i have a 2005 Carson 16' wood bed carhauler with two 3500lb axles. i need a little more length to fit two Utv's. i was thinking of adding a 27" dovetail to the rear of the trailer. if i do this i will have the same dimension from rear of trailer to rear axle as to the front of the deck to the front axle.

the reason for the dovetail is to get the length is need plus it will be easier load. it will look like it was there and not a hack extension. i will be using the same material as the trailer which is 5" channel 3/16" thick, with fish plates on the inside and outside of the splice.

this 27" extension will make the deck of the trailer centered over the axles, with the 4' tongue in the front. will this be enough length in front to make sure the trailer track correctly? or should i add to the front and redo the tongue?


deck overall now is 16'-4" and will be 18'-7" plus the tongue.

Assuming the work is well done, shouldn't be a problem. You still need to try and keep the weight over the axles and not out on the extension. You might have a tendancy to drag the back of the trailer under certain conditions. More so with the dovetail. I wouldn't worry about the front. 27" isn't that much to add.

yeah on the dovetail i think i will try to keep 14" clear off the ground which will give me a 4" drop in the dovetail. i have some heavy duty casters i can weld to the underside if it drags too much.

It should track the same with the extension unloaded. The key is to make sure when loaded the weight is distributed properly. Maybe put the UTV's back to back with the engines in the center.

Be careful with adding as it will be difficult to obtain enough tongue weight to make it tow well. I did 2 feet on my 16 ft trailer and added a gate and it is tongue light, have to put everything to the front and back the car in, still gets too light.

you could always move the axles after extending it too.

Also add weight to the tongue area if needed, or even sway bars, or both.

Try some water barrels at 1st. Then make it permanent if the water helped.

i have been wanting to add a low profile tool box or ammo can to keep my tie downs in. so maybe at the tongue would be a perfect spot to add some weight to offset the extension.

I would think seriously about adding permanent weight to the front like spare tires, perhaps a place for the ramps under the front side of the trailer if they are currently on the back. a generator rack, etc..

The tongue box is a great idea if the stuff that goes in it is always in it.

I think some people use 50 gallons of water and 50 gallons of gas and ice chests and wood up front to add tongue weight which is great on the way to glamis, but on the way home, the wood is gone, the water is gone, the gas is gone, and the ice chests are empty and now there is not enough weight on the tongue.

Just thinking out loud because on my 20' when I have just my buggy on it--no quads--there is not enough weight on the tongue unless I get creative after the wood, fuel and water is gone.

lets see a build thread with pictures! I'm thinking about doing the same to mine. I need room for two side x sides.

Why not build a second deck level that bolts into the stake pockets? I've seen a bunch of people do this (the rack sits over the front of a buggy or other ATVs) and it seems to work well for them.

Exactly how I would solve the issue!!! But the 27" should not be any issue but tongue weight, so a nice tool box for weight would be great!!!

i will post pics as i do it but will not get started for a couple of weeks.

yes i will be adding a tongue toolbox with a cheapo jack and some tools to change a tire. also i might put the ramps up front to add tongue weight. also adding e-track and buying some retractable ratchet straps. i picked up the 5" x 1/4" wall channel iron today. need to gather the rest of the materials up this week.