Folding trailer tongue
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5443
Printed Date: January-17-2025 at 8:58am
Topic: Folding trailer tongue
Posted By: SkiBum
Subject: Folding trailer tongue
Date Posted: December-30-2006 at 9:48pm
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In one of the posts somebody converted their trailer tongue to fold. I would like to do something like that on my 87 SN trailer. Anybody have pics of either factory or retro folding tongues they could post?
Thanks ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Replies:
Posted By: tnplicky
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 11:36am
I know this isn't what you are looking for, but this was my solution to the same type of problem, i.e. boat/trailer won't fit in the garage. In my case, with the platform off, I needed another inch or two to get the tongue of the trailer in the garage so the door could shut. I ended up taking a 6" section out of the garage door rail so the trailer tongue could swing inside without bending the speed sensor pitot tubes - I have 1/4" to spare on either end and I haven't had a problem with the garage door rollers tracking past the gap!
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Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 4:12pm
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I still have the hole in the garage wall where the tongue went through, I leave it there for memories eric ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: tnplicky
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 5:43pm
| off the topic, but what's the trick to getting pictures to post - I obviously wasn't successful |
Posted By: Behl
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 8:00pm
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SkiBum
I have posted a pic of my new tongue for my Ski Tique - look at last pic. I used scrap parts that a friend of mine gave me. Steve See "Redone 77 Tique Pictures" on page two in General Discussions ------------- Steve in Indy http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1702&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1976&yrend=1980" rel="nofollow - Redone 1977 Ski Tique |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 8:45pm
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Eric
The redneck in me wants to make the garage bigger. But, I think I'll do something like Steve did on his 77 Tique. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: December-31-2006 at 8:59pm
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tnplicky,
I have been successful at adding pictures from my files by clicking on the far right icon with the tree and the upward pointing arrow. Follow the windows. Just have to be sure the picture is less than like 35KB in size. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: tnplicky
Date Posted: January-01-2007 at 10:15am
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I did use the tree picture icon w/ the arrow, and file size was under 35KB, but it still didn't work for me - not sure if I have upload privelages, or what I need to do to get them.
Anyway, best of luck with the trailer modifictions. |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: January-02-2007 at 9:18am
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The hole wasnt on purpose, it was accidential, we pushed a little to hard. ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: January-02-2007 at 6:12pm
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Whooops. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: JMurph
Date Posted: January-03-2007 at 10:48pm
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tnplicky - Check out the General Discussion Forum. The second topic describes how to upload using Photobucket. I had the same problem as you are having, but the Photobucket seems to work really well. Good Luck.
I would also love to get my trailer tongue to fold, but I've been worried about the integrity of the trailer. SkiBum, keep us posted on how that project goes. I'm sure your stringer adventure is keeping you busy right now. ------------- |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: January-04-2007 at 10:14am
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JMurph,
The stringer project is time consuming. I have been doing "mini" projects on the side while I wait for resin to dry. I have decided to cut the trailer just forward of where the two side rails intersect the main beam with the hitch. Then weld a series of plates so that on one side a bolt will remain in place and the other side will have a hitch pin that can be removed allowing the trailer to swing. Just have to find a scrap metal yard. I recently moved and don't really know my way around yet. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: JMurph
Date Posted: January-04-2007 at 8:58pm
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You're the man. Keep the pictures coming also. ------------- |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: January-07-2007 at 6:55pm
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Gathered all the welding tools and headed to the front of the boat trailer. It was hard to find through all the debris of floor and stringer work. Anyhow, on many trailers there is a 4"x4" square tube 1/4" thick that extends for as much as 36". On the SN trailer there is only about 6" of exposed 4"x4" tube. That means I'll need to install a brace across the forward end of the "V" shape near the tongue, then make some sort of swivel from that point. Much more difficult that I expected. Back to the fibergla$$ for a while. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: Kevin's '79
Date Posted: January-08-2007 at 1:49pm
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Bill,
I had a 74 Ski Nautique that someone had cut the tongue off of leaving only the square tube. They then welded the tongue to a piece of smaller square tube that slid inside the one on the trailer (like a receiver hitch). the tongue was then cross drilled and pins were used to hold the hitch in place. You simply removed the pins and pulled the hitch out and it served the same purpose to shorten the trailer as a swing away tongue would do. Also no cutting of the "V" shape near the tongue was required. |
Posted By: SkiBum
Date Posted: January-08-2007 at 5:24pm
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Actually thought of that. Problem is on this model of trailer there is only a total of 14" of square tube. I guess 14" is better than nothing. Solid methodology as well. ------------- Bill http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks - http://www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks www.freewebs.com/billsboatworks 1987 SN Rebuild Project |
Posted By: bkhallpass
Date Posted: January-08-2007 at 5:48pm
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See this thread over on the Mastercraft site. A couple of suppliers are suggested for fold away couplers, and one guy posted photos of his conversion.
http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=8309&highlight=Fold+tongue - Fold away coupler conversion BKH ------------- Livin' the Dream |