Telescoping Trailer Tongue Extension Question

mkirsch wrote:
You guys missed one thing:

He wants a TELESCOPING tongue, not just an extended tongue.

I'm not sure such a thing is even legal. You'd have to check state laws on trailer construction.

For sure you'd need at least two ways to lock the tongue in position. It would be counterproductive to have a lone locking pin fall out or fail in a hard stop, sending the trailer into the rear of the camper.

For sure you'd want the slip fit to be TIGHT. You don't want it rattling around on you back there. Of course then a little bit of rust will cause the telescoping tubes to seize tight.

For sure you'd want the extension to be STOUT. Big beefy square tubing, but also be aware that with the stout come the pounds. It will definitely be heavier than a receiver extension, that's for sure.

You are correct that in addition to an extended tongue I want a telescoping tongue in order to configure the trailer for when I have the camper on or off or while it is in storage. If it wasn't for paying to store by the foot, I would likely just have a 3 foot extension permanently welded to the trailer.

As for legality, there are already swing away trailer tongues on the market to make it easier to store a boat or trailer in a shorted garage. Not certain where this might fit within that realm but it certainly seems like it's a pretty close extension of that concept.

Agreed on having multiple pins to keep the extension secured. I'm currently thinking of having at least two pull pins (with locks) as well as chains or cables under tension that will go from the tongue back to the trailer on the sides to give it some lateral tension and stability (much like the super truss has chains).