Converting trailer to swing tongue

[cmalis27]

I just bought my first boat this weekend, and I am unable to fit it in my garage without taking up both stalls. I have seen these bolt on kits to convert a standard tongue to a swing tongue and I am curious if anyone has used these and how well they work.

The one I have seen saves 21" with the swing tongue. I am looking to find something that is closer to 30" or so. Ideally, I would like to just buy the hinge/pin and use the existing tongue, but have not seen this anywhere. Does anyone know where I would be able to find something like this or a kit that saves more than 21" of length?

[walleyeseeker]

Unless you have some metal working tools, you would be best off finding a metal fabrication shop or machine shop. These people have the tools and know how to do this properly. Weld it wrong and it breaks going down the highway and the results could be tough to live with.

[PerchJerker]

Talk to a dealer that sells your brand of trailer. You may be able to have the service guys convert it for you with parts already available from the manufacturer. I did this with a boat I bought and it worked out great - the parts basically just bolted together (plus some wiring and brake line work).

[Schloogs]

I upgraded boats last spring and had the same problem. I got it home and the tongue hung out the garage door. I took it in and had them put the swing tounge hinge on for me. I also had the winch stand adjusted which gave me another half foot or so. How much room do you have between the winch stand and the coupler? My problem was that I only had about 18 inches. They moved the winch back and altered its angle, also moved the boat back and the axle. This freed up more tongue space to put the swing hinge in. Another option is to put the hinge behind the winch stand. I don't know if this will work on all setups though.

[Tom7227]

How did this affect the trailering? I thought the tongue weight was critical and that moving the boat back would booger things up.

[PerchJerker]

Regarding adjusting the winch stand and the boat's position on the trailer --- a much bigger issue than tongue weight is how the boat's transom sits on the supports. If it's a bunk trailer the bunks should extend at least an inch or two past the back of the transom, and if it's roller trailer the transom needs to sit right on top of the center of the last roller (so the roller actually extends a little back of the transom).

If your boat's transom extends past (ie. hangs over) the bunks or the last roller, you are looking at doing serious damage to the hull.

[Schloogs]

 Originally Posted By: Tom7227

How did this affect the trailering? I thought the tongue weight was critical and that moving the boat back would booger things up.

The axle was adjusted so that there was no change in tongue weight. The boat was only moved back about 6 inches but that 6 inches made everything work.

[Schloogs]

Perch jerker, we are talking just inches here that the boat was moved. Like I said, this was done at a Marine who new what they were doing. Which was kind of my point, if they were to take it to someone to have done, it should be possible to get what they are looking for.

[cliffy]

I dont know much about the kits....but a friend and I converted my trailer last year....took a few hours but was pretty easy. I gotta be honest, my buddy is the metal expert....but it didn't seem very difficult. It works great, swings both directions and I have had no problems trailering ..etc. What you see below was made out of some spare scrap metal and that is it. My boat is only a 17 foot with a 75 4-stroke....so it isn't the biggest/heaviest boat out there.....but the home made swing hitch has been working out just fine.

Take care

Cliffy.

[PerchJerker]

 Originally Posted By: Schloogs

Perch jerker, we are talking just inches here that the boat was moved

Moving the boat on the trailer is fine as long as the transom does not hang over the ends of the bunks or the back rollers ---- even hanging over an inch or two is too much and runs the risk of serious hull problems. Hopefully that's not the situation you have with your boat???? Don't assume that just because it was done at a dealer it was done correctly, there are lots of horror stories out there were somebody's dealer screwed something up. Good luck.

[Walleyeguy32]

I had a problem fitting my 18 foot Pro V in my apartment garage, so I had Minnewaska Marine in Starbuck put on the exact swing tongue you are looking for. I believe it is a fulton. It is just the pivot point mounted on your existing trailer. I had it put on last year and so far it has been great. They of course need to cut the existing trailer/tongue in one spot to be able to fit the pivotpoint on. Then it is simply bolted on with 8 bolts. Most boat shops will not do this because of insurance reasons.

[Schloogs]

 Quote:

Don't assume that just because it was done at a dealer it was done correctly, there are lots of horror stories out there were somebody's dealer screwed something up.

I hear ya...

[g_anoka]

I received the Fulton swinging trailer tongue for Xmas this year, the girlfriend doesn't like the boat taking up most of the garage. I installed it myself per their instuctions. Now after reading this post, I hope it works. It really isn't that hard of a project, so I am confident. However, keep an eye out for a red Blazer pulling an older brown Slyvan, and don't follow to closely.

[cmalis27]

Hey Cliffy, that seems like what I'm looking to do. The welder at my work has offered to do the work for me, and he knows his stuff. Is there anything you would change or don't like about how yours turned out? How thick are those plates on top and bottom? They look like 1/4". Did you do anything with the wiring harness (put some kind of disconnect on it)? Also, why is it spaced out so much by where it pivots. I would think you could keep it tighter in that area.

Thanks

[cliffy]

No, it seems to work just fine. I dont think I would change anything about it. I am not sure about the spacing...I guess we just went with it. I suppose you could close it up some. All we did for wiring is to put it into one of the protective plastic coil sleeves thingy....to protect it from rubbing on anything. There is no disconnect...didn't think we would need that. Like I said, I just like the fact that I can swing it either direction...depending on which pin I pull. I forgot how thick the metal plates are....but they are pretty think. Perhaps a little over-kill but better safe than sorry. Like I said before, this thing was just whipped together one day without much planning out. I suppose a person can improve on the design...but I like it just the way it is.

Good luck

Cliffy

The more I look at the pics, I guess we could have moved the pins back a couple of inches and closed the gap some....that would have saved a few more inches.......it was just one of those, " hey, wouldn't it be neat if we...." moments.

[chris63]

Hey,I need a new bumper on my van.I'm going to follow you,when are you pulling next?c63

[kunk]

When I did mine I called the manufacturer. I gave the model of my trailer, how long overall I wanted the tongue, and where I wanted it to be hinged. They made a new tongue just the way I wanted it and sent it out. Installing a whole new one instead of cutting and welding was worth the extra money, and it's a factory tongue.