Subject :TIlt or Ramps

[keeney]

Tilt beds generally are heavier than a comparable non-tilting trailer. If your tow vehicle is smaller, then you may not have enough towing capacity to spare to haul the extra weight around.

Also depends what else you want to use the trailer for, and what style of ramps.

Car haulers are generally set up with removable ramps that store under the trailer so they don't bang the back of the car. Equipment trailers generally have flip-up ramps because the typical contractor who uses them loads and unloads the equipment multiple times per day. "landscape" trailers generally have full-width ramps and are designed to load and carry mutliple smaller machines.

Bed hegiht can make a big difference in ease of loading. Car haulers are kind of set at a minimum height such that you can still get the loaded car doors open over the trailer wheels. Equipment and landscape trailers can be built with under-slung and drop axels such that the bed is maybe as low as 12 or 14 inches off the ground. This makes the ramps shorter and the loading and stuff much easier. However, that low ground clearance can be a problem for off-road and rough site use.

- Rick

 

[johndeere2210]

Tilt is the only way to go. I found that when ramping my tractor on the trailer with the MMM, the deck will often catch on the top of the ramp. I got a tilt trailer and that eliminated that problem. I did keep the ramps for those rare occaisions when I need to load multiple implements.

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="purple">I have an 8' tilt trailer that I hauled my wards lawn tractor on which worked fine for it.
One day I need to take my 1966 Bolens with chains on it to the shop.
Couldn't get it on the trailer. The chains would let the wheels spin on the steel floor.
I dug out my 2 12'' by 8 foot long ruff cut oak planks that I used to use to load the Bolens on a 71 ford pick up with and it went right up these onto the trailer without it being tilted.
Later I put a truck bed mat on the floor of the trailer and thought now I can drive the Bolens onto it with the bed tilted; wrong again. When the back wheels started to turn they just pulled the mat right out from under the tractor and deposited it on the ground.
I solved that problem by drilling a hole through each front corner of the mat and the trailer floor and bolting the mat to the floor with a 3 inch washer on top of the mat. Works like a charm as the Bolens will walk right up into the trailer with the bed tilted and no planks.

Sure do wish I could use this trailer to haul my BX 23.
Having a trailer that I can't use for that sure does hurt?
</font>

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Everyone here who has read any of my posts on trailers in the past knows where I am on this. I have an electric hydraulic tilt bed trailer and I LOVE it. I wouldn't go back to ramps for anything. One thing no has mentioned is how much quicker and easier it is to load. From the time I have my trailer backed to what I want to load, I can be back in my cab with my load secured on the bed ready to go in about ten minutes. With my electric winch, I don't even bother to drive anything up onto the bed. The tilt angle is so low pulling it up is about as quick and I don't have to even get up on the bed.

I was in a situation recently where I needed a trailer when I was out of town and had to buy one with ramps. It now has one tow and about 400 mile on it and is for sale. I paid something over two grand and will happily lose money on it just to not have it around. THAT is how much I like my tilt bed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[snorider]

we have a sled trailer like that. works great. first one I have ever seen tho. when we found at a friends work it was all rusted out so we had add a lot of steal to it so its preety old. everyone that sees it says " wow thats cool, never seen like that." so there not to popular arond here. do you know what mainly used for.

Joe

 

[johnday]

LB; I prefer the ramps over the tilt simply because I sometimes haul more than just the tractor with FEL&Boxblade. The additional stuff is tied down on the front and I think the weight on the front wouldn't let the bed tilt. Also I've noticed quite a few ramp trailers have the ramps secured such that they are at a forward angle. To me, that seems to limit again the length of stuff you can carry. One of the drawbacks with ramps and a beavertail is that the tail is quite low. I've scrapped the bottom a few times going in and out of alleys and parking lots. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Ofcourse the noise always make people look if your into that. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I sometimes haul more than just the tractor with FEL&Boxblade. The additional stuff is tied down on the front and I think the weight on the front wouldn't let the bed tilt. </font>

The one tilt trailer that I think I may end up buying next year (C & H? Info downstairs...) uses either a hand-pumped or electric-pump driven hydraulic cylinder to lift the front up when tilting. I don't think having something on the front that was heavy would be an issue, at least within limits.

Myself, when I buy it will almost certainly be a tilt trailer...

 

[johnday]

Bill; With a setup like your talking about, weight up in front probably wouldn't be a problem. Sounds like a setup someone sat down and thought about. I think most tilt beds are victims of mean old Mr. Gravity though, so weight on the front could be a problem depending on where the pivot point might be. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[LBrown59]

Why not put the tractor on the trailer first rather than last?

 

[johnday]

LB; Most times I use the loader to lift whatever I need on the front. If you drive up the back of the trailer with a load chained to the loader, you windup having to raise the loader too high to be safe. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif