Stick out your tongue!

 

In the photo above, Big Trill's tongue hitch arrangement can be seen as it was when I bought her. This set-up allowed for her to come in contact with the longer of my kayaks when traveling, a situation both dangerous and destructive. The solution was to lengthen her tongue and so I got a local machine shop to do exactly that.

 

Here you can see how the old hitch was removed and a new section was welded in. In fact this photo isn't Big Trill, but was the template I took to the shop to show them was what required.

 

Here is Big Trill's new longer tongue. As you can see, I also replaced the original jack as it was becoming somewhat cranky and who needs that on the extended trips to come. It turned out the old ball hitch was very much worn and on its last legs. Maybe this trailer did travel to both coasts after all, and maybe it did so more than once...!