i have a 2.5"x2.5" trailer tongue will the 3"x3" foldable work?

[zuke1]

i am going to buy a 3x3 foldable trailer tongue shown here
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F3PSJU/dealtime-sg-ret-20/ref=nosim

this is a 3x3 and i just measured my trailer tongue and its 2.5x2.5 i am wondering if this will still work, and if it wont what should i do, and if there is no foldable tongue for my trailer size, could i just "customize" the 3x3 one and make it work, with like a shim or something?

thanks
zuke

 

[bassboy1]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

Instead of having the folding coupler, you could have a telescopic coupler. Find a peice of steel that makes a perfect telescope on the inside or outside of your tongue. Then have two hitch pins that hold it in. Remove the pins and you can pull the coupler off to store. You could also have different length peices to use at steep or shallow ramps, or to back up with longer or shorter cars.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

bassboy, i would want a lockable pins. recently the "kids", went thru the launch parking lot and pull all the reciever pins they could find. what a mess at the ramp. i now have lockable pins.

 

[zuke1]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

bass boy... after talking to all the guys here before, they all recomended not making my own folding/telescoping tongue due to the safety hazards it may come with... and since buying a foldable is only a hunde i figure ill buy it and do it right...

not to say that your idea isnt a good one, im just concerned that my metal working abilities arent that great, and a bolt on trailer tongue seems pretty easy to install to me....

i just want to know if my 2.5"x2.5 inch trailer tongue is the normal size, and if a 3x3" tongue is what im looking for...

thanks
zuke

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

The dimensions you are providing may indeed be correct for your application. If the "outside" dimension of your existing tongue is 2-1/2 inches, the "inside" dimensions of the folding tongue are probably 2-1/2 inches as well. Call the manufacturer and get that dimension. If its slightly larger than 2-1/2 it will slide over the existing tongue and can be welded in place.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

Forget my reply. I didn't look at the picture. Actually, I don't like that design for reasons I won't get into. You might try Champion Trailer to see what they have.

 

[zuke1]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

i called up the manufacturer, they said that because my tongue is a 2.5"er and the template that you get with the any 3" folding tongue wont match up with what i got, they said that the holes would not be in a safe place... basically there isnt enough material to support where their bolts need to be placed... and any modifications to the original configuration of folding tongue could cause degridation in the structual integrity of the tongue. not to mention it might affect the total weight capacity.

so going off of previous disscusions, as well as what bass boy said, i guess i have no other recourse but to do it my self... since i cant seem to find a folding coupler that is made for a 2.5" tubing...

here is the design i am thinking of

let me know what you guys think, cuz im going to do this tomorrow...

thanks

zuke

 

[zuke1]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

right after i drew that one, i thought of a better idea on how to do it...

and this way will be cheaper and probably safer too...

all i would do, is cut the old tongue off, place the sleeve over the old part and the new part, then drill holes and place bolts to keep it in place... when i get home, just unbolt it... i think this idea is better, do you? or should i go with the other idea?

thanks again.
zuke

 

[Bondo]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

Some Pictures of Your trailer would help you engineer this more Safely.......

Where are you finding the 2.5, 2.6, measurements,....
Do you have access to Steel,.??....
If you have Length enough for good Long Over-laps,....
What you want to do Could work......

Finding the right tubing that provides a good Slip-fit is the Problem,...... Usually.......

 

[zuke1]

Re: i have a 2.5

Re: i have a 2.5

so...

i did it, i cut the old tongue off and placed the sleeve over the two old pieces...

i will probably post some pics tomorrow...

i have allready taken it on one long haul trip ( 400miles ) and it seems sturdyer than before...

pics tomorrow...

later
zuke