Introduction: Boats are an investment, so it’s important to make sure you have the right equipment to transport and store them safely and securely. One of the most important pieces of equipment for hauling a boat is the Tongue of a Boat Trailer. This article will explain what exactly the Tongue of a Boat Trailer is, its types, benefits, how to measure for it, tips on maintenance and common problems with it and how to fix them.
What is a Boat Trailer Tongue? The tongue of a boat trailer is the part that connects the front end of the trailer to the tow vehicle or hitch receiver on your vehicle. It’s also known as the A-Frame or drawbar because it attaches in an A-shape configuration between your vehicle and your trailer. It’s made up of two parts: the coupler which attaches to your tow vehicle, and the frame which supports the coupler and attaches it to your trailer frame at its other end. The tongue has several jobs; it provides support for your entire load when you’re driving, keeps your load from swaying back and forth while you drive, and helps keep everything in line when backing up or turning corners sharply.
Types of Boat Trailer Tongues: There are several different types of tongues available for use with different types of trailers depending on their weight capacity requirements, including straight tongues (also called standard tongues), adjustable tongues (also called drop tongues), extended tongues (also called long tongues) , folding tongues (also called swing-away or collapsible tongues), telescoping/retractable tongues (also called slide-out or extendable tongues) , and gooseneck hitches . Each type offers its own advantages depending on what type of boating activity you plan on doing most often as well as how much weight you plan on carrying in total with each trip out onto the water.
Straight Tongues: Straight tongue trailers are designed for lighter loads such as small boats or jet skis that weigh less than 2,000 pounds. They offer good stability when traveling at highway speeds due to their rigid design which keeps everything in line when turning corners sharply or backing up. They also feature adjustable height settings so they can be adjusted according to different vehicles’ heights.
Adjustable Tongues: Adjustable tongues are designed for heavier loads such as larger boats weighing more than 4,000 pounds. They offer greater stability than standard straight tongue trailers due to their ability to be adjusted according to different vehicles’ heights by simply raising or lowering the coupler at one end without having to adjust both ends at once like with standard straight tongue trailers.
Extended Tongues: Extended tongue trailers are designed for extra-long boats that require more distance between their tow vehicle and trailer than what’s offered by standard straight tongue trailers. They’re typically used with large boats weighing over 8,000 pounds since they provide greater stability due to their increased length which reduces swaying while traveling at highway speeds or taking sharp turns .
Folding Tongues: Folding tongue trailers are ideal for those who need extra flexibility when hauling their boat since they can be easily folded up into a compact size for storage when not in use . This makes them perfect for those who need extra space in their garage or driveway as well as those who only occasionally take out their boat but don’t want a permanent fixture taking up space all year round .
Telescoping/Retractable Tongues: Telescoping/retractable tongue trailers are designed specifically for those who need maximum flexibility when transporting their boat since they can be extended up to twice their original length when needed but retracted back down into a smaller size when not in use . This makes them perfect for those who often travel long distances with their boat but don’t want a permanent fixture taking up space all year round .
Gooseneck Hitches: Gooseneck hitches are designed specifically for larger boats weighing over 10,000 pounds since they provide additional stability due to being connected directly onto your truck bed rather than attached via an A-frame configuration like other types of boat trailer tongues . They also feature adjustable height settings so they can be adjusted according to different vehicles’ heights without having to adjust both ends at once like with standard straight tongue trailers .
Benefits Of A Boat Trailer Tongue: The main benefit that comes with having a good quality tongue for your boat trailer is safety . Having a solid connection between your tow vehicle and trailer ensures that everything stays secure while traveling down highways or making tight turns around corners which reduces risk significantly both during transport as well as during storage periods when parked at dockside marinas overnight . Additionally , using higher quality materials such as galvanized steel will help ensure that rust doesn’t become an issue over time resulting in reduced maintenance costs down the line compared to lower quality materials such as aluminum which corrodes quickly after exposure to salt water