Trailer Tongue/Bumper Interaction

[FRC2987]

Our team is having a hard time figuring out how to design the rear end of our robot. We would like to have a design where the back side of our robot is shorter than our front. Two rules seem to make this design very limited. R08-I states that all exterior corners of the BUMPER PERIMETER must have bumpers. Also, R18-E states that the first contact between TRAILER and ROBOT is to be BUMPER to BUMPER. So, in order to not have any exterior corners and comply with R18-E, there is a minimum length that the rear of your ROBOT must be. Correct? Our team was wondering if the REAR-Most side of our ROBOT could be only 7" long (the same length as the hitch) thus not creating an exterior angle which would need to have a BUMPER on it? Otherwise the Rear-Most side of every teams ROBOT would have to be some minimum length, 2X the arc of the TRAILER tongue. Can I get some clarification on this? Thank you!

[GDC]

You seem to be interpreting the rule correctly. The design of the rear of the robot is constrained. Without the bumper-to-bumper contact specified, the TRAILER's tongue would be vulnerable.