Flip Over Ramps??

dieselscout80 · Jan 21, 2011

Is it possible to make flip over ramps for a 18' bumper pull trailer (16' flat with a 2' dovetail)?

I'd like to get rid of my slide in ramps and I'd like to have the flip over ramps give me a full 18' of flat deck when up for hauling hay.

flusher · Jan 21, 2011

Sure--get out your welder and have at it. Looks like a fun project.

Diamondpilot · Jan 21, 2011

To make the geometry work the ramps would only be 2' long. I would say no... You are going to be stuck with your slide in ramps or you could make stand up ramps. If you need more flat area when hauling hay you could make some simple wedge out of plywood that is strapped on temporary for that task.

Chris

Iplayfarmer · Jan 21, 2011

I bet you could do it with double folding ramps or some kind of sliding ramp inside a ramp arrangement, but it won't be simple.

How high is your trailer deck off the ground?

Charlesaf3 · Mar 15, 2011

what don't you like about slide in ramps, may I ask? They seem like a good solution to me... but never used them

dieselscout80 · Mar 15, 2011

Charlesaf3 said:
what don't you like about slide in ramps, may I ask? They seem like a good solution to me... but never used them

It's not that I dislike my slide in ramps, but I like to be able have 2' more of flat deck for hauling small square hay bales.

QRTRHRS · Mar 15, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
To make the geometry work the ramps would only be 2' long. I would say no... You are going to be stuck with your slide in ramps or you could make stand up ramps. If you need more flat area when hauling hay you could make some simple wedge out of plywood that is strapped on temporary for that task.

Chris

I agree with Chris on the temporary deck. I had a beaver tail trailer, ie; the rear deck came up to make a level deck. Problem with that set up was that the beaver tail sat inside the dovetail style outer frame. That ~2-3 inches on both sides made a big difference when stacking hay on.

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

dieselscout80 · Mar 15, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
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

If I have to keep the slide in ramps, which it looks like I will have to, I will be switching them so they slide in from the rear.

grsthegreat · Mar 15, 2011

because the dovetail is so short, the flips ups wouldnt work. the trailers ive played with have 4+ foot slope section. How about making some quick connect slope adapter that you can install when hauling hay, and remove afterwords. would take no time to make.

Charlesaf3 · Mar 15, 2011

ah, I think I see. I assumed all slide ins went from the back, leaving the deck free.

Diamondpilot · Mar 16, 2011

Charlesaf3 said:
ah, I think I see. I assumed all slide ins went from the back, leaving the deck free.

Not always. Many, especially on Dove Tail trailers, slide in from the side. This means you must carry them from the storage area to the rear of the trailer. Save your back and get ones that slide in from the rear.

Chris

dieselscout80 · Mar 19, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
Not always. Many, especially on Dove Tail trailers, slide in from the side. This means you must carry them from the storage area to the rear of the trailer. Save your back and get ones that slide in from the rear.

Chris

Mine slide in from the side and I dislike that!

Diamondpilot · Mar 20, 2011

dieselscout80 said:
Mine slide in from the side and I dislike that!

I bet. My friend has one like that and they must weigh 80# each. Mine slide right out from the rear and are quick and easy.

Chris

Hematite · Mar 20, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
I bet. My friend has one like that and they must weigh 80# each. Mine slide right out from the rear and are quick and easy.

Chris

The reason that your ramps slide out the back is that you have a flat bed trailer, the ONLY kind to have in my opinion. There is no way to hang ramps that slide out the back under a dovetail trailer unless 3" of ground clearance is adequate, which it's not. The dovetail already severely reduces ground clearance.

And, yes, those ramps do weigh between 70-80 lbs apiece. I learned from my friend who has a dovetail trailer with side stored ramps. That's why I bought a flat bed with torsion flip up ramps and have been smiling ever since. I've never dragged the back of the trailer and my back thanks me every time I use the flip up ramps. :thumbsup:

dieselscout80 · Mar 20, 2011

Hematite said:
The reason that your ramps slide out the back is that you have a flat bed trailer, the ONLY kind to have in my opinion. There is no way to hang ramps that slide out the back under a dovetail trailer unless 3" of ground clearance is adequate, which it's not. The dovetail already severely reduces ground clearance./QUOTE]

I'm thinking that a hinged or pop up for my ramp storeage that makes my dovetail portion a flat deck will fix both my issues.

crazyal · Mar 21, 2011

Why can't you convert your ramps to flip up? They don't need to sit on your deck when up. I see lots of trailers that they only flip up so they stick straight up like the gate on an equipment trailer and use a chain to keep them from flopping back down.

dieselscout80 · Mar 21, 2011

crazyal said:
Why can't you convert your ramps to flip up? They don't need to sit on your deck when up. I see lots of trailers that they only flip up so they stick straight up like the gate on an equipment trailer and use a chain to keep them from flopping back down.

I wanted to make my ramps look like these ramps. so I had additional flat deck for hauling hay.

196201d1295620357-flip-over-ramps-flip-over-ramp-example.jpg

I do not like the ramps that stick straight up in the air.

slowzuki · Mar 21, 2011

The problem with popup ramps is you can't haul equipment on that part of the trailer or the arc they travel through while swinging them up. If you have more bed than you need, sometimes you can pull far ahead and pop up the dove then back over them to get the weight distribution right.

I have seem people just build a small lightweight plywood wedge to flatten the dove on a car hauler for hauling hay, or also I have seen them weld stake pockets to have a back gate so they can stack on the sloped part.

crazyal · Mar 21, 2011

If you're handy with a welder you can make your ramps two piece so half the ramp could fold into the other half and the whole thing could flip onto the beaver tail. I like the flip up ramps because they almost always have a leg that takes the weight when loading so you don't lift the rear wheels of the tow vehicle off the ground.