The current tongue is over-lapped to prevent the hinge that forms when the tongue is 'stuck' on the front of the trailer frame. This region is a highly stressed one. If you need to increase the length of the tongue I would encourage maintaining the current general configuration in building a new tongue.
Some folks have just moved the tongue to the front. It probably can be made to live and last if good engineering of the junction is used and the fabrication is executed well. By the time that you've done a good job of it you may as well build a new frame since you really won't be that far from it.