How to straighten bent trailer tongue?

[Clayak]

This isn't really tractor related so I apologize now to anyone who is offended. Maybe the answers will help with any damaged 'tongue' farm equipment.

I was given a trailer with a severely bent galvanized trailer tongue (see pics). Any thoughts on how to straighten it. I know, i know .... cut it off and weld on again. That's more money than I want to spend, especially since it is galvanized. My desire is to straighten it so it is squared (pulls straight down the road) and then brace the weakened areas with 1/4" thick 4 inch wide steel plates (which I have) held on with bolts. Possibly add 2 triangularly shaped flat galvanized over and below the damaged area for added strength.

My question is: How do I straighten the bent areas? Unless someone here comes up with a better plan, I'm thinking that using appropriate lengths of 4x4" or 6x6" timbers (to spread the pressure) and use my REMOTELY CONTROLLED (safety first) 5500 lb 12 V electric UTV winch to 'convince' the bend to straighten out. I'm going to run the cable through some 6x12" cement blocks to keep the danger of a broken strap from 'whiplashing' me if it breaks.

Thought about using my heavy duty straps attached to a stout tree truck and attaching the end of the tongue to my tractor. Figured I'd have better control over the straightening with the wench.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[2manyrocks]

One of those rails looks kinked to the point that it's ready to break when you try to straighten.

 

[Hay Dude]

that needs to be straightened, but more importantly plated & welded & gusseted.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Yesterday I spent a few hours trying to straighten out what should've been a gentle 90 degree curve of maybe 3/8" rod on a hay-picker-upper thingy.

In retrospect I should've cut it off, beat it into submission, the welded it back on. And if that apparatus turns out to actually function, that's what I'll do once hay season is over.

With profiles like the ones pictured I would just cut out the bent parts and start over. Galvanized or not isn't a concern at this point, it's already toast.

 

[jaxs]

Dream on but you are basically asking for a silver bullet that doesn't exist. You can't tie loads down on trailers with shop presses and you can't straighten tubing with straps and winches. Looks like a boat trailer worth about $50,look for a used one that isn't beat up and save yourself time and money.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I believe it's repairable but I think it's going to require some cutting and welding.

 

[Minsid]

Did it also bend at the trailer attachment points? Enough to weaken there too? Personally I'd not try to fix that material but if I wanted to I'd look for some trees space so I could put the trailer and hitch ends of the beam against and go at it with a winch as you describe. I'd use angle iron for the repair over flat plate to be more rigid.

 

[Clayak]

Did it also bend at the trailer attachment points? Enough to weaken there too? Personally I'd not try to fix that material but if I wanted to I'd look for some trees space so I could put the trailer and hitch ends of the beam against and go at it with a winch as you describe. I'd use angle iron for the repair over flat plate to be more rigid.

There is no bends in the trailer attachment points or anywhere except as shown in my original attached picture. The damaged area was in the original curved area of the tongue thus the weakest area and probably the most prone to bend in the 'ran off the road' accident which caused the bend in the tongue. The 'angle iron' suggestion was a good idea but likely would not fit in the gently curved bend. That's why I thought a drilled and bolted 1/4 inch solid approximate 18 inch triangular piece of galvanized steel above and below the straightened and would strengthen the curved flat plate bolted along the sides of the tongue.

 

[Clayak]

I believe it's repairable but I think it's going to require some cutting and welding.

Thanks for the confidence builder. I'm going to try my strengthening first. If it doesn't work, I'll cut out the damaged areas and find another way. The rest of the trailer is in great shape including the 16 rollers. I'm retired at 78 and am measuring my dollars carefully. This is my one chance to have to have a great trailer for only my free labor and a couple/few hundred dollars. I'm tired of loading my boat and motor on to my flat bed trailer to get to the river.

 

[Clayak]

that needs to be straightened, but more importantly plated & welded & gusseted.

I agree. Trying to avoid the welding with plates and bolts as I posted.

 

[Clayak]

One of those rails looks kinked to the point that it's ready to break when you try to straighten.

I agree, the one will likely break, hopefully the other will remain intact. That why it needs sides straps bolted into place and an upper and lower 18 inch triangular 1/4 inch plate over and under the repaired area for additional strength.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Thanks for the confidence builder. I'm going to try my strengthening first. If it doesn't work, I'll cut out the damaged areas and find another way. The rest of the trailer is in great shape including the 16 rollers. I'm retired at 78 and am measuring my dollars carefully. This is my one chance to have to have a great trailer for only my free labor and a couple/few hundred dollars. I'm tired of loading my boat and motor on to my flat bed trailer to get to the river.

I wasn't trying to take the wind out of your sails and anything is possible, I was just saying that IMHO to fix it permanently and right a little cutting and welding would be the best but for sure not the only way, the angle iron idea is good. Don't you think you could heat the angle iron after bolting one side of it to the trailer frame and beat/form it with a hammer? Even without a big torch a good propane torch would get 1/4" angle hot enough to bend, good luck with it, keep the thread updated so we can see how it turns out, good luck. where there is a will there is a way.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I agree, the one will likely break, hopefully the other will remain intact. That why it needs sides straps bolted into place and an upper and lower 18 inch triangular 1/4 inch plate over and under the repaired area for additional strength.

Adding overly stout material to a damaged area is a surefire way to create new stress points.

It's much better to stick with the flimsy stuff, and use appropriate transitions of material used.

 

[2manyrocks]

Also going to be a challenge to get all this straightened to the point that the trailer will ever tow straight again.

 

[BlueKnife]

My question is: How do I straighten the bent areas?

You can't straighten them and have it be structurally sound. Best thing to do (if the rest of the trailer is worth saving) is to cut the tongue off completely and build a new one.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Please don't misunderstand my post. I'm not criticizing, or trying to talk you out of doing your project. These are just my thoughts.

I'm also retired any have the time to work on projects like this, but my time is still worth something. Everyone has different priorities, but I place my projects in two categories. Those that are practical & necessary, and those that are just fun to fool around with. If it were me, this project of yours wouldn't fall into either.

How big / heavy is the boat you want to carry on the trailer and how valuable is it to you? Are you willing to risk it on your repair job? You say you're willing to spend a couple of hundred $$ on the project, wouldn't that money be better spent on a used trailer in better shape or one that is more easily repaired?

That being said, if I were to attempt your repair, I would use a length of chain and a Porta-Power hydraulic ram set like this one to do the straightening:

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Porta-Power-Kit-Hydraulic/dp/B0BN7W7XX9?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Auto body shops use them to straighten vehicle frames.

Higher quality professional grade kits are also available at many tool rental yards.

Good luck with your project and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[Egon]

Cutting torch and new materials for rebuild.

 

[flyerdan]

I would see if I could scrounge a section of the same material from another trailer, either at a scrap yard or ask around at marinas for possible leads. If you can't get the bend part, a straight section can be bent by cutting little wedges out and matching to the other side. Properly done and finished, you shouldn't even be able to tell it was replaced.