This is a copy/paste of my write up from the previous forum.
To fit my skiff into my garage I need to modify the trailer. In principle the end result I’d like to be similar to this. I got these pictures from someone who has a very similar trailer as mine.
But to accomplish this I need to make my cut on the line shown below.
In my mind this is a rather simple project.
- Secure the trailer on jack stands and remove trailer jack
- Pull trailer wiring out of the way.
- Cut trailer I-beams and tongue on line drawn above.
- Sleeve 3"x3" Trailer tongue.
- drill required holes.
- add safety chain to trailer and remove safety cable from removable tongue.
- do the happy dance for a project well done…
The realities I know differ from how I envision this going… like always…
I’d like to DIY this… My biggest hurdle is cutting the I-Beam and trailer tongue. A thought is to make it all in one cut. Buy about half a dozen metal blades for a sawzall and go to town. Is there a better option that is DIY/hand tool compatible?
Cheers!
Like a glove!
Finished the modification to my trailer. Corbins Hitch Shop in North Charleston SC did the work. I could not be more pleased with their results! They really went above and beyond on this project.
They cut, shortened, sleeved, welded, drilled and delivered back to me in under 48 hours.
To start, they cut the i-beams and 3" OD .25"-wall 6061 extruded aluminum square tube tongue flush.
Then added a plate to the top and bottom for strength.
Next moved moved the jack stand.
They were careful to ensure the winch and jack stands didn’t interfere with each other.
Here is the removable tongue. They sleeved a 2.45" OD .25"-wall square tube extruded 6061 aluminum extension into the original 3" OD .25"-wall tongue. While technically the ID of the 3" square tube is 2.5", but if you get a 2.5" OD tube it won’t slide easily into the 3" tube. So I had to purchase a special square tube that’s 2.45" OD .25" wall tube.
Since everything is aluminium they can weld the two together while also thru-bolting it too.
The removable tongue is long but I like that the part that slides into the 3" tube extends for a few feet. This will help distribute lateral and vertical loads across a longer section improving overall strength.
Plus the overall length of the trailer did not change so tongue weight hans’t changed and the boat tows just like it did before the work was done.
Space between the garage door and trailer.
Space between outboard and rear wall of garage.
Wife’s car in the garage now… happy wife… happy life!
Yes I know… I need to clean my garage! It’s killing my OCD!
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