12 foot aluminum ramp storage ideas for gooseneck flatbed

buckeye4life · Apr 18, 2015

I have a flatbed that originally came with the steel flip up ramps. Not only are they heavy, they are not long enough to load a car or my JD 3320 with an attachment on back without scrapping due to the angle. I purchased some 12 foot long aluminum ramps that are rated for 5000lbs per axle which makes loading low clearance autos easy without damaging the bumpers. However, I need some ideas on how to store these. I seen some big rigs have L shaped brackets under the deck that their ramps slid in to which may be something to look into. I would like to hear if anyone else has some other ideas. I even thought about a stake pocket rack to hang them on.

QRTRHRS · Apr 18, 2015

You don't really have many under the deck choices except between the main frame rails. That would mean sliding them in from the front. Looking from the front at those rails, if you can secure something to the bottom and still have clearance to slide the ramps in then that would not be too bad. You would have to have some means of blocking the back end and something hinged at the front to prevent them from sliding forward.

The ramps will get beat up sliding them in and out and moving around while on the road. I had such a set up over the sliding tandems on a flatbed years ago.

If you have room to store them vertical on something setting in your stake pockets, they would be easily accessed. Oak would hold up better than PT wood. Wood will not mark as badly as steel or aluminum. Using wood, cut it out to fall into the pocket to the appropriate depth but not all the way through. Then bungy or strap the ramps on. If this works out then fab up some brackets to cradle the ramps to negate forward or backwards sliding.

Those ramps are quite attractive so you might want to think security into your plan to keep them from being stolen. The under trailer setup might be better for out of sight, out of mind.

schmism · Apr 21, 2015

second vote to get some 2x4 legs welded on and stick them in the stake pockets as mini-sides. have the legs sick down far enough to pin them through the bottom and you can use a locking trailer hitch pin to secure them

buckeye4life · Apr 22, 2015

Making hangers for the sides is a great idea. However, after taking one of the ramps and proping it up under the trailer, I find that I have plenty of room to weld hangers with UHMW strips attatched to them to keep the ramps from getting beat up. It doesn't look like I will loose much ground clearance either. Just need to come up with a good way to keep them from being carried off. I will post some pics as I go. I will try and attach a pic of what ramp looks like under the deck.

MossRoad · Apr 22, 2015

A good way to keep them somewhat secure would be to make a rectangular box out of 1"X 1/8" flat stock and put a few cross braces under it. Secure it to the trailer drop a rod through the deck and through a hole in the ramp and put a padlock on the rod under the ramp. Of course, anyone with one of these will get what they want!

LD1 · Apr 22, 2015

Nice ramps.

I am surprised you have issues loading the tractor. You have to put the toplink in the bottom hole and shorten it up which makes the tail of the attachment raise higher. Doing that I have no issues loading my tractor and any attachment on my GN.

I do like the one suggestion of using the stake pockets and making the ramps serve as sides also:thumbsup:

buckeye4life · May 6, 2015

I took a nice day and fabricated hangers that I welded under the deck. I used some Nylon strips and bolted them to the steel to prevent metal on metal contact. I am still thinking about a way to secure them and was thinking about what MossRoad said about dropping a rod through the deck. Instead of a rod, I might use some 1" square tube with a piece of angle welded to the end. I would bolt some nylon to it which will sit on top of the ramps. Then weld a couple of small rings to trailer and tube to attach a lock. I will upload some pics of my progress.

terryknight · May 6, 2015

looks good. i have one question how much clearance is between the front wheel and the ramp? i did like the idea of removable side too

buckeye4life · May 6, 2015

The closest hanger is 2 3/4" away from tire and is rotated some to match pitch of the ramp. Any closer than that and I would be concerned about tire touching if the springs were to get compressed down. This pic is still a little hard to see the distance between the tire and hanger.