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chasinTail
08-05-2005, 07:27 PM
just wanted to share with you what i have been up to. i have converted my trailer toungue to a swing away/removable toungue. it was a lot of work but it was worth it now that its done.. just some finish up welding left to do. i used 1/2" plate and 3X3" x 1/4" wall box tube for the swing arm.
here are some pics!
here you can see it all togeather
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9752swing_away_toungue_001-med.jpg
this is a front shot
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9752swing_away_toungue_002-med.jpg
here it is with one of the 5/8 grade 8 bolts removed starting its swing
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9752swing_away_toungue_003-med.jpg
this is it all the way back
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9752swing_away_toungue_004-med.jpg
hope you like!
~George

victorfb
08-29-2005, 09:20 PM
looks like a good job. let us know if you find any improvements you could have done as time goes on in use. the only thing i may have done extra would have been a more secure attachment when in tow. the two bolts holding the tongue are plenty strong im sure, but as time goes on and the two holes and bolts get some wear you will start noticing some slop when hitting bumps. bolting it secure so to eleviate that slight movement would seem to reduce the wear tremendesly. i know that takes away from the quik release quik attachment deal, but i dont mind the extra time to get rid of that clunking noise when hitting bumps. i even weld a bead onto the hitches to make them fit tighter in the reciever to get rid of that noise too. just a thought here, not knocking your work. i think you did a great job and its a great idea.

Squirtin Thunder
08-29-2005, 10:46 PM
Just a thought, on the inner area wouldn't it be better to have some 5/8" id tubing in there to reduce the posiblity of crush and to creat some extra strength ???
Just a thought !!!
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/9752swing_away_toungue_004-med.jpg

SUI-CY-COLE DIMARCO
09-17-2005, 08:49 PM
looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good

victorfb
09-17-2005, 09:10 PM
looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good
nope, not quite 10,000 miles, but i do like to have my trailer secure as can be. the 350 mile trek to the river has some areas that the boat will catch air even going 55 MPH and that puts alot of tress on the trailer. not to mention the nagging rough road jolts that shake the crap out of the weakest link. i guess you didnt read the part were i said i thought he did a great job and its a great idea, just allways looking for improvements and allowing some critisism sometimes helps find things that were over looked. hell, i wish i wish i was fortunate to have the need of a fold up tongue on my trailer. that would mean its in a grage and kept safer and more out of the elements. and when i do, ill be sure to use his idea and possible some of my own to do the same thing. so lets see, roughly 350 miles each way, times 5 trips so far, ok so its only 3500 miles, guess i shouldnt worry about it.

Squirtin Thunder
09-18-2005, 12:14 AM
looks great chasing tail...obviously the responders of your great thread tow there boat 10,000 miles ayear united states wide....looks good
Great Ideas spon other Great ideas !!!
But when you think of me, it is not unheard of that I take a day trip up to lets say CFW or Clear Lake, But then again I may chose to shot back to NC where my boat is actually registered and do some boating with some of my NASCAR friends. I go through a set of tire every two years !!! But then again look at my truck it has 475K on it.
Jim

Raisin Wake
09-18-2005, 06:46 AM
Looks great. Nice work!!!!

Bt273
09-18-2005, 07:25 AM
I think it looks great,and would hold fine, but an idea here,instead of using a 3" inch bolt on either side how about using 4 shorter bolts,or 3, two on one side and one long one on the other, just for a little extra peice of mind.

victorfb
09-18-2005, 08:48 AM
I think it looks great,and would hold fine, but an idea here,instead of using a 3" inch bolt on either side how about using 4 shorter bolts,or 3, two on one side and one long one on the other, just for a little extra peice of mind.
careful, i got blasted for saying basically the same thing.lol

HM
09-18-2005, 10:58 AM
Looks good and is near identical to the way extreme and many other trailer mfgs have done them. The mfg's don't even bother with a bolt on the quick release side.....it is a pin. Plenty strong....just think about the 1 pin that holds your hitch in, and you have two grade 8 bolts. But no problem with over engineering to be on the safe side for those suggesting it, but no need to make him think it is not strong enough. If you feel it is not strong enough, please lay out your calculations on the strength needed and how your design meets or exceeds that requirement.
I need to have my trailer done as I had to take the surge brake off to shut my garage door. I am also interest in adding a foot or two on the tongue. Anyone interested in making some extra $$ and fabing this up at my house?
Here are a few pics from the trailer mfg's:
http://www.extremetrailers.com/new/db_red_folded1.jpg http://zieman.com/old/images/Mvc-005f.jpg http://www.trailrite.com/images/BlueInboard%20copy1.jpg

victorfb
09-18-2005, 06:42 PM
does anybody actually READ the posts on here? if you have read them youll notice there was no referance to his 2 bolt design not being strong enough. the messege was about the 2 bolts not securing the two peices together tightly so you wouldnt get the rattling on bumpy roads. were you got the idea of anyone questioning the strength is beyond me. cmon people, start reading more carefully.

victorfb
09-18-2005, 08:34 PM
since when does "more secure" mean stronger?
more secure = less vibration and movement. has NOTHING to do with strength.
lets put it in another venue. mounting your engine with pins that are rated at 5000lb VS useing bolts of equall strength. which one would you use? oh god, maybe i shouldnt ask that question. i can see it now. engines mounted with pins for quik engine removal, instead of bolted in.

victorfb
09-18-2005, 09:15 PM
exactly my point. and if what he had in mind was to replicate what some manufacturers are releasing, then great. but if he would like to improve upon it and accept advice form others, even better. i for one hate to hear my trailer ratteling when going down a bumpy road. loose connections wether they are strong or not are loose connections and you get the rattle. thats why i go as far as to weld a few beads along the hitch so its a nice snug fit inside the reciever. does that add strength? hell no. but it does quiet it down, and thats what it was intended for. for some reason you think i was unsatisfied with his very well built trailer tongue. not true. i think it looks great, he did and awsome job and should be proud. but if and when he gets a rattle from it becoming a losser fit, them my suggestion may help him out if he so wants.

dmontzsta
09-18-2005, 09:32 PM
Looks good, just ready for some paint.
Here is a pic of Kustom Trailers work they just finished for me, I am very happy with it.
http://www.dmontzsta.com/75Biesmeyer/100_3572s.jpg http://www.dmontzsta.com/75Biesmeyer/100_3573s.jpg http://www.dmontzsta.com/75Biesmeyer/100_3574s.jpg http://www.dmontzsta.com/75Biesmeyer/100_3584s.jpg

victorfb
09-18-2005, 10:39 PM
that looks awsome don. i like the design and function. and the boat is looking great. get her wet allready would ya.

YeLLowBoaT
09-18-2005, 10:43 PM
looks good.
My only grip is the use of grade 8 bolts. grade 8 bolts are designed to hold things together not stop them form shearing. Also most bolt manufactors don't proof thier bolts for sunden increases in force apllied to them( think slam on the breaks) serrenly not laterail like they are used in your app. I am not saying they will not hold the load! but I would swap them out for new every few hundred miles or so just to be on the safe side, the last thing you need is for your traler to break freek then come crashing back into your truck.

dmontzsta
09-19-2005, 07:42 AM
that looks awsome don. i like the design and function. and the boat is looking great. get her wet allready would ya.
Thanks Vic. Although I did not do it myself, I couldnt have asked for it to be done any better, they even painted it to match the trailer. Getting her wet is a while away, still working on getting my new business rolling. I am changing the entire setup of the boat.

Squirtin Thunder
09-20-2005, 05:34 PM
I see what you are saying. I have owned 2 trailers with that design, or close, and becoming loose and noisy was not a issue with that design - and I had a ton of mileage on one of them. So, when you said "more secure" i thought you meant stronger. I too hated my hitch rattling and I drilled a hole and welded a 5/8" nut to the receiver and used a bolt through the receiver that butted up to the hitch to stop the rattling. Perhaps if you just said "tighter" or "to prevent rattling" then it would have been very clear. More secure = stronger in my book and Webster's. Now shut up and make Jim's sanger is gonna run long enough for a mental midget like myself to get behind the wheel to f' it all up. :D
Thanks !!!

victorfb
09-20-2005, 06:56 PM
damn, thats a good idea with the bolt on the reciever. that way any hitch thats used will be able to be snuged up. thanks for the tip.

lilrick
10-28-2005, 06:35 PM
Relax Francis. Lets not split hairs. You recomended something more "Secure" and I pointed out he was already doing more than the trailer mfg's who sell them for a living.
actually it's "lighten up francis" Stripes

h2oboy
12-06-2005, 07:47 PM
Just wanted to see if there was any other pictures out there of what others have done. I like both of these ideas, but want to get all the options before choosing one. Thanks for any help!! this seems to be my new winter project so I can get the new truck in the garage.

Jeanyus
12-07-2005, 07:28 AM
I did the same thing. Used grade 8 bolts. The thing does not rattle. The grade 8 bolts are just fine, If you manage to pull a manuver that breaks the bolts, you will have lost the boat off the trailer. But I gues if you pull your boat through the Baja 1000, you may consider a less brittle bolt.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5859pivot.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5859pivotworks.jpg
If you can find the website for Pivot Hitch, they have improved the design, and I would go with the new design.

h2oboy
12-07-2005, 09:01 AM
thanks for your pictures... if anyone else has any to share that would be great...
by the way here is that website you were talking about
www.pivithitch.com

Jeanyus
12-07-2005, 09:19 AM
The new design is sweet.
http://www.pivithitch.com/pivit10_lg.jpg

h2oboy
12-08-2005, 01:41 PM
Just wondering if anyone has installed one of these kits.... and if so how hard is it to do it yourself???

Flying Tiger
01-02-2006, 03:23 AM
Excellent, Nice job.
I can only suggest to anyone from my experiences is run your wireing in flexable metal conduit so it has less chance of pinching.
That is if you decide to run wireing inside the frame.
My Extreme pivot has no wire conduit - just bare wires, and I'm told it catches some owners napping and damages the wires.

Cas
01-03-2006, 08:15 AM
I saw a trailer where the tongue was cut off and a hitch receiver was welded on. The tongue was then modified so it would slip into the receiver and pinned, same as you would on your tow vehicle. It also looked pretty slick and a little less bulky looking. If my neighbor didn't put the boat in storage, I'll see if I can get some pics.
although, that new design is really nice!

pimpinpdr
03-22-2006, 06:49 PM
i just bought a 1977 NORDIC 22 foot jet boat and cant seem to find any info on them anywhere. any help would be great.

v-drive
03-26-2006, 06:34 AM
Just wondering if anyone has installed one of these kits.... and if so how hard is it to do it yourself???
I am doing this as we speak. It's a very nice unit, my only problem is that competitive make their trailers(older trailer) out of formed steel and not box tubing. I have had to do some machining in order to adapt it to my trailer. when I am done I will post pics....v-drive

mykidsdaddy
04-01-2006, 09:14 AM
i just bought a 1977 NORDIC 22 foot jet boat and cant seem to find any info on them anywhere. any help would be great.
Here are some sites that might help you out
http://www.teshio.com/JetBoat/index.html
http://www.roostwear.com/
http://www.trailerboats.com/
Hope these help you out