Dump trailer ramps strength for loading skid steer

[sandman2234]

I’ve tried that when I was trying not to bend my junky car hauler ramps. The problem is the trailer lowers as you back off of it and the leg holds the ramp up and it falls off the holder. The other problem as you already mentioned is the ground isn’t always level. Getting the height to work would be about impossible. The 3rd problem is it’s a dump trailer and the ramps half to be flat to store properly.

I was thinking about ramps that have are secured to the trailer or are part of the tailgate. The design Xfaxman showed would work, as it is close to what my Big Tex has. My other trailer has 3" channel with angle iron ramps and it has legs. The trick is to make the legs touch the ground when a heavy load rolls up on it, as the rear of the trailer squats, but before the ramps actually bend. The way we determined this was by using blocks under the ramps and rolling the backhoe up on it till the the trailer squated and the load was partially supported by the center legs. With removable ramps, it can probably still be done, using a leg similar to Xfaxman's picture. Always determine the length or height of the leg when the dovetail or rear of trailer is under a load, not sitting in the shop being welded up. Another way is to use two short pipes welded to the sides of each of the ramp and have a leg that drops into that pipe with a series of holes to allow for todays position and load. You would still need to leave the leg higher off the ground, so that when the load is only partially supported by the center leg. We are only trying to prevent bending of the ramp and back end of the trailer with this leg.
For people without welding or fab skills, a short piece of railroad crosstie put under each ramp to take up some of the weight might do all the need. Just remember to put it to where the ramp will be, not where it is at when you drop your ramps.(lighter loads, lighter trailers all change where you put it), so just remember the leg is just there to help support the ramp under max load. I used a 6x6x14 inch block of wood for years, till someone borrowed one out of the truck at a jobsite and I had to find wood scraps to use so I could load the tractor! A lot of variance in the size of block is due to height of the rear of trailer, length of ramps and the weight capacity of the rear portion of the trailer.(how much it squats when being loaded.
David from jax

 

[RichM752]

Here's probably well north of 8,000# in my 16' gooseneck dump. Ramp strength has never been an issue.

 

[4570Man]

I was thinking about ramps that have are secured to the trailer or are part of the tailgate. The design Xfaxman showed would work, as it is close to what my Big Tex has. My other trailer has 3" channel with angle iron ramps and it has legs. The trick is to make the legs touch the ground when a heavy load rolls up on it, as the rear of the trailer squats, but before the ramps actually bend. The way we determined this was by using blocks under the ramps and rolling the backhoe up on it till the the trailer squated and the load was partially supported by the center legs. With removable ramps, it can probably still be done, using a leg similar to Xfaxman's picture. Always determine the length or height of the leg when the dovetail or rear of trailer is under a load, not sitting in the shop being welded up. Another way is to use two short pipes welded to the sides of each of the ramp and have a leg that drops into that pipe with a series of holes to allow for todays position and load. You would still need to leave the leg higher off the ground, so that when the load is only partially supported by the center leg. We are only trying to prevent bending of the ramp and back end of the trailer with this leg.
For people without welding or fab skills, a short piece of railroad crosstie put under each ramp to take up some of the weight might do all the need. Just remember to put it to where the ramp will be, not where it is at when you drop your ramps.(lighter loads, lighter trailers all change where you put it), so just remember the leg is just there to help support the ramp under max load. I used a 6x6x14 inch block of wood for years, till someone borrowed one out of the truck at a jobsite and I had to find wood scraps to use so I could load the tractor! A lot of variance in the size of block is due to height of the rear of trailer, length of ramps and the weight capacity of the rear portion of the trailer.(how much it squats when being loaded.
David from jax

It’s fairly easy to build a fold up ramp to hold any load the trailer is fit for. A flat ramp like a dump trailer has more limitations. But I’ve never had any problem bending my dump trailer ramp and apparently neither has anyone else.

 

[AthioTractor]

I will be retiring in a few months and want to buy a skid steer with a heavy duty rotary cutter, I also want to purchase a grapple and dump trailer to do some work with, out of conveneince of hauling the skid steer and being able to use the dump trailer on the same jobsite I have been looking at dump trailers with ramps, but they sure don't look stout enough to put 9 or 10 k on them without bending or bowing, I realize that lessening the degree of angle would make loading it easier but I just wonder about the strength of the ramps. Just some more info I am looking at a 16' low profile dump trailer with 2' sides probably gooseneck and probably upgrade to 2- 8k axles , I already have a 20' equipment trailer bumper pull with 2- 7k axles and a 25+5 gooseneck with pierced deck that I could haul it on but the gooseneck will be tough to get into some of the places that I would need to go, so I'm interested in some info from you guys with experience on some of this. Thanks. Charlie.

I saw the thread, had the exact same question…did you end up getting that dump trailer and how has it gone loading your skid on those ramps?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[nisaacs]

Like others have said, I have never had an issue loading a 10k bobcat loader. It does have a longer wheel base than a skid steer, so probably only 5k on the ramps at a time.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I saw the thread, had the exact same question…did you end up getting that dump trailer and how has it gone loading your skid on those ramps?
Thanks,
Mike

I haven't bought a dump trailer yet, I am hauling my tracked skid steer or ( CTL ) with my brushcutter or grapple on my equipment trailer mostly and my gooseneck occasionally but I still haven't given up on a dump trailer, I just have other priorities that have had to come ahead of the dump trailer.

 

[AthioTractor]

Gotchya…very cool and all the best.

 

[Rebeldad1]

you can always build your own ramps.They can be the same size so they will fit into the trailer. Just keep the same size but use a heavy wall material