Trailer Repair

Dave M · 06-06-2012, 08:48 PM

Somebody backed into my boat trailer and put a crease in the middle of the tongue. It is no longer straight from hitch to main body of trailer. This is a heavy duty trailer that I bought 30 years ago. Is there somebody that does this kind of repair.

Thanks DM

Reilly · 06-07-2012, 04:57 AM

East Coast Welding, Rt 11 Gilford , see AL

VitaBene · 06-07-2012, 05:37 AM

Call Joe at the Trailer Outlet in Tilton. He has a repair shop there.

SAMIAM · 06-07-2012, 08:16 AM

I've dealt with him,VB and he is the BEST......went way above the call of duty for a repair on my boat trailer last year and he was very fair.

drifter · 06-07-2012, 08:34 AM

East Coast welding in Gilford did a great job patching my sail boat mast a few years back and was very reasonable.

LIforrelaxin · 06-07-2012, 09:03 AM

How is the Tounge attached to the main body of the trailer? is it welded. or bolted?

It might be as easy as getting a tongue replacement for the trailer.....

bigdog · 06-07-2012, 12:11 PM

I have to echo Reilly's commnet about recommending 'East Coast Welding',
in Gilford.

I had to have two new stanchion posts, welded under my bunk boards, with brackets, on both sides of trailer. After they were done and painted, the trailer looked like new !

Would go back to them again for future repairs (hopefully not soon ! )

Bigdog

VitaBene · 06-08-2012, 06:59 AM

Great to see another option with East Coast Welding- I had never heard of them and I need a good welder every once in a while!

Dave M · 09-12-2012, 07:06 AM

I called Joe at Trailer Outlet and he wanted to replace the whole tongue. Didn't want to do that because it may need a new hitch and transferring other pieces which would add to the cost.
I talked to Al at East Coast Welding and he mentioned either straighten or cutting the tongue. Brought trailer down and he couldn't straighten, just to much bend in the tongue. He cut the tongue and moved the winch assembly the amount he cut out. Took him 2 days to complete. Was able to pick up at my convience(after hours). Brought trailer to cottage and found there was more damage than I originally saw. The rollar brackets on the swivel part of trailer was bent ninty degrees. Brought down both pieces last Thursday and it was done in a day. Picked up on way up Friday and my trailer was ready to go Saturday.
Al was easy to talk to and he mentioned that he fixes trailers, skegs, pontoon boats, etc. This is a handy man to have around. I'd use him in the future for all my welding projects. His price was very reasonable and it was 1/3 the price of replacing the whole tongue.

Thanks to the Forum members for your suggestions.

Dave M

06-06-2012, 08:48 PM	#1
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Trailer Repair Somebody backed into my boat trailer and put a crease in the middle of the tongue. It is no longer straight from hitch to main body of trailer. This is a heavy duty trailer that I bought 30 years ago. Is there somebody that does this kind of repair. Thanks DM Attached Images

06-07-2012, 08:34 AM	#5
drifter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	trailer repair East Coast welding in Gilford did a great job patching my sail boat mast a few years back and was very reasonable.

06-07-2012, 09:03 AM	#6
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,862 Thanks: 1,035 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	How is the Tounge attached to the main body of the trailer? is it welded. or bolted? It might be as easy as getting a tongue replacement for the trailer..... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

06-07-2012, 12:11 PM	#7
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,443 Thanks: 339 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Trailer repair. I have to echo Reilly's commnet about recommending 'East Coast Welding', in Gilford. I had to have two new stanchion posts, welded under my bunk boards, with brackets, on both sides of trailer. After they were done and painted, the trailer looked like new ! Would go back to them again for future repairs (hopefully not soon ! ) Bigdog

09-12-2012, 07:06 AM	#9
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Trailer Repair - update I called Joe at Trailer Outlet and he wanted to replace the whole tongue. Didn't want to do that because it may need a new hitch and transferring other pieces which would add to the cost. I talked to Al at East Coast Welding and he mentioned either straighten or cutting the tongue. Brought trailer down and he couldn't straighten, just to much bend in the tongue. He cut the tongue and moved the winch assembly the amount he cut out. Took him 2 days to complete. Was able to pick up at my convience(after hours). Brought trailer to cottage and found there was more damage than I originally saw. The rollar brackets on the swivel part of trailer was bent ninty degrees. Brought down both pieces last Thursday and it was done in a day. Picked up on way up Friday and my trailer was ready to go Saturday. Al was easy to talk to and he mentioned that he fixes trailers, skegs, pontoon boats, etc. This is a handy man to have around. I'd use him in the future for all my welding projects. His price was very reasonable and it was 1/3 the price of replacing the whole tongue. Thanks to the Forum members for your suggestions. Dave M

06-07-2012, 04:57 AM	#2
Reilly Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 191 Thanks: 695 Thanked 56 Times in 40 Posts	East Coast Welding, Rt 11 Gilford , see AL

The Following User Says Thank You to Reilly For This Useful Post:
Dave M (09-12-2012)

06-07-2012, 05:37 AM	#3
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,573 Thanks: 1,606 Thanked 1,629 Times in 837 Posts	Call Joe at the Trailer Outlet in Tilton. He has a repair shop there.

The Following User Says Thank You to VitaBene For This Useful Post:
Dave M (09-12-2012)

06-07-2012, 08:16 AM	#4
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	I've dealt with him,VB and he is the BEST......went way above the call of duty for a repair on my boat trailer last year and he was very fair.

The Following User Says Thank You to bigdog For This Useful Post:
Rangervx (06-13-2012)

06-08-2012, 06:59 AM	#8
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,573 Thanks: 1,606 Thanked 1,629 Times in 837 Posts	Great to see another option with East Coast Welding- I had never heard of them and I need a good welder every once in a while!

The Following User Says Thank You to Dave M For This Useful Post:
Belmont Resident (09-12-2012)