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The winch was attached to the boat... woops! The boat was also touching the rubber V block... double woops!!
I forgot the winch was installed for when the boat is floating only. That was enough to bend the bar up. With the boat supported from under the rails, the bar now shows as bent the other way. It's basicially flexing whichever way the wind blows.
Yes it is a POS. It is half the origional thickness at the top and bottom of the bar, running lengthwise at least 3 feet from the open end. 4.5 years and halfway rusted through.
Tongue weight may be to blame in part, heck anything is possible. I have been loading anything of weight on top of or behind the axle and waiting for wiggle. Maybe thats another reason why I hear of folks who neither winch up or macbump their bow into the V block. Maybe that is the correct place and not at the V. It would make sense to put the boat into the V, but heck, nothing else about this trailer makes sense. Maybe they know that is the best way to keep that rusted bar straight. (Note sarcasm)

I think I'll have my neighbor chop the brake buddy and ladder off the 3X3 and replace it with a 3x4. Then I can start over with a stronger POS that isn't halfway rusted through.

Replacing that tube is probably your only option. While you could reinforce it, it's still rotted and it'll be just a matter of time before it lets go. If you're going to do the work, might as well do it right.

And a length of HSS 4x3x3/16 should be easy to find. If the coupler is welded on, like mine was, grind off the welds and bolt it on for easy repairs in the future. Mine was welded even in the bolt holes, but I tossed it and put a new one on when I replaced the entire brake system. And I mounted it with bolts.

Glenn at the machine shop wouldn't go as far to say the old bar was made with 3/16 thickness. I had about 1/16th left in the worst spots. He ground off the buddy and ladder, post, jack etc. and then welded it all back onto a 3x3x 1/4 inch thickness son! The bar only goes into the buddy about 4 inches, so he recommended welding instead of bolting it through.

The tube inside got about half a quart of primer, in 3 coats. The outside got 2 coats of black primer and 1 shiny. Last spray was this morning. The machine shop had it for about 24 hours and charged me a buck 50. Wish I had done this 2 months ago, but an awesome week was salvaged on land (and sand).

Erik

My structural tables only go to 3/16" for HSS, and mine is 3x3x3/16" (original steel trailer), so I assumed yours was too. But I'm glad you got that pole tongue replaced. Having that break in the middle on the road is nothing but bad, as the coupler, jack, ladder, and even the safety chains would all stay with the vehicle while the trailer goes its own way. Not good.