' piece of 3"X4" box tubing that EZ-Loader used for the neape,+ Replaced it with a 12' piece of 3"X4" box tubing......<br />It rides Much better now.... <br />No More Back-Slap, on the bumps.....<br />It backs up much easier....<br />With my F-250, Ex-cab, long box, 22' boat,+ Extended Neape, She's alittle on the Long side,<br />But Still Much Shorter than the 65'er I Used to drive........

 

[gator79]

Re: extending trailer tongue

I thought it might help with backing. if you ever backed up a triple axle trailer into a tight spot you need all the help you can get. I get a little bucking on a rough road if it helps that too, that will be nice. main reason is the bottom of my hull is about two feet from the ground and you have to back it in a good ways to float the boat. I am not a big fan of getting my truck wheels that close to the water. i was really concerned about messing with the tongue weight, but after reading the post from Roscoe I am more comfortable with it. it makes sense to me.