Think tank advice

[mjfox6]

I don't know anything about this product, but it has perfect reviews at Northern Tool.

Gorilla-Lift 2-Sided Tailgate Lift Assist, Model# 40101042G | Trailer Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[AlanB]

MJfox has the right thing.

Gorrila lift has a website as well.

There are several brands out there.

I built my own, and they are very effective.

Go to Lawnsite.com or other mowing websites and you will see plenty of variations.

This is a relatively cheap (I have under $100 in mine) and easy problem to overcome.

 

[tnau664]

I don't know anything about this product, but it has perfect reviews at Northern Tool.

Gorilla-Lift 2-Sided Tailgate Lift Assist, Model# 40101042G | Trailer Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

I wouldn't mind having one of those, and the lift seems ok too. But seriously, good ideas here. My 12v winch might have a new job.

T

 

[lug nut]

lugnut, I need a visual. I can see where the two pieces of square tubing would take the place of a spline but I can't see what the 2 pieces of round are for.Do you have time to draw it in Paint and post it?.

I'm no artist, so I will try to explain it. The round pieces would be used like a hinge. The ramps would have the larger sized square tubes welded to them. The ramps would slide over the smaller, trailer width square tube. The smaller round tubes (or solid pipe) would be welded to the ends of the smaller, trailer width tube. The larger round tubes would be attached to the trailer.

You could make one end of the round tube longer, so that you could attach the pulley. I'm not a mechanical engineer, but I would think the pulley would not have to be very large if you were using a 1500-2000 lb winch. The winch could be mounted out of the way right behing the fender.

 

[SnowRidge]

I don't know anything about this product, but it has perfect reviews at Northern Tool.

Gorilla-Lift 2-Sided Tailgate Lift Assist, Model# 40101042G | Trailer Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

From looking at the photo of OP's trailer and his stated requirements, I don't think those will meet his needs.

I have a friend who has those on his trailer. They are an assist device, not a power lift. You have to bend over and start the gate up. They provide little assist at the initial lift point. I think the reviews are an exageration of its benefits.

I have something similar on my own 20 foot trailer, except it is a leaf spring operating on the gate from below. I also slows the gate to almost nothing on the way down, but it still requires some effort to get the gate started back up.

 

[bones1]

I don't know anything about this product, but it has perfect reviews at Northern Tool.

Gorilla-Lift 2-Sided Tailgate Lift Assist, Model# 40101042G | Trailer Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

mjfox6,I looked at them before and I think they are for use on utility trailers but not on a rail less equipment trailer.No where to mount em.
Snowridge is right,they have to be motorized somehow.

 

[bones1]

What about these motors Northern Industrial Linear Actuator — 12 Volt, 7 7/8in. stroke | Trailer Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment or
here linear actuator from Northern Tool + Equipment
Specs look fine, 1350 lbs but I don't know how I would mount them underneath the deck so they would move with the ramps lateral motion. Ramps have to remain width adjustable.Maybe these combined with lugnut's square tube theory might just work.

 

[AlanB]

It is a matter of how and where they are mounted, the strength of springs used and the pivot points on the trailer and the back of the lift.

That design will lift those gates.

Before I built mine on my trailer, it took substantial effort from one person to close the gate, or moderate effort from 2 people.

With my gate lifts in place, you hook your toe under the gate, and lift and the gate will close.

From my perspective, the winch, cable, hoist assemblies are far more complicated requiring a lot more fabrication etc and I doubt will work as well.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

I think the reviews are pretty accurate actually, and am familar with several sets and different brands.

 

[bones1]

Alan, I would like to see more examples of this or do you have any pics of your setup? It would be a much simpler solution.Who are the other manufacturers?.Thanks Alan.

 

[AlanB]

Utility Trailer Tailgate Lift Assist, Specialty Tools | Gemplers

Build your own one finger tailgate lift.(The machine shed) - Journal, Magazine, Article, Periodical

That was the first two that popped up on Google.

I can take pictures of mine. When I built mine, there were many folks on Lawnsite (I think it was) building them.

I bought some for the work trailer's to look at how they did thiers, and used their ideas, and fixed what I felt were the problems, when I did mine.

More to follow.