Trailer tongue length
- Thread starter ngirondo
- Start date
PacificNorthWestJeeper
Blissfully Lost
agreed, long enough to open your tailgate is just fine for not only that purpose but backing up as described above..
.This is how did mine...
. I used ⅛ wall 2x4 tube///
3
.This is how did mine...
. I used ⅛ wall 2x4 tube///
3
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ex m38a1er
Adventurer
No guess work here.
Rule of a thump calls for:
a. the total length from the coupler to the hub should be equal to the tow rig's wheelbase
b. the axle should be in a 60/40 manner of the tub (if you spread the load even on the tub)
c. the tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer's weight (loaded).
These factors will dectate your tongue's length if you want:
a. to tow with safety
b. your trailer to follow you like a dog (exact same track)
c. back up easy
Everything else comes next...
Just my 2 cents...
Rule of a thump calls for:
a. the total length from the coupler to the hub should be equal to the tow rig's wheelbase
b. the axle should be in a 60/40 manner of the tub (if you spread the load even on the tub)
c. the tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer's weight (loaded).
These factors will dectate your tongue's length if you want:
a. to tow with safety
b. your trailer to follow you like a dog (exact same track)
c. back up easy
Everything else comes next...
Just my 2 cents...
rnArmy
Adventurer
Long enough so your tailgate or swing-away spare tire carrier will clear the trailer's tub (or whatever you have mounted on the trailer's frame in front of the tub) and will allow you to jack-knife the trailer 90-degrees without anything hitting.
When I put a new swing-away spare tire carrier on my Jeep (first picture), I had to lengthen the tongue about eight inches for it to clear (second and third picture).
When I put a new swing-away spare tire carrier on my Jeep (first picture), I had to lengthen the tongue about eight inches for it to clear (second and third picture).
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bluejeep
just a guy
The ability to "jack knife to 90 degrees" is most important if you pull the trailer on some more difficult offroad tracks, and have to back up to, for instance, bend around a tight switch back corner. In many other uses, such as towing to a camp site and then hitting the trails without the trailer, it may not be so critical to be able to jack knife to that degree.
If you want the trailer wheels to follow the exact same path in turn as the rear wheel of the tow vehicle there are 2 things that must match.
1. Trailer wheels must be same width as tow vehicle
2 The distance from hitch to rear axle on tow vehicle must be equal to the distance from hitch to trailer axle.
This exact tracking is difficult to achieve with jeeps and such because the rear axle is close to the hitch.
This exact tracking is not the only design goal when making a trailer, and often should not be top priority. High speed stability, ease or backing up or the ability to jackknife to 90 or more are often take priority of exact tracking.
brian90744
American Trekker
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ex m38a1er
Adventurer
It's the axle's width (from center of one wheel to the center of the opposite side wheel) that matters and should be equal between tow vehicle
and trailer.If this is what you mean,yes you are right.
No 2,sorry but doesn;t make sence.It;s what i wrote before (the total length from the coupler to the hub should be equal to the tow rig's wheelbase)
that dictates the same path for tow vehicle and trailer.
Been there done that with a Jeep TJ ;-) and jackknifing too np.
MikeHenderson
Member
Good info! What about trailer axle width? My trailer stance is wider since i added big tires so now it jacknifes really easily.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ex m38a1er
Adventurer
Yes right...both tracks (tow rig's and trailer's) should be the same.
Logging truck will use a long hitch called a stinger to make the trailer follow the same path as the tractor
Wheel base of tractor is not relevant.
Here’s a link. http://www.vannattabros.com/truck57.html
Wheel base of tractor is not relevant.
Here’s a link. http://www.vannattabros.com/truck57.html
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ArkansasDon
Observer
what I've read & built my tongue to was "minimum" tongue length when attached to the tow vehicle can be at a 90-degree angle. Mine is tad over 6ft 3", another issue over looked is tongue weight. I researched 6 months of information took notes before I started my build. Theirs a few Facebook adventure groups members build their own trailers & have major towing issues because they do not research the information needed on tongue length or tongue weight. Trailer tongue weight should be 9 to 15% of the trailers GTW. These guys rushed into the build w\o any direction or valid information, just guess work & hear say from the group they got their information. I am NO expert on trailer construction but I knew during my build I continuously read a lot of information on trailer frames, tongue designs, & tongue weight for the application I was building. My trailer tows like a dream, backs up like a dream.
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