Do you like slide under ramps?

Charlesaf3 · Mar 15, 2011

Wondering what people think of certain ramp designs. I'm drawn to the idea of a skid steer/car hauler trailer like the PJ CC 6" for my needs.

Seems like the main issue with some of the designs is the ramps stick up in the air, which looks like a lot of drag for long trips (gas is getting crazy) and more importantly - blocks the back.

The main problem with skid steer trailers seems to be forking things on and off them. If I can get pallets on the back, that would solve that. But obviously can't have ramps in the way.

So the solution to the problem seems to be the ramps that slip under the trailer. This seems pretty rare out there for some reason - am I missing why they are bad?

Marveltone · Mar 15, 2011

My Dad's car trailer has the slide under ramps. It seems that at least half the things we use the trailer for we don't even use the ramps, so they're completely out of the way. I like that little feature. The only time they ever get frustrating is on the rare occasion we need to get something real heavy loaded from soft ground. The trailer pitches so much the ramps can come detached while you're trying to load! This is not an issue on firm ground, nor would it be an issue if they were actually connected to the trailer, but then again, they'd be in the way half the time. :confused2:

Just my :2cents:

Joe

QRTRHRS · Mar 15, 2011

Marveltone said:
My Dad's car trailer has the slide under ramps. It seems that at least half the things we use the trailer for we don't even use the ramps, so they're completely out of the way. I like that little feature. The only time they ever get frustrating is on the rare occasion we need to get something real heavy loaded from soft ground. The trailer pitches so much the ramps can come detached while you're trying to load! This is not an issue on firm ground, nor would it be an issue if they were actually connected to the trailer, but then again, they'd be in the way half the time. :confused2:

Just my :2cents:

Joe

Would blocks help? I had a beaver tail with slide in ramps. I would lay some blocks under the back of the trailer to minimize the deck dropping and stabilize it. Keep an inch or so of air space between the trailer and the blocks so you don't get too hung up once the weight is on.

Re: Ramps. Only issue with the ramps is that they were kind of heavy and awkward to slide in on the trailer I had. Nothing you could not live with if you did not want the ramps in the way.

Your other optioin would be a tilt deck.

countrybumpkin · Mar 15, 2011

My car hauler has the rear slide in ramps, and have to say I really like them, the ramps are built into the frame of the trailer, just pull a spring loaded pin and slid them out, no lifting or hooking on the back of the trailer. I also had heavy duty stabilizer jacks mounted to each rear corner of the trailer, they really help out a lot to keep the trailer from trying to squat when loading something.

dodge man · Mar 15, 2011

I've got slide in ramps on my car hauler style trailer. They are easy to use, the only thing I don't like about them is the weight. They are pretty heavy, but not so bad you can't manhandle them around.

Diamondpilot · Mar 15, 2011

I have slide in ramps on my 18' trailer and would not go any other way. Stand up ramps just get in the way on my buddies trailer trying to unload pallets, haul long lumber, ect. They are the only way to go in my opinion.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Mar 15, 2011

I should make something clear. On my trailer my 5' long slide in ramps slide in from the rear of the trailer, not the side. Simply pull the pin, slide them out, lift the trailer end 3" to put in the channel and you are done. Very simple and easy on the back. I can put them in and out in about 20 seconds each max.

Chris

tractorboy5500 · Mar 15, 2011

When I built a 22' gooseneck, I made it where I can slide in the ramps under the trailer right into the rear bumper, that way I can haul things sticking out over the trailer. As you were saying you wanted to have that extra 2' of dove flate for loading things from the rear, I been there too, where I needed the 2'dove laying flat. If I still had it I might of made something to were I could do that like a pop-up, but i would of made it a foot longer were it would be hanging over a foot. I did take all of this into thought, but i bought a new trailer instead, 30' GN with a center pop up and i needed the heavyer axles, so I paid the price and made the wife mad and got it. But like i told the wife, at least I am safe and legal. If you have any welding and cutting skills, you will think of something, I seem to do that alot now, building thing from scratch. Good luck

Charlesaf3 · Mar 15, 2011

Thanks, great advice as usual, seems to be what I thought. I'd really like the ability to have things hang over the back, and to fork stuff on the back easily (takes away some of the lowboy downside)

Thinking that with a lowboy I don't really need a dovetail, does that make sense? Its one of the reasons for going the lowboy route

Diamondpilot · Mar 15, 2011

Charlesaf3 said:
Thanks, great advice as usual, seems to be what I thought. I'd really like the ability to have things hang over the back, and to fork stuff on the back easily (takes away some of the lowboy downside)

Thinking that with a lowboy I don't really need a dovetail, does that make sense? Its one of the reasons for going the lowboy route

My 18' low boy does not have a Dovetail. I would not want one on a low boy. I have loaded everything with the lowest being 2 different Corvettes which are as about as low as you can get and did not have any issues but it was close.

Chris

Charlesaf3 · Mar 15, 2011

Thanks, makes sense. Went out and measured my pickup wheels - looks like I need a minimum of 80" between fenders if I ever wanted to haul my own truck. Seems pretty doable (and hopefully unlikely... )

MillWeld · Mar 16, 2011

I'm glad to read these responses, too. I built 5' slide in ramps for my trailer but haven't a chance to use them yet. They're 80 lbs each so any handling more than hooking them on the trailer is quite an effort.

lostcause · Mar 16, 2011

i have tip up ramps on my trailer, and they do occasionally interfere with the load i haul. occasionally i have to unpin them and haul them home in the truck body, or strapped to the load on the trailer. i've thought about ramps underneath, but always decide against it, but only for one reason: i use my trailer in all seasons.

though generally not as much in the winter, i do have to make those occasional trips. on past trailers where i have had with ramps underneath, they tend to get covered with slush and ice. all the junk that sprays up from the tires coats them, and at times they are so covered and frozen that they won't slide out. you have to thrash and pound on them to get the ice to break enough to clear the crossmembers of the trailer when pulling them out.

certainly not a problem for most, but i live in a rural area where some roads will stay messy for most of the year.

jwstewar · Mar 16, 2011

I used to borrow my cousin's 16' trailer with side slide in ramps. Since his didn't have the dovetail, they had to be longer. Since they were longer, they were built heavier. It was all I could do to move them around to the rear of the trailer and get them put in place. My back would hurt for 3 or 4 days after moving them around when I would use the trailer. The ramps just kind of "laid" in the carrier. Kind of hard to get in and out, but he actually had one bounce out and was sticking out of the side of the trailer and he almost took out another car. He didn't realize they could do it, but now he ties them in (well actually he doesn't use that trailer much he bought a tilt deck). Now that I bought my trailer it is a 16'+2' dovetail. It has ramps that slide from the rear. Since it has the dovetail the ramps are shorter and lighter. They are a piece of cake to pull a spring loaded pin slide them out, lift the trailer end up, and in place or pick them up and slide them back in their holders securely locked in place with the pin.

JB4310 · Mar 16, 2011

I've got both slide in and stand up ramps, I like the stand up ramps for equipment trailer, it is an equipment trailer, that needs the ramps everytime I use it. the spring loaded ramps are fast and easy.
They come off easily if needed, but I have never needed them off.

Don't see how ramps would interfere with using forks? unless you're talking about plopping a pallet on the tail of the trailer from the rear? Can't picture a scenario where that would be practical. I load and unload pallets from the sides, or drive right up the ramps with a pallet.

Another benifit to stand up/drop down ramps is mine have blocking built in so no need for jacks on the rear of the trailer. which is a big deal with any heavy load going onto the trailer.

My dump trailer has slide in ramps for when you need to use it for rolling equipment, That's great, they are out of the way and unused most of the time I use that trailer.
Stowed ramps are a royal PITA IMO, anyone who says other wise, makes me wonder?? I think it all about the looks.

If I was hauling a show car I would not want stand up ramps, wouldn't look to sporty at a show.

I've never seen contractors with skid steers on anything but tilt trailer or one with stand up ramps, maybe some week end warriors, but not someone doing it on a regular basis.

JB

Diamondpilot · Mar 16, 2011

JB4310 said:
I've got both slide in and stand up ramps, I like the stand up ramps for equipment trailer, it is an equipment trailer, that needs the ramps everytime I use it. the spring loaded ramps are fast and easy.
They come off easily if needed, but I have never needed them off.

Don't see how ramps would interfere with using forks? unless you're talking about plopping a pallet on the tail of the trailer from the rear? Can't picture a scenario where that would be practical. I load and unload pallets from the sides, or drive right up the ramps with a pallet.

Another benifit to stand up/drop down ramps is mine have blocking built in so no need for jacks on the rear of the trailer. which is a big deal with any heavy load going onto the trailer.

My dump trailer has slide in ramps for when you need to use it for rolling equipment, That's great, they are out of the way and unused most of the time I use that trailer.
Stowed ramps are a royal PITA IMO, anyone who says other wise, makes me wonder?? I think it all about the looks.

If I was hauling a show car I would not want stand up ramps, wouldn't look to sporty at a show.

I've never seen contractors with skid steers on anything but tilt trailer or one with stand up ramps, maybe some week end warriors, but not someone doing it on a regular basis.

JB

What you have to remember is with a contractor using a trailers the trailer usually has one job, move a Skid Steer or Backhoe to the job site.

For someone like me I could care less how it looks, it needs to be practical. I haul wood, pallets, cars, trucks, tractors, boats, loose material like mulch, ect. Stand up ramps just got in the way for me. Had them on another trailer. We need a trailer that does just about everything.

For the task I listed above nothing beats a low boy, flat deck, 82" wide car hauler type trailer with slide in ramps. Lets be honest here. I use my trailer maybe 12 times a year. That is probably more than most. 1/2 the time I need the ramps and half I do not. So pulling a pin, sliding out the under trailer rear stored ramps, and lifting the one end 3" to get them in the channel
is not a big deal.

Now if I were a contractor toting only my BH and putting it on and off the trailer 2 times a day I would want stand up ramps for the ease of uses. For the average home owner like me what I have is tough to beat. This is from trial and error of owning other trailers.

Chris

powerstroke444e · Mar 16, 2011

I have slide in ramps on my 30foot gooseneck and bumper pull 16foot and I really like them 90%time but when it is snowy and slushy i ussually leave them on the deck so they don't freeze in the holder. The one trailer I have with fold up ramps always seems that the ramps are in the way or I almost can fold them but a something is in the way.

JB4310 · Mar 16, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
Now if I were a contractor toting only my BH and putting it on and off the trailer 2 times a day I would want stand up ramps for the ease of uses. For the average home owner like me what I have is tough to beat. This is from trial and error of owning other trailers.

Chris

Yeah, I saw where OP mentioned skid steer and just focused on that.
My equipment trailer is 20 feet long so there's enough room where the ramps have not been in the way yet.

JB.

Hematite · Mar 17, 2011

Yes, ramps stored under the trailer are wonderful if you love RUST. The more rusty they get the more difficult they are to use. They also do a great job of gouging driveways because of reduced undertrailer clearance at the rear.

grnspot110 · Mar 17, 2011

I did, until they got too heavy to handle!

Mine were 5' extra heavy duty, to hold an 8,000# tractor, at first they were no problem. Then, after cancer treatments, they just got too heavy for me. I went back to the builder & had them put on a ramp/gate. Coil springs on the pins, then later I added garage door springs to the sides. Can always put on a winch, if needed. ~~ grnspot