Folding Trailer Tongue

G

Grazer

New member
Hey Everybody,

I am looking for anyone who has a folding tongue :smilep on their trailer and their experience with it. Which brand? Any problems? Does it only work with electric brakes or can a flexible hydraulic hose work on drum surge brakes?

In my search of the archives, I only found a few pics and threads mentioning them as a length reducing add on. This is my objective, as my tongue sticks out about 2' onto the sidewalk.

Welded vs bolt-on? Seems to me, that welded may be stronger but would be difficult to replace/repair if the hinge failed.

Any information about personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Grazer
 
Here's a picture of our 2012 EZ loader. I have considered moving the jack to the other side so it would fold flatter but it's working just fine as is. Our trailer doesn't have brakes, but I see no reason it couldn't accommodate them. The fold is a "Fulton Fold-Away", which is a beefy sleeve on each end held on by four thru bolts. I like it very much, not only because it saves space when parked but, more importantly, the longer tongue keeps the rear of the car out of the water at the ramp. Cost to add it to our new trailer was minimal, as I recall about $100.
IMGP0001_001.sized.jpg
 
Thanks dotnmarty. I have hydraulic surge brakes with solid copper lines. I am wondering if one can put in flexible hyraulic lines to allow the tongue to bend 180 degrees. Alternatively, having to switch over to hydraulic over electric trailer brakes will likely be an expensive conversion for a folding tongue.
 
If you are going with electric over hydraulic why not put the master cylinder on the trailer frame behind the folding part and then the brake lines don't have bend. I'm just saying. :)
D.D.
 
I can't speak to the folding tongue, but on the brake line part: When I had my trailer re-worked they used all flexible lines for the hydraulic surge brakes, starting right at the solenoid (which is attached to the actuator). I believe they were Tie Down brand.

(As it happens, they did a poor installation job, and I had to replace the first 20' or so in the middle of Montana, and so had to use solid/steel line for that section - I couldn't get the Tie Down product there. The solid section is working fine, but I plan to order a replacement section of the flexible line and return the trailer to all flexible lines - without the installation flaw.)
 
Will-C":1wkbpx1a said:
If you are going with electric over hydraulic why not put the master cylinder on the trailer frame behind the folding part and then the brake lines don't have bend. I'm just saying. :)
D.D.
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I don't want to change over to electric brakes unnecessarily only to accomodate a folding tongue. As sunbeam wrote, flexible lines are used in hydraulic surge brakes. I am wondering if those lines can be lengthened enough (inside or outside the frame) to allow the tongue to fold back without kinking?
 
We have installed them as bolt on units . They tow best if you take the hitch pin that comes with them and save it for another use and use a hardened bolt tightened down real tight . Too much slop with the hitch pin. We usually see a distinct curve to the drawbar with these. Not too much tongue weight helps remedy this as well .

Dave's idea on the electric over hydraulic is a good one . A good hydraulic hose maker could make a braided SS line for you that would flex.
Marc
 
Grazer":3hvbxjr1 said:
...flexible lines are used in hydraulic surge brakes. I am wondering if those lines can be lengthened enough (inside or outside the frame) to allow the tongue to fold back without kinking?
Click to expand...

I'm sure you're just itching for another reply from someone who really doesn't know :wink:, but, just thought I would mention that these lines only come in a few, pre-set lengths. What that means is that one has to choose the next size up, and then the excess is coiled up and secured to the trailer frame (in my case, back on an inner frame piece near the axles) (unless maybe you get custom made lines). Now, the coil on my trailer doesn't move (as there is no reason for it to), but it is coiled in a fairly small diameter coil (say 12" or so). That makes me think that as long as attention was paid to fair leads, etc. that it is flexible enough (hopefully someone who actually knows will also respond).

There is a limit through: Where I ran into the problem (actually only one of many problems that I subsequently had to "re-repair :amgry) was where the trailer shop had run the flexible brake line off the solenoid (on top of the tongue frame piece) and in an immediate 90º bend (very small radius), through a hole in the trailer frame, and then through the tongue and on back. At the time I picked up the trailer I questioned it and of course got the "Look, we know how to do our job, that's FINE" response. Well, it wasn't fine (ahem). So there is apparently a limit, but that was a very tight 90º bend, which I'm sure you would avoid.

Sunbeam

PS: Having read of the possible issues with surge brakes - especially in the mountains - I was pretty gung ho to have mine converted at that initial shop while I was having the trailer overhauled. I needed a new actuator anyway. However, they had never done EOH (flat country), and so I decided (luckily!) to forego it at that time, buy a new surge actuator, and make my first trailering trip that way (naturally, it was 3,500 miles and included numerous mountain ranges).

Well, I was sweating bullets about those big mountain passes - practically needed a chalk bag for the steering wheel - but it all went fine (and I've been over many more passes since then). I do have to be conscious of not using my brakes on a descent, especially near the top (because once applied, there is no "reason" for the trailer brakes to release and so they could drag and heat up), but I have not found that to be a big problem, as long as I am in no rush. I just downshift and let the tow vehicle keep our speed reasonable, and no braking is required (or at most just a veeeery gentle stab partway down). I've been able to keep the trailer brakes cool.

Now, would EOH be nicer? I bet they would. And if I were going over big passes weekly, I'd probably change. But as it stands now (and with my particular tow vehicle), the surge seem to work fine (rig practically brakes better when I'm towing than when not). At any rate, it's something I see as an optional upgrade (for me) not something I really need right now - with the 22.
 
Thanks Marc. Sounds like it is total fessible to keep my existing brake set up and connect up the hydraulic lines with some flexible ones. Kudos

Grazer
 
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