Homebuilt Typhoon Trailer Extension

[Ben Miller]

Anyone who's launched a Typhoon at a ramp knows that it can be kind of tricky, and you're probably going to get your shoes wet. I've been pondering how to make some sort of tongue extension for my trailer and this is what I came up with. I used it last night and it worked great! This is for launching/retrieval only, obviously, not for highway use. I'd estimate I spent about $100 on the parts and pieces--lumber, some fasteners, and trailer parts from etrailer.com. It stows pretty nicely on the trailer for transport and takes only a few minutes (and some logistics) to get it mounted or unmounted.

[Ben Miller]

Here are a couple more detail shots.

As far as parts go, I got the widest bolt-on trailer coupler I could find (within reason): 3". This almost fits over two layers of 2x construction lumber. I had to shave off about 1/8" or so from either side in order to slip it on. For the hitch ball, I got the longest shank I could find (3 3/8") so that when I mounted it to my lumber I could get as much thickness as possible.

The lumber is pressure-treated 2x6s, and a few 2x4 scraps I had lying around. It took three 8' boards to make the whole thing.

The trailer ends of the "legs" fit right up against the V of the trailer, so installing it is pretty simple. I prop up the trailer tongue with an automotive jack stand (I can't spin the handle for the tongue jack with the extension installed) and then the extension just slips on. The hitch ball gets locked into the trailer's coupler, and once the extension's coupler is on the car's hitch, gravity holds everything in place.