Think tank advice

   / Think tank advice #61  
You'll need some pretty healthy gear reduction to turn the tube with the ramps hanging on it. We use large diesel truck starters running on 36 volts and unless we reduce the gearing, they won't even turn over the engine in our motorcycles.
 
   / Think tank advice #62  
heres a lowtech approach

jack the trailer up 4-6 feet

hang wooden boxex from the ramps as on a trebuchet

fill the boxes with stones till the weight raises the ramps and secure ramps

empty boxes and remove

lower trailer to ground

voila
 
   / Think tank advice #63  
If you're considering using hydraulics, how about taking a cue from the linkage used on an excavator or back-hoe bucket? You know, the two-peice linkage connected to the main stick and a point equi-distant from the pivot point and the cylinder on the stick and the point at which the two linkages connect with each other. I've attached a link to a patent, but the hydraulic cylinder is connected at a point not common to the two linkages, like I was describing....but I bet it'll still work.

02175409opa.gif
 
   / Think tank advice
  • Thread Starter
#65  
Thanks Speedy but I have to rule out hydraulics and go with a 12 volt solution such as a winch or the linear motors from Northern Tools. Rob, still pondering this:confused:..what about using something like this Northern Industrial Linear Actuator 12 Volt, 11 13/16in. stroke | Trailer Jacks | Northern Tool + Equipment
Perfect for raising and lowering lawn and garden tractor and ATV attachments, along with hoods, trunks, tonneau covers, tailgates, truck cover and more! CE/UL-approved motor. Where would you mount it(or them) keeping in mind that the ramps have to be adjustable width wise to load a car or something smaller.
 
   / Think tank advice #66  
I didn't realize those linear actuators were so powerful. They must be sorta like an electronic hydraulic cylinder, huh?

Well, you could use the same principal with the tube protruding out the side of the trailer. Fasten/weld/bolt a bar to the protruding tube and attach one end of the linear actuator to it and the other end of the actuator to the trailer frame or on a mount if needed. Only thing I see is the travel you need to get the ramps to go fully up and down. So the bar should be about 6" to 10" long (the protrusion) and should have some extra holes drilled in it so you can reduce the "radius" to give you more or less travel for the ramps. You may only need to rotate the tube 1/4 turn or so. I would clamp it first to find a relatively good position. The closer you connect it to the rotating tube, the harder it will be to rotate but it will rotate faster. The farther out you connect it, the easier it will be on the actuator and it will rotate slower.
(Assuming a constant linear actuator speed)

In fact, you could make a connector which will slide up and down on that protrusion...to increase or decrease the rotating radius. The connector would have a clamping bolt in it to fasten it's position to the protrusion bar when you find the right spot where the actuator will work best. The other end of the connector would be connected to the end of the linear actuator. You might be able to use only one linear actuator that way, if the correct radius allows enough travel and has enough power. If not, you can always add another one on the other side.

As far as being able to adjust your ramps, I would make the ramps so that they can be fastened to the rotating tube in various positions. That is, they should be able to slide on the rotating tube much like a fork lift's forks. Then pin them to the rotating tube which has holes in it for adjustment.
 
   / Think tank advice
  • Thread Starter
#67  
Thanks Rob, just what I needed to hear.This is exactly how I will do it.:)Trailer is in the barn now getting a winch installed so I really have no excuse to try it.
 
   / Think tank advice
  • Thread Starter
#69  
   / Think tank advice
  • Thread Starter
#70  
I think hydraulics might work.I started a mock up yesterday and got this far.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/shenders/trailer026.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/shenders/trailer025.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/shenders/trailer022.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/shenders/trailer020.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/shenders/trailer031.jpg
Using shop air for testing the cylinder needs a little help in lifting them, a pinky will do .
I need about 3 inches more of throw so I can lock the ramps up in their original locked position but moving the mounting of the cylinder won't get me any more. Still scratching my head on that one. If I move the cylinder further out towards the ramps I can get a little more but then the ramps don't touch the ground when dropped.
Maybe a curved arm where the extended cylinder meets the box tubing??.Any thoughts much appreciated.
 

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