Darned New Trailer Has Trouble With Lawnmower Decks Scraping

[rangerfredbob]

a fairly simple light gate hinge would work fine if you put a piece of angle iron on the extension or the main ramp (same either way) so it sits on top of the ramp to even out the force across maybe 1' of the ramp.

The problem with making the ramp longer and leaving it one piece is fuel mileage. I have an 18' flat deck trailer that is 32" high at the deck, it has 6' long ramps that have big rebar between channel iron at about 8" spacing I imagine, the ramps are maybe 18" wide and hinge up to stand vertical. The stupid trailer has less wind resistance with a car or anything on the deck than it does empty... Have another trailer with a ~12' long deck but not deck over tire so at least 8" lower I imagine so it's ramps are only about 4' long and are expanded metal, it's the same way with wind resistance...

 

[ultrarunner]

I moved the springs from over the axle to under and that made all the difference for me...

 

[drizler]

I’m going to take a serious look at that trick! Every little bit helps

 

[Uncle Lar]

I have a similar trailer and when I load my rider I use a small hill to reduce the ramp angle, and a piece of plywood laid on the ramp extended past the ramp top end. It has to be longer than the wheel base. When the weight pushes the front down it lifts the rear. My yard has some slopes, so always has chains on it. Its no guarantee, but you might try it.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ A curb can also be just enough...

 

[TractorGuy]

Could just can the tailgate and get some aluminum ramps. That's what I use.

 

[drizler]

I知 going to take a serious look at that trick! Every little bit helps

Crap this one is already down under! Too bad. I壇 say go with the hill loading but this rig is going to be used way too much to do that.
We settled on a 28 extension . I知 going to try to angle the facing attachment a tad to give it a small hump more like the detachable commercial long ramps folks buy come with. At least for now it痴 just going to get bolted on . This rig doesn稚 go high speed or long distance so gas mileage isn稚 a big deal.
The perimeter of the ramp is 1x2 with 3/32 box as close as I can measure probably Chinesium metric. I値l get the closest light weight box I can get locally to frame out that extension.
As always weight is the hassle with these things. It really would like a 3+ foot extension which is too much! Getting that slight angle is gonna be the tricky part

 

[rangerfredbob]

If it's already spring under, make some "lowering blocks" with longer U bolts and some square tubing. They don't have to be too fancy like lift/lowering blocks on trucks since there's no torque on the axles... That is of course as long as ground clearance of the trailer isn't an issue, and tire clearance in the fenders isn't an issue.

 

[3Ts]

The problem with making the ramp longer and leaving it one piece is fuel mileage. I have an 18' flat deck trailer that is 32" high at the deck, it has 6' long ramps that have big rebar between channel iron at about 8" spacing I imagine, the ramps are maybe 18" wide and hinge up to stand vertical. The stupid trailer has less wind resistance with a car or anything on the deck than it does empty...

Just because a flat surface has holes in it or slats or a mesh doesn't mean there's less wind resistance. Think of snow fencing - there's as much space as there are slats and the purpose is to slow the wind down so it will drop the snow. (Meaning wind drag) So, yea, even the mesh tailgates will affect the mpg you get.

 

[3Ts]

The problem with making the ramp longer and leaving it one piece is fuel mileage. I have an 18' flat deck trailer that is 32" high at the deck, it has 6' long ramps that have big rebar between channel iron at about 8" spacing I imagine, the ramps are maybe 18" wide and hinge up to stand vertical. The stupid trailer has less wind resistance with a car or anything on the deck than it does empty...

Just because a flat surface has holes in it or slats or a mesh doesn't mean there's less wind resistance. Think of snow fencing - there's as much space as there are slats and the purpose is to slow the wind down so it will drop the snow. (Meaning wind drag) So, yea, even the mesh tailgates will affect the mpg you get.