Making Ramps for a trailer

[dmiller]

Any input on ways to make or not make ramps. Trailer deck is 20 inches from the ground. 20 ft long. Never know what you will haul on a trailer but I do intend to use it to haul a 61 Chevy 3/4 ton and a JD A wide front with a loader (probably with a #5 mower attached sometimes).
Ideas, suggestions, or "don't do it this way"??? Main function of the trailer is small square hay bales so don't want to do anything that will impede that.
 

[dmiller]

here's the picture that should've been on the first message. Dial-up!!!

 

[thebigyellowtruck]

For my flatbed trailer there is a piece of 3/8" thick 4" wide angle iron that runs across the back. I bought a set of aluminum 8' long semi trailer car hauler ramps. I used grade 8 bolts to attach pieces of angle iron to each ramp so that the angle iron on the trailer and ramps interlock with each other. I load my AC WD on the trailer nicely with these ramps. They're also long enough so that I can use them for a small car too. Car hauler ramps should be able to handle almost anything you can throw at them.
 

[scotc]

If you put on a set of flip-ups, you will have a tailboard for your idiot cubes. I'd make them long enough that you don't have more than about a 25 degree angle up them.
 

[showcrop]

You can have a pair that I have for $100.00 They are about 4 1/2 ft long made of 3" angle stock will easily support 5,000 lbs.
 

[dmiller]

How close are you to Billings Montana? I'm about 40 miles from there.
 

[showcrop]

I am in southern NH. Just head out for a New Years Day drive!
 

[charles todd]

I never thought about car hauler ramps... That is an idea!

CT
 

[thebigyellowtruck]

maybe this will help you to see how I use my ramps car hauler ramps with my trailer.


 

[dmiller]

The trailer came with a set almost like that, they now look more like a horshoe. The tractor was just too heavy for them???
Also I know giving loader rides is a bad idea, this was more of a photo op, than a ride.
I estimate the tractor, rear weights, and loader at around 8,000.

 

[mkirsch]

In a word, overkill.

You've got a flat-deck trailer there with no beavertail, so your ramps have to be longer.

My recently-acquired trailer's ramps are framed out of 4" steel C-channel on edge, with heavy angle cross pieces. Even those are bent a little.

I need to make a center ramp for narrow front tractors, so I plan on replicating the original ramps.
 

[caterpillar guy]

You will need some sort of support for under the rear of the trailer or get a big surprise when you drive up your new ramps.
 

[dmiller]

I think I'm going to go with 6 feet long, made of 3 inch channel iron, 2 runners on each ramp with 2*2by 3/16 angle to make cross supports every 8 inches (by my estimate each ramp should be about 70 lbs). Make them attach with angle iron lips like a car hauler trailer and have a shelf for them under the deck when hauling. I think I'm going to go with a square tubing (reciever hitch type thing) that can be hooked up as an adjustable support on the rear corners. Time table has changed and something has come up so I will not get this done for about 2 weeks but will post pictures when done.
 

[mkirsch]

On an 8000lb tractor, I don't think 3" channel is going to cut it over such a long distance. Please be careful when backing the tractor up on the first time.
 

[caterpillar guy]

I have 4" channel iron about 9-10" long for my stepdeck. It is about 38" high. They work great and will load a 1466 IH with out a problem. I have loaded backhoes and dozers(D-5 Cat) with them. If you do load tracked equipment throw a couple old tires on them for the tracks to bite on. If you are using standard weight 3" channel for 6" they will be plenty heavy for what you want to do.