Trailer Tongue Question

[Skipper J]

Hi,
I am wondering what this spring-loaded handle on the trailer does. It doesn't seem to be attached to anything. Thanks.

Skipper J
SV Bluebird, Sanibel 18

 

[dlochner]

It looks a lot like a the locking mechanism for a trailer tongue jack. However, it is oriented incorrectly.

 

[Rick Webb]

it is to tilt the trailer

 

[WayneH]

My father's boat trailer was made to tilt for "easier" loading and unloading. That looks like the mechanism to prevent it from tilting while going down the road. But I would have to see more of the trailer to say for sure that this is what you have.

 

[rgranger]

Or the PO was sadistic and bolted that on there to drive you nuts.

 

[Skipper J]

Thanks for your suggestions. I am driven a little nuts by it. It's like a door opening to a brick wall. The handle itself has a spring around it. It's inside two u-bolts. The handle has a keeper pin through the end of it. I was hoping it was for a tongue extension. The trailer tongue is a square tube and there's another small galvanized tube inside it. I looked with a flashlight at the jack but didn't see any holes that would fit it. If it's for tilting, I'm not sure how that would work. Thanks for your suggestions so far. Here's another picture:

 

[mikeracca]

It looks to me like it may have been part of a tongue extension mech. Pull back and drop the extension in the groove, then let the spring go and it locks it in place, then put the ball in the receiver, and hitch the now longer trailer to your truck, keeping your wheels dry.

 

[Rick Webb]

HOW TO RETRIEVE A BOAT USING A TILT TRAILER - YouTube

 

[Skipper J]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll be able to look at it closer to see if it was tilt or extension once I get the boat off the trailer.

 

[LloydB]

The square tube of the tongue rotates downward out of the U channel when the locking pin is pulled forward to allow it to pass by. Launching the boat by that method will break the zip tie and mess with the wiring most likely. Preferred method is float the sailboat off because of the low hanging stuff.

 

[Benny17441]

It looks like the PO may have used it to attach or strap something to the trailer.

 

[capta]

I'm with those who think the PO was messing with your mind.

 

[LloydB]

A closer look at the images supplied to us by skipper you will see that the zip ties were tied around the upward folding channel so as to stop the trailer wiring from dragging on the ground. My guess is that whoever did that didn't know trailer tongue folded that way either because they only saw it locked from opening as it is. Please stay on the sidewalk I'm paranoid enough already.