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O/T How long should a trailor tongue be??

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old

09-05-2006 16:50:43

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Rebuilding this trailor for a friend and the tongue needs to be replaced. The old tongue was 3 foot, the trailor will be 5X8 foot. Right now I have a start of a tongue on it that is 4.5 foot from the bed to the tip. Is that to long or just about right??
Thanks

Hobby farm

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09-06-2006 14:14:50

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

I built a few trailers for farm/utility use, some from old pickup boxes, prefer a tongue longer - almost fullwith of tow vehicle for hihgway use. Sister agreed after borrowing long tongue Datsun box to haul round hay bale on highway- her short tongue golf cart hauler was wobbly above 30. I prefer a section of straight tube re-enforced with side tubes at angle from sides instead of just angle to coupling- jacknifing tow vehicle hits sides and causes breakage. Friend had a chev box with side rail angle to 50 degree hitch, had troubles, I put a 2.5 foot long 3inch heavy wall tube in front with a short cross piece at back of angle to strengthen- backed and tracked much better on highway- total tongue length would have been about 5 foot, axle would have been centered in box. Have a couple short tongues on farm yet- they are used on tractors and garden tractor mostly. RN

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T_Bone

09-06-2006 00:48:21

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Hi old,

The tongue length is determind by the vehicle width with clearnce when the trailer is jack-knifed to the bumper so trailer doesn't hit the tow vehicle. That's is usually 3ft-6" from the center of pin to the front cross beam of the trailer frame.

To locate the axles:
From the center of pin to the center line of axle(s) is 66% of over all trailer length. This works well for most tag trailers with most tow vehicles.

If you want a great pulling trailer then use a long pin to axle center line, in the 70% to 75% range however a 1/2 ton or mid-size SUV conuldn't pull the trailer because of to much tongue weight that would overload the tow vehicle axle. Load weight could be placed to compensate for some of the extra weight.

Using this longer distance makes for a very stable pulling trailer and is very difficult to introduce trailer sway by improper loadweight placement.

T_Bone

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massey333

09-06-2006 05:09:45

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to T_Bone, 09-06-2006 00:48:21

Not to disagree with you,but the hitch lenght has very little effect on hitch weight.It is where the axles are located under the the body itself,not on the pin to axle lenght.If I read your post wrong then I am sorry.

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T_Bone

09-06-2006 15:37:37

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to massey333, 09-06-2006 05:09:45

Hi Massey,

It appears were talking about one in the same but your just stating it different.

My 66% is a rule of thumb that works well for locating the axle(s) in relationship to over all trailer length instead of calculating CG as it should be done.

Both results should equal approx 12% tongue weight of the total trailer weight (GVW), the industry acceptable standard for tag trailers.

If you increase the pin to axle center line, (shoving the alxes futher back towards the end of the trailer), then you also increase the tongue weight and that could result is a pin weight of around 20% or way to much pin wieght for a 1/2ton/SUV type vehicle.

T_Bone

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RAB

09-05-2006 22:50:36

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Depends on where it is hitched and what is towing it. Using pick-up-hitch on a tractor will need a longer one than for a mtorcycle. Just need clearance for turning without tangling tow vehicle with trailer. More importance is balance.
RAB

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doogdoog

09-05-2006 21:31:58

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Aloha, You could make a sliding tongue if extra length is needed like, when the vehicle can't go back anymore and the trailer can. Of course, when driving, the tongue would be at the normal length.It would be like the sliding tongue that some boat trailer uses (one square tube sliding into the other).

Mahalo,
doogdoog

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Keith-OR

09-05-2006 21:03:14

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Hey Rich use what you have. That is a reasonable length. All the trailers I built commercally had 4 foot tongues. As for a formula to detremine tongue length for particular trailer, never used one nor did any of manufactures that I know use any. The longer the tongue, the easier it is to backup..

Keith & Shawn

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Pooh Bear

09-05-2006 18:51:51

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

How long should a trailor tongue be?
Why it should be long enough to reach the hitch of course.

Seriously, my guess is the width of the vehicle
divided by 2 and then add 12 inches.
Somewhere around 4 1/2 feet should be plenty.

Pooh Bear

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Chances R

09-05-2006 18:40:24

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Years ago I actually built small trailers for a second job. Here is what I do for light duty trailers. Cut 2 pieces of angle 5 feet long for the toung material. The first cross member is located 2 feet from the front of the trailer. Therefor the location of the center of the ball to the front of the trailer is about 3 foot 3 inches. Any more questions feel free to ask.

my web site

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cman

09-05-2006 18:40:24

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Built several 5 X 8 trailers. Made the tongue out of 1/8 X 2 1/2 sq tube. Cut the tongue 80"
half under the trailer and half out. Works out very well. Good for pulling and backing.
Get three pieces out of 20ft stick of tube.

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Joe(TX)

09-05-2006 18:32:42

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

4 ft is the shortest I will use. Most of mine are 5 ft. It has saved a lot of tailights on the truck. A longer tounge will put less load on the hitch for a trailer with the same load and balance. A longer lever if you will. Of course a longer tounge has to be built stronger for the same hitch load.

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PaulW_NJ

09-05-2006 18:28:45

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

When I built my dual axle utility trailer, several old pipeline welders counselled me wisely. Tongue length is one of the most important factors in ease of backing the trailer. If you"ve ever had to back any trailer with too short of a tongue you know how frustrating it is. My 10 foot bed trailer has a 5 foot tongue, and it is extremely easy to manuever. Ratios are more related to weight distribution, and tongue weight, which are also critical but more related to tracking forward. I used a joint of 1 1/2 pipe for the tongue, and ran it all the way to the rear of the trailer, cutting thru & welding it into down turned cross piece angle in the frame. It is very stable.

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KEH

09-05-2006 17:57:11

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

I agree on 4 ft., that's what I've used. BTW, I think a livestock trailer should have springs, just in case that one does not. Keep us posted on progress.

KEH

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old

09-05-2006 19:11:53

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to KEH , 09-05-2006 17:57:11

This one has springs and I'm looking on putting on shocks. I have a set of old shock off my 1980 chev pickup that are still good and figure what the heck if I add them it will be that much better and will get rid on some junk to boot. Yep I'm going to leave what I have now at the 4.5 foot, base tongue is made from 3X4 tube and will have 2 others in at an angle for braces and I may even run a couple anlged down from the upper part of the trailor to make the tongue even stronger

Hobby farm

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Don LC

09-05-2006 17:40:24

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Old ---

The way I figure toung length is.....the distance from the hitch pin or ball to one side of the tow truck or car, maybe even a tractor and add 6".....this way you can cramp the trailer when backing with out hitting the front corner of the trailer..... 3 1/2 or 4' should be enough..... ..... ..Don S.W. Ohio

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Ultradog MN

09-05-2006 17:14:25

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

Rich,
I depends on a couple of things.
The most important is to have the trailer balanced as to weight distribution/axle center.
You want them slightly heavier on the tongue
But if you aren't messing with the axle then remember this: the longer the tongue is the easier it will be to back it up. 4.5' is a little longer that the norm for that trailer but I think he will like pulling and backing it more.
I'd leave it that length.
Good luck

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mjbrown

09-05-2006 17:13:09

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

A rule of thumb is 70% of the total length of the trailer should be in front of the wheels 30% behind. If you measure the length behind the wheels and double it plus a little you will be in the ball park and probably good enough.

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Yugrotcart

09-05-2006 17:08:26

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to old, 09-05-2006 16:50:43

The tongue on my 4x8 that I built is 4ft plus the coupler, works great.

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Ken Macfarlane

09-06-2006 04:53:29

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Re: O/T How long should a trailor tongue be?? in reply to Yugrotcart, 09-05-2006 17:08:26

I make them so the coupler to centre line of the wheels is about the same as the vehicle wheelbase that will pull them so I can back them up easier. Shorter they are the worse they back with a long vehicle like a truck.

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