Tongue
 

My new trailer has a long tongue on it..Like 5 ft.. Will cutting off 1 ft give me more tongue weight.. I have about 150 lbs tongue weight right now . The boat and trailer weigh about 5500lbs combined.

No trailer expert here but wouldn't it be easier to shift the axles back or move the winch stand forward a few inches and pull the boat forward. Either way would give more tongue weight. Can you post a picture of it? Not sure that cutting 1 foot would actually give you more weight or just a shorter tongue.

I would agree, move the winch stand forward a couple inches and that will give you more tongue weight. if I am correct the tongue weight should be about 10% of the total load

First off are you seeking more tongue weight or are you trying to shorten the trailer and concerned about the effect on tongue weight?

Tongue Weight
 

I am wanting more tongue weight because people say you need 5 to 10%. I have towed the boat up to 80 mph and it seemed ok. People say you will feel the tongue wanting to bounce up and down if if you don't have enough. I don't see that in the mirror. Not sure if I can feel a bounce or not.. My truck is a dodge 2500 quad cab 4x4 so it will absorb almost anything. The winch is a s far up as it can go without jumping over where the I beams come together. That would be like 10 inches up and I have already moved the boat 8 inches up.. i have about 3 inches of bunk sticking out already.. Moving axles would require moving fenders so thats out.. it is brand new and bought from a dealer. He spent about 1.5 hrs moving the boat forward and putting on a new winch stand.. He says its fine and he does seem knowledgeable. The tongue is just long so i thought cutting it down a foot might help so thats why I am on here.Any thoughts either way are apprreciated.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h9...s/P1010772.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h9...s/P1010777.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h9...s/P1010775.jpg

Chris

Shortening the tongue a foot should slightly increase the tongue weight (it might add 10 lbs). In my opinion this is not worth the trouble. Since the tongue weight is so small compared to what the truck can handle, you are not seeing any bouncing problems. I think the main concern is the lack of tongue weight could allow the trailer to bounce up off the ball. For this reason I would make sure the trailer coupler clamps on to the ball very well. This can usually be adjusted.

I would look at trying to move the boat forward on the trailer if possible.

Since you have that extra long tongue, why don't you mount a box on the front so you can store your straps, jack and other misc stuff you'll need? That's what I did. I also keep the battery in there for the winch, wheel chocks ect. Shortening the tongue will reduce your jack knife ability slightly.

I agree fire... I have already been looking at boxes to put on the tongue...

Chris

If it were mine I would take it to a weld shop and move that break assembly back some. Think about leverage when breaking a bolt or anything. The more space you have from the object to the pivot point the easier it is. All the weight is stored in the rear of a boat. Like the guys said I don't know how much weight it would transfer but That would prolly be my first move. IMO the wheels are far enough back that you shouldn't be have any issue and using a dropped hitch will help some.

Tongue weight
 

Thanks for the advice Kboy.. The only thing you have to do to shorten the tongue is loosten the bolts where the I beam comes together , cut a foot off the back of the tongue beam and slide it back and re-tighten the bolts. The dealer has offered to send it back to the factory which is only 5 miles from here and have them do it for free. The dealer is not sure if it will give any more tongue weight or not. There is plenty of room for the brake lines and wiring harness for everything to move back a foot. I am starting to like the idea of adding a box to the front.. I am sure i can find a 100lbs of **** to store in there.

Chris