Fulton HDPB330101 Fold-Away Hinge Kit, Bolt On, 5,000 lbs. Capacity, 3 Inch x 3 Inch, Silver, Includes all mounting hardware

I bought this item because the front trailer beam for my boat was super long and required the boat to be stored at an angle in my garage. Now I don't have to, which allows the car to fit better. I wanted the boat in the garage for the snowy winter so I could work in it and fix it up. Great item, easy to install, good directions, and it feels solid.

I have a small 14' fishing boat in the garage and I got tired of walking around the tongue all the time. This seemed like the perfect solution and easy winter project. It took nearly 4' off the end, making it A LOT more compact when it folds back. Assuming this holds up, I would put this on any future boat I upgrade to.Installation was easy, just takes some time. I used an angle grinder with a cut blade to cut the circumference of the tongue. Took maybe 15 minutes. The drilling of the holes can take more time and requires good alignment of all the holes. You only get one shot. Take your time. All the bolts are on the top going down and bottom going up. They don't go all the way through from one side to the other, which seemed a little odd. Rather they are a bolt and nut on the inside, both top and bottom.Drilling the holes in the underside of the trailer side of the joint was a little awkward since you are drilling up, but not bad. One drill bit did make all the holes no problem. You need to file off burrs. After that you want to seal up the exposed steel to avoid future corrosion (holes and cut area). That took more time than anything else because I applied a coat of primer and then two coats of oil based paint, letting it dry in between. I repainted the whole tongue because I had some rust. Final installation was quick.Overall it seems solid. There are some small rubber bump stops in between the joint when it closes. Those don't look like they will hold up and I expect I'll need to create my own. When the joint is closed there's a little wiggle in the joint even with the rubber bump stops, but I don't think it's enough to be an issue. I haven't driven any major distances yet to see how it rattles or holds up over time. The pins and joints look solid, but the joint itself is die cast, so that's less strong. I don't think my boat is heavy enough to be any concern.You will need to move your spare tire location and trailer jack (most likely). You're not supposed to have these on the tongue portion. I had to relocate it. My boat is light so I could make the joint pretty far back from the hitch, pretty much as far back as it would allow. Heavier setups won't let you put the joint that far back. The instructions provide a chart for the maximum distance from the hitch to the joint based on trailer weight. You'll need to rewire the end, but not a big deal.

A must have for any trailer. Gives you that extra needed space. Install is a little time consuming but well worth it. Well made and works flawless.

Fantastic product! Superbly engineered. I can't believe I waited 12 years t figure out I could create so much useful space in my garage. I can now use my workbench again without moving my boat forward out the the garage.Be sure to measure your trailer tongue so you order the right Fulton hinge. They have all sorts of models, from bolt on to weld on. I chose bolt.You need to have a very sharp half inch drill bit. Fulton supplies everything else. Also good to have a torque wrench to set the bolts at proper tightness.They have two model numbers for the same products which seemed strange to me. So, I called Fulton. Turns out one model number means it all comes in a box. The other number means it is sold in bulk to distributors but will come to you all the same but in a sealed plastic bag. Same exact product. Just a packaging difference. Still, I chose a box.Instructions are clear. Plus Fulton has step by step videos on the internet to show you how. Better own or borrow a reciprocating saw, but a very easy cut. MEASURE CAREFULLY . . . and then cut. You don't want an "Oops" on your trailer tongue, eh?One thing you should know. You need to mount your safety chains, back from the area where you mount the hinge. That necessitates buying more chain . . . for me that was 2 four foot lengths. Well worth the extra cost. If you tried to save money by mounting your safety chains in front of the hinge, what happens if the hinge parts at 70 mph on the highway? (Do not take that question as a bad rap on the product.) I don't expect it will come apart at all. Just a very safety conscious guy. The hinge itself is a very substantial piece of equipment. I have no worries with it at all.Took an evening to do the job. Not a mechanic. Just handy with tools. Took my time and enjoyed the process. Proud of the result. Order with confidence. (Full Disclosure: I don't work for Fulton or have stock in the company. I don't work for the company I bought this from. Just an honest review from a real customer. If I thought the product or the vender sucked, I'd tell you.)