Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer

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ZelieSam
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2016/03/18 23:40:57 (permalink)

Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer

Has anyone installed or used one of these swing-arm kits?  Seems like only one company makes them:
 
http://www.fultonperformance.com/products/trailer-couplers/fold-away-couplers/fold-away-bolt-on-hinge-kits/cWx03ACJNXPp%7ChOHX!BOfG2KeKrpSkgMbKEw1q5s0BM= 
 
I need to extend my trailer tongue and I thought this would be a good way to go.  Under $80 shipped from Amazon and the reviews are 200+ to 8- give or take.  Anyway, just wondering if anyone had any experience.  
#1

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    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/19 08:05:05 (permalink)
    I installed just the hinge on my trailer so we could swing the tongue out of the way to close garage door. Never had any trouble, worked great! But aways double check pin in hinge to make sure it's secured.
    #2
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/19 08:31:00 (permalink)
    10-4 on checking the pin............  nothing worse then looking in your rear view mirror and seeing your trailer trying to pass you!

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #3
    ZelieSam
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/19 09:46:45 (permalink)
    Yeah that's not a big deal to add to the trailer checklist.  I already double check the chains, lock, lights and tires on every pull.  Never had any problems myself (taps wood) other than a flat tire or two, but trailers are the devil for sure.  
    #4
    ZelieSam
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/26 23:48:38 (permalink)
    Got the new boat trailer cut off.  About 27" from the coupler.


     
    Bit of a PITA to keep from cutting the wires.  But we managed it.  If you look top/left you'll see a power hacksaw that my dad rehabbed out of a trash bin.  Clumsy and loud, but saves you a long session with a hacksaw.  
     
    I kept the boat half of the hinge to drill and fasten and sent the tongue home with my dad.  He's going to grind off the welded plate for the broken swivel jack (that I'll be replacing with a new kit) and use the industrial drill press to make the holes.  Will add a couple pics when I get it back together.  
     
    #5
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/27 00:00:27 (permalink)
    OMG you amputated the end of your tongue, that's gotta hurt............  10-4???

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
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    ZelieSam
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/31 13:23:30 (permalink)
    Done.  What a gigantic PITA.  Those nuts were crimped so that they won't come off, which made them VERY hard to tighten.  Anyway, here are a couple pics.  Tongue redone, hinge installed, new trailer jack installed.  That was pretty easy... 5 mins of effort or so.  

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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/03/31 15:05:30 (permalink)
    COOL..........  A electric trailer jack.
     
     
    Lookin good buddy, Crappie season gettin closer!!   

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
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    chasmo
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/04/27 17:58:11 (permalink)
    Wish I had seen this when you started. These are great and makes a nice step into the bow when partialy folded. I used a sawzall to cut the tongue. I used a "step drill" to drill the holes once I punched the loacation with the transfer punch. My wife timed me drilling the 16 holes at 14 minutes. Used LPS for lubricant. Held the nuts with box end wrench and drove the bolts up tight with a cordless impact. One the easiest installation I have encountered. Once out of the garage for the winter I replace the hitch pin with a 5/8" bolt and ny-loc nut. Don't have to remember any pins that way.

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    ZelieSam
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/04/27 21:45:17 (permalink)
    Having trailered it now post install I have to agree that it is very nice.  Goes in the garage super easy when you don't worry about the tongue.  Just pull the pin and boom, fold out of the way.  I'd do it again and in fact... I will be installing the second kit soon on my big boat.  
    #10
    Trout About
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/04/30 22:45:20 (permalink)
    My tongue is short enough that I never needed a swing away.  Just got a newer tow vehicle and the lift gate almost hits the front on the boat when I open it.  This piece looks like it would be the perfect way to extend my trailer to give the extra room I need.  I'll be ordering the hinge soon along with a 2' piece of 3"x3" tubing and extensions for my chains and wires.
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    chasmo
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    Re: Fulton hinge kit for boat trailer 2016/05/01 02:02:31 (permalink)
    Trout About
     I'll be ordering the hinge soon along with a 2' piece of 3"x3" tubing and extensions for my chains and wires.



    This conversion adds about 3 inches overall to the trailer tongue length so an extension piece may not be needed. I moved my chains back behind the bracket and needed 48" chains. I bought 2 ea 48" chains from e-trailer. Made wiring long enough that it folds with the tongue. Used wire wrap from McMaster-Carr to keep it neat. As i stated above, a "step drill" bit works great. I used an Irwin brand but a HF el-cheapo worked fine for my brothers install. Mc-Carr sells sq tubing also if you do need an extension. Hope this helps.

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    We have met the enemy and it is US.... Pogo 1970 

     
    #12
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