Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Ray makes a really good point here - one that I hadn't even considered. I haven't talked to the factory about it, but after some reflection it seems obvious that no weight should be put on the tongue (as, for example, with the tongue jack) when the tongue is unlatched and swung open. Not only does ALL of the tongue weight (rather than half) come down on one side of the frame. But it twists the frame member sideways, in a direction that it is not designed to resist.
I have to admit I have done this myself, without even thinking. Pull the pin on the swing tongue and swing it around to the side. Then put the bogey wheel on the jackstem, crank the jack down to take the weight off the stabilizers, and move the trailer with the entire tongue weight on this out-of-position support. BAD BAD BOY! I won't do it again.
New rule, folks! If you have a swing tongue, NO WEIGHT ON IT unless the tongue is swung closed and pinned in travelling position! I just reviewed the Owners Manual, and it doesn't seem to say anything about this. But I bet it will ...
Having said all that, I have no idea whether this was the cause of PopBeaver's failure.
Bill
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Reading through this , are people using the scissor jacks to hold the weight? I thought they weren’t made for holding weight?
Also once you swing hitch over without weight I’m reading it’s still not a good idea to put the weight back down on electric hitch . So how do I utilize the swing hitch safely, think answer is hydraulic jacks under the frame the whole time (or some other way to prop up), do I have it right?