How to lift tailgate/ramp?

tractorski · Nov 22, 2009

I used a garage door spring as well. I built a 2' verticle post out of 1"x1" square steel tubing, which I then bolted to the steel bar that is on the side of the trailer.Then I bolted a garage door spring to the top, then I took the other end and bolted it to the side of the steel lift gate. works great, it has been on there for 5 years. No problems.

Diamondpilot · Nov 22, 2009

tractorski said:
I used a garage door spring as well. I built a 2' verticle post out of 1"x1" square steel tubing, which I then bolted to the steel bar that is on the side of the trailer.Then I bolted a garage door spring to the top, then I took the other end and bolted it to the side of the steel lift gate. works great, it has been on there for 5 years. No problems.

I would like to see a picture. Just be careful with little ones around and fingers. Also may want to lace a piece of rope though the spring and tie it off one each end with slack to operate.. When they break they can do a lot of damage. Good friend in High School's dad had a brand new Ram and the spring broke the first day he had the truck in the garage. Went up the hood, across the windshield and over his camper top requiring repainting 60% of a 1 day old truck and a new windshield.

Chris

locknut · Feb 3, 2010

tractorski said:
I used a garage door spring as well. I built a 2' verticle post out of 1"x1" square steel tubing, which I then bolted to the steel bar that is on the side of the trailer.Then I bolted a garage door spring to the top, then I took the other end and bolted it to the side of the steel lift gate. works great, it has been on there for 5 years. No problems.

I liked your idea so I copied it

but I used some 1-1/2" tubing I already had.With just one side with a 140# spring the gate lightened up from 45lb to 15lb,so I added another one to the other side.Too much spring now,so I took it to the machine shop and they are going to add a 1 ft extension accross the center 40" as I have some loading problems with impliments attached to the tractor.Been using a couple of loading boards but thats a pain.Here's some pics,and I'll add more when I'm finished.