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Broken Trailer Tongue
- Thread starter upsledder
- Start date
the shorter you make the tongue the harder it will be to back the trailer up with any type or precision, also could effect turning radius-trailer could contact tow vehicle. if the brackets that the tongue mount to are bent, they will need to be checked for stress fractures or fatique before re-using.
a good welder of aluminum should be able to fix...not cheap though!
a good welder of aluminum should be able to fix...not cheap though!
I had a similar issue with an older Triton. I just got a replacement square thick-wall tube cut to the same length as the original 'tongue' tube. I used a BFH and other persuasive tools to straighten the original channels. Then had a local welder weld on some reinforcement stock on the outside of the channels. Drilled all the holes in the same location as the stock parts. Ran the wires through and attached the new tube to the channel using a slightly longer pivot bolt, attached the stock coupler and it worked perfect. That was about 4 years ago and I still use the trailer. I believe total cost was less than $100.00.
What happened to it?
Did you ever consider taking it back to Floe for repair. Granted the trailer is out of warrentee but manufacturers do not like the negative publicity. They might repair it reasonably. How in the world did you break the tongue? Was it overloaded on TW or was bad roads pumping it? Never heard of a factory trailer breaking like that. That's why I went with a galvinized 8.5x12. Nine years later and everything looks new except the mild steel Torx axle.It could use some help.
Did you ever consider taking it back to Floe for repair. Granted the trailer is out of warrentee but manufacturers do not like the negative publicity. They might repair it reasonably. How in the world did you break the tongue? Was it overloaded on TW or was bad roads pumping it? Never heard of a factory trailer breaking like that. That's why I went with a galvinized 8.5x12. Nine years later and everything looks new except the mild steel Torx axle.It could use some help.
Did you ever consider taking it back to Floe for repair. Granted the trailer is out of warrentee but manufacturers do not like the negative publicity. They might repair it reasonably. How in the world did you break the tongue? Was it overloaded on TW or was bad roads pumping it? Never heard of a factory trailer breaking like that. That's why I went with a galvinized 8.5x12. Nine years later and everything looks new except the mild steel Torx axle.It could use some help.
The bolt holes are basically like two tabs on the back of the tube. Sheared 'em right off. I did hit some bigger ruts while pulling it a week ago, pulled it about 200 miles after, let go when I went to load up last night. The trailer is 16 years old, probably using cheaper alloys back then. As far as I know, salt shouldn't have played a part but it was really built up in that spot.
upsledder - Yes, I did stick with aluminum. Steel has too many corrosion issues and is much heavier.
If you really want to go all out, have whoever does your welding drill a larger hole so a 'collar' that is slightly larger than your pivot bolt to be inserted and welded into place. That would all but eliminate the issue of the holes getting egged out again.
If you really want to go all out, have whoever does your welding drill a larger hole so a 'collar' that is slightly larger than your pivot bolt to be inserted and welded into place. That would all but eliminate the issue of the holes getting egged out again.