Ramp strength

[rimshot]

I have a CK20 by Kioti with a FEL and Backhoe. That rig weighs all of 4000 lbs and I haul it on a 7000 # car trailer which is brand new by Continental Cargo. (please see attached pics.

I'm nervous about these ramps. I don't see a rating on them and they bowed quite a bit when the tractor was equipped as seen in pics but less backhoe which was replaced by snowblower. When it was equipped with snowblower, the rig weighed about 700 lbs less. Now I have replaced snowblower with backhoe so more weight up and down these ramps.

I have tried putting a stiff leg in support of middle of ramp to try to add strength but that does not work so well. Funny things happen when the ramp flexes and it sometimes actually either pushes truck and trailer forward or ramp rearward. I don't think that is the right approach.

Please note the construction of these ramps from picture showing bottom. They are heavy steel but is it heavy enough for this heavy tractor. The ramps are designed to slide in a couple of storage areas on side of trailer so I hate to go any thicker or longer. As it is and you can see by the picture they are reinforced with a square tubular steel piece which measures 1 1/2" outside. Basically, they are 70" in length.

Any thoughts or comments? Does this seem like enough beef. If you want any additonal measurements please inquire. Thanks for any comments in advance.

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[rimshot]

Here is one more picture

 

[kevinj]

Funny things happen when the ramp flexes and it sometimes actually either pushes truck and trailer forward or ramp rearward. I don't think that is the right approach.

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You need to block the rear of the trailer so it cannot lift the tow vehicle when you are loading.

 

[rimshot]

Here is one more picture

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trying that extra picture again

 

[rimshot]

You need to block the rear of the trailer so it cannot lift the tow vehicle when you are loading.

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Perhaps it is as simple as that.
thanks Kevin

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[MrJimi]

Could you chock the trailer tires and maybe add a piece of metal to the underside of your ramps, that should solve your problems and also set the parking brake on the truck and trailer hitches are designed for down force, not up force, be careful

 

[RollTideRam]

Your ramps do not appear to be built heavy enough. They look more like an atv ramp. A welding shop could probably brace them up for you. Even if you put a jack stand under your trailer to ease the load on your hitch, it will not stop the ramps from flexing. JC

 

[rimshot]

I think I agree with all the suggestions provided. Thanks to all who chimed in. I was thinking of perhaps beefing the ramp up with a 1 1/2 or 2" Angle Iron welded alongside. The only thing is, these things are already very heavy and they need to slide into those pockets beneath the trailer deck. They were proovided by the trailer maker of my Continental Cargo trailer for cars and as recall some of those old Packards or Cadilacs could weigh as much as 5000 lbs

Today, was a test run so I blocked up to the bottom of the tail end of the trailer as suggested. I then went ahead and loaded the Kioti with the chocks shown in the first set of pictures I submitted under the ramps for support. I stuck them under the ramps at mid span on the ramps. It worked very well and with the support provided and if I make it a point to use them I believe it is pretty strong.

I will most likely use a couple of jack stands under the rear of the trailer permanently from now on.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

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[kevinj]

They were proovided by the trailer maker of my Continental Cargo trailer for cars and as recall some of those old Packards or Cadilacs could weigh as much as 5000 lbs

I will most likely use a couple of jack stands under the rear of the trailer permanently from now on.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

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One other thing...............The cars you mention only have one tire on each ramp as you load. The tractor is short enough you may have the whole load on the ramps as opposed to only half of it.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Holy Pete, though...look at that backhoe! You end up with so much of the tractor's weight over the rear tires it isn't funny! As the BH slides rearward, it creates a moment that pulls the entire center of mass from the front of the tractor to the rear...as it slides rearward, the rear tires have a proportionally higher ratio of the load. Though the backhoe weighs only 700# on paper, the net effect by compounding the moment against the rest of the tractor probably adds a lot more than 700# to the rear wheels of the tractor. Of course I'd have to do some calculations...

If it were me, I'd look into some type of "folding" brace. You could make it out of relatively thin material since your strength would come in the width. If you hinge it against the box-sections that are already there, you could have them nest inside the existing ramp and fold down (they would be straight down...perpendicular to the top of the ramp) when you use the ramps. They could be triangular...narrow toward the front of the ramp and a solid 9 or 10" tall at the center of the ramp. But make them out of 3/32 steel...or 3/16" aluminum even. You could brace them against each other in the center once standing.

You can add all the 1-1/2" steel angle you want...you'll still have an awful lot of flex.

That's my thought.