Trailer Torquing: MAJOR PANIC: HELP!!!!

[greenchicken]

Hi all.

I hope I have not miss calculated and have a doomed project. I assume I am over reacting.

I got the 5x8 Ultra-Tow from Northern Tool.

The frame where the swing wheel attached is twisting severely. And I still have the shining and the pantry door to add. So there is more weight to come.

My first thought is to add some 2x4 inside of the frame so it will not bend.

For the moment I have moved it to the center post. But now I will not be able to swing it back for travel.


Opinion please

IMG_1488 (1).jpg (8.83 KiB) Viewed 1060 times

[twisted lines]

Medium picture please

[tony.latham]

I can't see much with that little photo, but are you sure the jack goes on the cross member and not one of the A-frames?



Tony

[Padilen]

Jack's in wrong place.

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[greenchicken]

How would I attach it to the structure and not the frame?

IMG_1488 (2).jpg (172.94 KiB) Viewed 1036 times

[tony.latham]

Bolt it where the decal is.

T

[twisted lines]

Bolt it where the decal is.

T

What he said but I like them on the Drivers side

[greenchicken]

Yes, that is were it was and twisted.

[Wolfgang92025]

A "C" channel is much stronger in deflection up and down then rotation.
You could put a piece of aluminum on the top and bottom creating a boxed in tongue.
That would give it a whole lot more strength.
Kind of what I did below.

[troubleScottie]

There are at least two possible issues.

One as stated by the others is the C channel making up the right or left side of the 'A' needs reinforcing. Wood could be used temporarily -- it will fail long term. Making the C channel into a rectangular or square tube is the best choice.

Two is the weight on the tongue. I believe the ideal weight is 10-15% of the total trailer weight is on the tongue. Also the weight should be balanced onto both sides. So between 100 and 300 lbs depending on the TD. If you are over that weight, the 'A' may be failing due to the load. Fixing too much weight means (a) moving the axle forward (b) moving weight behind the axle or reducing the weight of the entire TD or some combination. There are good sticky topics:

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=60392

under the Design Resources menu -- rescued design library

trailer balance...

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear81.htm

[Modstock]

Mine twisted being there also. Hated it. Even mounted it to the inside of the frame. Tucked in nicely but still flex, not as bad though.
I got a hf center mount tongue jack and made a 1/4" thick plate to mount it.

In the future I want to make a new boxed tongue to eliminate flexing .
Hope there isn't anything wrong with that. Flex/no flex ???

For temporary;;;;;; you can make another brace just like the center brace to bolt to each frame rail on the bottom. Should stiffen it up.

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[Modstock]

HF also sells the center mount hitch. This is going to lower the hitch 2" . It didn't work for me cause I needed those 2" to keep the trailer level .

Maybe it may work for you.


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[Tomterrific]

I have an even lighter tongue that twists.
Some tips I used:
Make sure the wheel is under the tongue, not rotated to the side.
Use a Jack stand to remove weight from the trailer jack. Crank up a bit more and lower onto the Jack stand on the opposite member.
I used a fence wire from the frame to the trailer jack to straighten it. The wire is doubled and by twisting with a screwdriver it makes a Spanish windless to ajust tension.
All these are fast ways to help. Your tongue is engineered okay for a light trailer but not for your jack. Getting a Jack that fits in the A is a good solution. Replacing the single tongue member with a box member the same size is another.

Tt

[bentrotor]

I know I'm not a frequent poster on here, but , in my opinion , that has to be the poorest design of all time(especially considering the use of aluminum). The leverage applied to the C channel (by the jack) applied to 2 bolts, thru the flange of a piece of aluminum channel is a recipe for damage or worse - failure. In my opinion you would be better off throwing the channel (that the jack is bolted to) away and then cut and fit a wood 4x4 across there, bolt/screw it in there and put the jack back on that. The limitations for improvements will only be limited by your skills or wallet. No matter what you do to correct the problem, I suggest the sooner its done, the less damage that will be done to the rest of the tongue. Even to the point of wood(its cheap and easy to work with for most folks w/ minimum tools required) and will buy you some time. Just being a realist here - no disrespect implied or intended. Mike

[twisted lines]

At the most forward point under the 6 bolts on the tongue are there holes for a plate at the bottom of the channel or anything holding the lowest angle from rolling?
Same question under the holes on the channel that your Jack is mounted on Are there holes matching the two top bolt holes on the bottom? If you could replace that channel or roll it vertical instead of horizontal like it is now I think that would help a lot Providing the channel fits inside or find one that does.
Under the front of your bed / box there is one hole on the drivers side, I would presume a matching one apposing where you could bolt a piece of angle or channel that fits If there are holes on the top that's a Bonus holding the bottom of the channel from rolling.