straightening trailer tongue

tractchores · Mar 31, 2015

Looking for some advice. I have a small utility trailer (8x6 box). It was in an accident and the tongue is bent a bit (< 10 degrees) and where the tongue bolts onto the trailer body is bent as well (the body). I'd like to try to straighten it as its a light duty trailer, so I'm not worried about the integrity of the parts (they are way over sized). This trailer is used mostly to haul trash to the dump and has a max load capacity of 1,000 lbs.

Any ideas? I was thinking of using a hammer and wooden blocks, or maybe putting it on a flat surfact and pushing down with my tractor bucket or BH to see if that's enough force. I also may see if I can just buy a new tongue and straighten only the trailer box, which is just angle iron so should be easy to bend.

Diamondpilot · Mar 31, 2015

tractchores said:
Looking for some advice. I have a small utility trailer (8x6 box). It was in an accident and the tongue is bent a bit (< 10 degrees) and where the tongue bolts onto the trailer body is bent as well (the body). I'd like to try to straighten it as its a light duty trailer, so I'm not worried about the integrity of the parts (they are way over sized). This trailer is used mostly to haul trash to the dump and has a max load capacity of 1,000 lbs. Any ideas? I was thinking of using a hammer and wooden blocks, or maybe putting it on a flat surfact and pushing down with my tractor bucket or BH to see if that's enough force. I also may see if I can just buy a new tongue and straighten only the trailer box, which is just angle iron so should be easy to bend.

I would not attempt to straighten anything. Replace the bent pieces.

Chris

zzvyb6 · Mar 31, 2015

Try using your 3 point arms and the drawbar to straighten small bends in angle iron and square tubing. It takes good control to do this. Practice first. If the piece can be put between two blocks. drive on it with your tractor or car. As long as its not kinked. For angle iron, I sometimes slice it and weld it back together.

George2615 · Mar 31, 2015

Maybe if you could post a picture to see what you have.
I repaired a similar trailer. It had a square tubing tongue with a 1 7/8" hitch bolted and welded on. I had loaned the trailer to someone who jack knifed it backing up and bent the tube. If yours is square tubing I'd get some new tubing and weld on the new piece rather than try to straighten. I bought a smaller square piece to slide inside the original like a sleeve. I cut off the old tongue and drilled a 1/2" hole on each side. Then slid in the smaller square and welded that in place and welded the 1/2" holes shut where it touched the inner sleeve. Then slid the new pre drilled piece of square over the sleeve and welded that and the holes shut. Then bolted and welded on a new 2" hitch to replace the old 1 7/8" hitch.

Industrial Toys · Mar 31, 2015

I've used loader forks to straighten lots of stuff. Good for breaking the bead on a tire as well.

Just make sure (or at least try) that nothing slippery will fly out. Wood blocks are good.

Also, and this is from experience, jig things up in such a way that you can't overbend something. A little is usually necessary, but I have ruined things that suddenly gave way and bent too far the other way!

ray66v · Apr 1, 2015

If your local body shop has a drive on frame rack, they can straighten it all for you.

I used to do stuff like that when I had time, mostly for customer goodwill.

Egon · Apr 1, 2015

Bottle jack and heat would probably work best.

Cutting and replacing the bends may be the easiest and best.

Sysop · Apr 1, 2015

Small trailers are more difficult to back up than longer trailers. Bent trailers of any size don't back up worth a hoot. A small bent trailer will be a pain. It can't be close, it needs to be right. I'm with everyone who says remove the bent sections and replace with straight stuff.

aczlan · Apr 1, 2015

Sysop said:
Small trailers are more difficult to back up than longer trailers. Bent trailers of any size don't back up worth a hoot. A small bent trailer will be a pain. It can't be close, it needs to be right. I'm with everyone who says remove the bent sections and replace with straight stuff.

I agree, especially if its a bolt on tongue. You might even put a longer (heavier) piece on to make it easier to back up.

Aaron Z

Al 2 · Apr 1, 2015

I don't see any problem to straighten it with a bottle jack (and chain) as Egon suggests. Reinforce it if needed or if it makes you feel better. As ray66 suggests they straighten car and truck frames all the time.
Al