mounting trailer center beam

[crankbait09]

this is for a jon boat

I am replacing my round steel trailer pipe that runs from the rear wheels all the way to the tongue of the trailer. I am replacing it with a 3" square steel tube.

the existing tube is held to the trailer by a couple "u" brackets, one with two bolts each, and what looks to be a couple spot welds to keep it together.

when i remove the existing tube, and place the new square tube on the frame, what is the best way to attach it? I was thinking of running two grade 8, 1/2" bolts, through the top of the steel tube down to the frame. then where the beam meets the trailer, id throw a couple spot welds there to help.

refer to the image below for a rough sketch.

will i have enough support doing it this way?

 

[huntinfool]

Hard to tell from the description and pic, but a couple of bolts and welds should hold.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Completely welded would be good. If you do bolt it in have the bolt go thru a piece of black pipe, galvanized pipe or gas pipe inside the new tongue. This well keep the new tongue from being deformed when the bolt is tightened.