Fulton hinged tongue kit

[Shannonpn]

The snow will be flying here soon....I have the 2009 magic tilt trailer for my Sun Cat...does anyone know what size Fulton bolt on hinge kit is required for this, or have they had one installed....I am really hoping to save at least two feet.  I have searched this site and it appears that this will get me just under twenty feet as per a posting from NEMO..  Garage is twenty feet deep with 9' by 7' door....I just want to order the correct sized one and then have my guy at the shop install.

[Zephyros]

I did my own, this can be a DYI job if your are mechanically inclined. It is based on your trailer tongue frame size, the section where your coupler attaches. My 2007 Performance brand trailer for my Suncat, the brand before Com-Pac went to Magic-Tilt, has a 3" x 3" tongue section, the pictures of Suncat Magic-Tilts look to be the same but you need to measure yours. If it is different simply look up the different size kits available on fulton.com, they make them for all standard sizes. Here are the part numbers I used for my conversion.

P/N#  FHDPB330301 - Fulton Fold-Away Coupler Hinge Kit for 3" x 3" Tongue - Bolt On - Up to 5,000 lbs
https://www.etrailer.com/Folding-Tongue/Fulton/FHDPB330301.html
P/N#  DL13897 - Trailer Coupler 2" Ball 3" Channel Tongue (5,000 lbs.) by Dutton-Lainson (I wanted to replace the old coupler)
https://www.etrailer.com/Straight-Tongue-Trailer-Coupler/Dutton-Lainson/DL13897.html
P/N#  DM9523055 - Demco Straight Safety Cables - 14,000 lbs - 64" Long - Qty 2 (nice, flexible extended safety cables, select the right length for your needs, also look at Roadmaster brand. I only wanted straight cables, not coiled).
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Demco/DM9523055.html
Galvanized Steel Tubing 3 inch tall x 3 inch wide 3/16 inch Thickness Cut to Order (this is the material I ordered for the extension):
https://www.sturdybuiltonline.com/Galvanized-Steel-Tubing-3-inch-tall-x-3-inch-wide-316-inch-Thickness-Cut-to-Order_p_1727.html
Cabela's Trailer Walk Plate
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Trailer-Walk-Plates/701657.uts
Apollo 1/2 in. x 2 ft. White PEX Pipe - Model # APPW212  (in store sales rack, pre-cut pieces, use cut pieces as spacers on the mounting bolts, between the two bolt straps)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1-2-in-x-2-ft-White-PEX-Pipe-APPW212/301541216?keyword=301541216&semanticToken=20330000011_20191002090819477975_fxp4+20330000011+%3E++cnn%3A%7B0%3A0%7D+cnr%3A%7B7%3A0%7D+cnb%3A%7B9%3A1%7D+st%3A%7B301541216%7D%3Ast+oos%3A%7B0%3A1%7D+dln%3A%7B4295174799%7D+qu%3A%7B301541216%7D%3Aqu
Tie Down Engineering 86276 Marine Shackle (Qty 2, use these to secure the walk plate, then use the straps that come with the walk plate below the safety cables, the rounded edges are more friendly to the coated safety cables, and then these secure the Pex pipe spacers and create the open section that will carry the safety cables)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XBENTK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Trailer Wiring: You will need to extend the trailer wiring the length of the new extension, good time to buy a new pigtail and have a fresh connector while your at it. Or, I just replaced all the trailer lights with LED ones and a completely new wiring harness.

Check the base manufacture's part number searching for the best price on the web, I paid $77.18 for the hinge kit at eTrailer last year, right now they list it at $138.59.

Here are photos of my finished product, a 3 1/2 foot extension, along with the first photo which shows the tongue with the coupler removed. If you have the v-bracket, which was a footrest for the trailer when no tongue jack is used, just cut it off to make room for the Fulton hinge to slide on. While your doing this, you can also cut the tongue shorter if you want an overall shorter trailer, but keep in mind, I simply mounted my hinge over the existing coupler mounting holes, this way, you can unbolt the extension and bolt the coupler back to the original holes, better for resale if the future owner does not want the folding tongue. Also, I used the existing rear coupler hole to attach the new safety cables.

[Shannonpn]

Thanks for all the information.  I have ordered its 3 by 3 size for me. Shop says they'll charge me an hour labour.  I hadn't thought about the extension and the platform before now.  It's a bit of a tightrope walk so that might be something to look into. 

Alot of information and help from people on this site has been nice for a newbie like me. Thanks again!

[Shannonpn]

Ok had hinge installed and what an adventure getting it into the garage.  Its in and had about an inch to spare in height.  Thanks again Tom.  I have yet to hear anyone say they bult their garage too big...a great 1st summer with the sun cat.  All the advice from this site helped immensely.