swing away toungue project

[chasinTail]

just wanted to share with you what i have been up to. i have converted my trailer toungue to a swing away/removable toungue. it was a lot of work but it was worth it now that its done.. just some finish up welding left to do. i used 1/2" plate and 3X3" x 1/4" wall box tube for the swing arm.
here are some pics!
here you can see it all togeather
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...ue_001-med.jpg
this is a front shot
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...ue_002-med.jpg
here it is with one of the 5/8 grade 8 bolts removed starting its swing
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...ue_003-med.jpg
this is it all the way back
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...ue_004-med.jpg
hope you like!
~George

[victorfb]

looks like a good job. let us know if you find any improvements you could have done as time goes on in use. the only thing i may have done extra would have been a more secure attachment when in tow. the two bolts holding the tongue are plenty strong im sure, but as time goes on and the two holes and bolts get some wear you will start noticing some slop when hitting bumps. bolting it secure so to eleviate that slight movement would seem to reduce the wear tremendesly. i know that takes away from the quik release quik attachment deal, but i dont mind the extra time to get rid of that clunking noise when hitting bumps. i even weld a bead onto the hitches to make them fit tighter in the reciever to get rid of that noise too. just a thought here, not knocking your work. i think you did a great job and its a great idea.

[Squirtin Thunder]

Just a thought, on the inner area wouldn't it be better to have some 5/8" id tubing in there to reduce the posiblity of crush and to creat some extra strength ???
Just a thought !!!
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data...ue_004-med.jpg

[SUI-CY-COLE DIMARCO]

looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good

[victorfb]

looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good
nope, not quite 10,000 miles, but i do like to have my trailer secure as can be. the 350 mile trek to the river has some areas that the boat will catch air even going 55 MPH and that puts alot of tress on the trailer. not to mention the nagging rough road jolts that shake the crap out of the weakest link. i guess you didnt read the part were i said i thought he did a great job and its a great idea, just allways looking for improvements and allowing some critisism sometimes helps find things that were over looked. hell, i wish i wish i was fortunate to have the need of a fold up tongue on my trailer. that would mean its in a grage and kept safer and more out of the elements. and when i do, ill be sure to use his idea and possible some of my own to do the same thing. so lets see, roughly 350 miles each way, times 5 trips so far, ok so its only 3500 miles, guess i shouldnt worry about it.

[Squirtin Thunder]

looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good
Great Ideas spon other Great ideas !!!
But when you think of me, it is not unheard of that I take a day trip up to lets say CFW or Clear Lake, But then again I may chose to shot back to NC where my boat is actually registered and do some boating with some of my NASCAR friends. I go through a set of tire every two years !!! But then again look at my truck it has 475K on it.
Jim

[Raisin Wake]

Looks great. Nice work!!!!

[Bt273]

I think it looks great,and would hold fine, but an idea here,instead of using a 3" inch bolt on either side how about using 4 shorter bolts,or 3, two on one side and one long one on the other, just for a little extra peice of mind.

[victorfb]

I think it looks great,and would hold fine, but an idea here,instead of using a 3" inch bolt on either side how about using 4 shorter bolts,or 3, two on one side and one long one on the other, just for a little extra peice of mind.
careful, i got blasted for saying basically the same thing.lol

[HM]

Looks good and is near identical to the way extreme and many other trailer mfgs have done them. The mfg's don't even bother with a bolt on the quick release side.....it is a pin. Plenty strong....just think about the 1 pin that holds your hitch in, and you have two grade 8 bolts. But no problem with over engineering to be on the safe side for those suggesting it, but no need to make him think it is not strong enough. If you feel it is not strong enough, please lay out your calculations on the strength needed and how your design meets or exceeds that requirement.
I need to have my trailer done as I had to take the surge brake off to shut my garage door. I am also interest in adding a foot or two on the tongue. Anyone interested in making some extra $$ and fabing this up at my house?
Here are a few pics from the trailer mfg's:
http://www.extremetrailers.com/new/db_red_folded1.jpg http://zieman.com/old/images/Mvc-005f.jpg http://www.trailrite.com/images/BlueInboard%20copy1.jpg