Folding Trailer Tongue Modification

Tired of fighting rust. I'm going to have my '76 trailer powder coated so it will outlast me. I'd like to modify the tongue with a folding system. Does anyone see any issue with this set up? I'm no engineer. Will eight 1/2" bolts hold the plates and have enough "sheer" strength to avoid a catastrophic failure? The match plates would be 18" wide at the point I'm showing them.

I would want too use Grade 8 bolts. Tractor Supply has them.

Powder Coating is great, but with most paint applications the prep makes the difference. Powder Coating on a surface that is not properly prepped is not better than any paint applied to a non properly prepped surface. Ask a lot of questions concerning prep to the folks powder coating your trailer.

These tube trailers, closed tube, seem to rust from the inside out. There are coatings ( Ziebart rust proofing) that you can apply inside the tubes. Basically, applying oil like substance into the steel tube.

8122pbrainard but where would I put that? I don't have a single tube coming off the front.

Don’t need a brake line disconnect, just flex down the side that you hinge on.

You have a white trailer, good luck hiding rust with any paint system.

I did exactly what you are wanting to do. I only used three or four bolts. 1/2" diameter. Been pulled about 1000 miles so far without issue. More bolts might be better.