Wood Splitter Trailer Bender

I reversed with my trailer and didnt see it turning. The car came to a stop with a horrible sound. The tongue that connects the car and the trailer was bent. I felt very stupid.

Wood splitter

Metal cases from Snowmobile shop

Drill

Welding helmet

I thought, how can I bend it back? First, I tried an idea that I regretted later. I reversed the trailer and made it turn the other way instead. To try to bend it back. This mostly damaged the back of the Transporter, and did´t help much. Close to where I stay is a place that sell snowmobiles. They come in metal cases, and it is free for all to take scrap metal there.

I have a wood splitter in the yard, and thought it might work to bend the trailer if I build a metal resistance. The metal cases from the snowmobile shop already had nice corners, and I could take nuts and bolts from them to make new shapes.

I built a frame like a capital E but without the middle pin. I made enough space so the wood splitter could squeeze the frame and the trailer tongue together, to bend it back.

When everything was set, I put on a welding helmet, incase something would come flying. The sharp part on the splitter I covered with a piece of wood, so it wouldn´t be destroyed. I started the wood splitter, and and the trailer started making a cracking sound. But it didn´t break. Instead of bending back into a straight tongue, it got a vague S form.

I understand that the tongue has a break mechanism inside, and that the S shape is stopping it from moving forwards and backwards. I took the trailer to roadworthy, and they did not approve it. But it works to use it to transport stuff short distances. I hope this can help someone.