Trailer tongue

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Is there a formula or way to determin a "proper" trailer tongue length?
Reply:Don't know if there's a formula but any utility trailer I've built, I make sure I can jacknife it without the sides hitting the tow vehicle....Mike
Reply:I agree with mrmikey.  I usually measure from the ball to the end of my bumper.  Then you pretty much imagine an arc on the front of the trailer with that measurement as the radius.  The coupler needs to be outside that arc.  I'd like to see the tongue make contact with the bumper before the corner of the trailer makes contact with my fender in a jacknife situation.  IIRC, I end up with something like 42" minimum from the front of the trailer to the center of the ball when hooked up.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by mrmikeyDon't know if there's a formula but any utility trailer I've built, I make sure I can jacknife it without the sides hitting the tow vehicle....Mike
Reply:I think 42" is the magic number for most stuff pulled by pickups.As others have said, long enough to jacknife without anything hitting before the bumper contacts the tongue.Going longer than needed just makes it weaker, and wastes material.
Reply:If you are building a straight tongue, then its up to the builder of the trailer, However there is a point in which the tongue can be too long - that is all a matter of opinion."A Frame" tongues do have an equation for a proper length. Have to do a little geometry for this one.Your coupler angle is 50°, and with a little trig you can calculate the proper layout from there. Lay out the angles and search for a triangle calculator online.
Reply:Not to be insulting or singling the OP out - but I am truly concerned for some people these days. We have a vast world of knowledge and information at our fingertips, and people neglect to use it. Since your building a trailer have you consulted any trailer building guides? There are at least dozens of step by step instructions with a simple google search for just about any type of small tow behind trailer you want to build....again, not to call the OP out
Reply:I would think the length of the tongue would have more to do with the distance to the center of the axle. I have it written somewhere but I think the magic number is 62/28. 62% being the percentage of the tongue to center of axle to overall length of trailer. Asking what is the perfect tongue length is like asking what is the weight It can carry. We don't have enough information to give you the answer.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave_dj1I would think the length of the tongue would have more to do with the distance to the center of the axle. I have it written somewhere but I think the magic number is 62/28. 62% being the percentage of the tongue to center of axle to overall length of trailer. Asking what is the perfect tongue length is like asking what is the weight It can carry. We don't have enough information to give you the answer.
Reply:If you include the tongue in your 60/40 figurin', you'll have one light front end.  60/40 is typically figured with only the bed length considered.Me thinks some people should stay away from trailers.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Speaking of tongue length and jack knifing--------I saw this nice big boat & trailer today that somebody decided to put a very nice looking (was nice looking) aluminum diamond plate tool box on the tongue. Both front corners of the (ex) nice looking tool box were smashed to he11 'n gone at bumper level. Couldn't have helped the bumper a lot either. Some people."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Those are engineered crumple zones. I've gotten a couple of "mostly" good, used boxes that way. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by Lights*scratches head* (62+28 = 90%?) I always thought it was a 60/40 split.
Reply:Here is an interesting way to calculate ithttp://www.trailercanada.com/axle_position.htm