Extending distance between tow vehicle and trailer

[billiebob]

Probably illegal as hell, but is it unsafe?

I'm not worried, the cross member was manufactured by a reputable company who clearly stated that it was not certified for towing. Material specs were equal to or better than what came on the Jeep from the factory and was burned in by a certified welder who practices his trade at a local nuclear power plant. It was designed and engineered to handle recovery loads which are a helluva lot higher than towing loads.

No sleep lost here.

The comment was not about you. It was generic talking to the OPs question. but on to your comment...

illegal as hell, but is it unsafe ??

who cares? if it is illegal it is a massive liability. good luck proving it is safe in court.
only the homeless could care less.

 

[john61ct]

The regulatory requirements and liability issues vary so widely from one place to another, such discussions have little value unless in a thread dedicated to a particular jurisdiction.

In the US, plenty of states allow DIY, home-built trailers, some without any inspection / certifying process at all.

In Australia, regulations are much tighter and more strictly enforced.

And you do not need to actually be poor to be judgement-proof, all depends how your finances are structured.

 

[jays0n]

I'd say to find a small fabrication shop in your area and stop in with the rig and show them what you are looking to do. If you extend the tongue you can also have them put a receiver (female side) on the end of it to receive a max-coupler or you can also order a lock'n'roll coupler and have that either bolted or welded to the new tongue, if you're looking for a larger rotation coupler as well as the additional length. I've had a tongue lengthened and the guy charged me $100 and was all about checking out my trailer, fab guys love this kind of thing in my experience.

 

[Teardropper]

Have you solved your problem?

Here's what I'm doing on my new teardrop:

The goal is so I can remove the coupler to make it theft proof but you could have any length coupler made up.

T

 

[CampStewart]

OP I just blew up your original photo to get a better look at your setup. Are the bikes set so far back from the truck on purpose so you can open the hatch on the topper? I just made a combo bike rack/trailer hitch that is a much cleaner and simpler design than you are using. If you want the bikes so far from the truck it wouldn't help you though.

 

[Teardropper]

Here's how I'm solving the bike rack on this new build:

I'll be welding a vertical reciever just forward of the tongue box and then modifying a rack style bike rack.

T