Ramp strength

[MossRoad]

Why don't you get two pieces of angle iron the same length as each ramp and weld one under the length of each ramp right down the center?

An angle iron, or L beam, adds considerable strength and not much weight. It will still allow you to slide the ramps into their storage sleeves and you won't have to carry jacks around for the ramps.

Your current ramps do not appear to affix to the trailer, but rather, they hang on the trailer. If you are not on level ground, or the ground is soft under the end of the ramp, and you put jack stands under the ramps in the middle of them, you could create a teeter totter (SP?) condition. When you hit the end of the ramp, it could go down, causing the ramp hangar to lift out of the channel in the rear of your trailer. Just something to think about.

 

[rick g]

One last thing. Your tie downs should have the hook hanging in the opposite direction, so if it should loosen the hook stays in place.

 

[rimshot]

Why don't you get two pieces of angle iron the same length as each ramp and weld one under the length of each ramp right down the center?

An angle iron, or L beam, adds considerable strength and not much weight. It will still allow you to slide the ramps into their storage sleeves and you won't have to carry jacks around for the ramps.

Your current ramps do not appear to affix to the trailer, but rather, they hang on the trailer. If you are not on level ground, or the ground is soft under the end of the ramp, and you put jack stands under the ramps in the middle of them, you could create a teeter totter (SP?) condition. When you hit the end of the ramp, it could go down, causing the ramp hangar to lift out of the channel in the rear of your trailer. Just something to think about.

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Thanks to everyone for all the excellent suggestions.

Mossroad, you raise a good point. i now have a pair of 6000 lb adjustable jack stands which i place under rear of trailer to prevent it from lifting tongue off towing vehicle. The jack stand gaurding rear of trailer combined with the angled chock I built for the center o each ramp seem to eliminate the scenario you outline. The angle iron (perhaps 2") would probably allow me to chuck the chocks but I hate to add another pound to these already too heavy ramps. You are also right about the ramp to trailer connection. The plate is folded and sits in a small channel at back of trailer

rimshot.

 

[MossRoad]

=========
Thanks to everyone for all the excellent suggestions.

Mossroad, you raise a good point. i now have a pair of 6000 lb adjustable jack stands which i place under rear of trailer to prevent it from lifting tongue off towing vehicle. The jack stand gaurding rear of trailer combined with the angled chock I built for the center o each ramp seem to eliminate the scenario you outline. The angle iron (perhaps 2") would probably allow me to chuck the chocks but I hate to add another pound to these already too heavy ramps. You are also right about the ramp to trailer connection. The plate is folded and sits in a small channel at back of trailer

rimshot.

Your jackstands under the rear of the trailer only solve the trailer raising the hitch problem by preventing the rear of the trailer from squishing down. The jacks do not do anything in regards to the situation I mentioned: ramp teeter tottering on the chocks.

The angle chock is a good idea to support the center of the ramp, as long as you are unloading on level, solid ground, like a street or driveway. I frequently unload in fields, where the ground is soft and uneven. And I have the same type of ramp that you have. They just hang on an angle channel that runs accross the rear of the trailer. As long as the base of your chocks is wide enough to support the weight, you will be just fine. You can move the chock forward or backward as needed to make contact with the underside of the ramp.

I just don't like carrying extra stuff around all the time, because I either leave it at home or at the jobsite. Also, a chock could slip out, tip over, be run over, fall off the trailer, etc... just something extra to secure. I have a toolbox on my trailer, and space is at a premium, so I don't want to add things to it if I don't have to.

Look into the weight and cost of a 6' piece of angle iron. I don't know how much it weighs, but it isn't that much. I'd guess at less than 20 pounds, probably less. As for cost... a 6' piece of 2x2x1/8" angle is about $16.00.

 

[rimshot]

Hi MossRoad,

Well, that Kioti CK20 is heavy enough let alone with the FEL and backhoe. A couple pieces of angle iron isn't going to sink the ship as opposed to ramp failure.
You are probably right so I shall look into it.

Thanks,

rim