Swing Tongues

[196thDLR]

I would like to convert my 6ft straight tomgue to a swing tongue on my EZ Loader boat trailer. Yes, I know this tongue is longer than the norm. The person who was the original owner had difficulty backing his boat into the water with a shorter tongued trialer and special ordered this tongue. AHHHH! you say; just buy a weld or bolt on coupler. Well, the couplers I can find on the net are for 48" tongues not 72" tongues. The trailer huals a 1992 Lund 1775 Pro-V. The tubing frame on the trailer is 2"X4" and is a roller type.

Knowning just enough about metal fab to think I know something and make a huge mistake, I would like to ask the engineer types out there in fishing land, could I use either of the aforementioned couplers. I really do not want to see my boat pass my pickup rolling down the road.

[chris63]

Go to the manufacturer and find out what the tongue weight should be for the trailer and boat.You will be able to adjust where the boat sits on the trailer by adjusting the bow stop on the trailer.Make sure you include gear and gas weight if you trailer your rig with everything loaded.A general rule the tongue weight should be about 6% of rig (boat,motor,trailer and rigging(full tanks))for a single axle and 5%of the total weight for a double axle trailer.Say your total weight is 2200# for your 1775prov your tongue weight should be around 132#Hope this helps.Happy fishing!c63

[danwilliams]

If you don't need or want the 72" tongue, why not cut it to 48"when installing the hinge?

Fwiw I installed a bolt on Fulton 3 years ago on my Shore Lander trailer. Very satisfied with it.

And..Google some and you can find a Fulton cheaper than standard cost.

[TroutYammer]

If you do this be sure to carry an extra pin in your towing vehickle. Somebody grabbed my pin one time while I was out fishing and I now carry a spare pin for the swing tongue.

[clKiekhafer]

On my last boat/trailer I had the swing tongue and wasn't pleased with the design. Now this was on a ezloader and was a 1994 version. After several years of use the tongue would always flex up and down in that joint and squeak and drive me crazy. I decided to have the joint cut out and welded together. The place that did the job for me was very experienced in trailer making (semi building) did a very good job, you couldn't see the change once it was completed. I just needed to make sure what I needed for the length and the rest was easy for me.