Help me fab a lift for my trailer gate

sweetk30 · Apr 21, 2021

More pics and weight info below added .

Need to figure out a simple way to raise / lower a platform gate on my trailer build project .

Rear 4ft deep by 6ft wide gate will be just a platform for the tar machine on wheels and driveway blower unit . When up its just a flat deck and when down its a ramp .

Looking to make a simple lift for 1 guy to use it and no crazy working setup . Anyone got any ideas ?

Rear of trailer area i am talking about .

The Cobbler · Apr 21, 2021

torsion springs?

LXCam · Apr 21, 2021

So you want to be able to fix it in a horizontal position plus be able to use as a ramp right. The ramp part is clear but how much weight are we talking it would need to hold while flat if I’m understanding this.

mikegt4 · Apr 21, 2021

Not exactly sure of what you are looking for, but our friends down under often use trailer winches to raise/lower trailer ramps.

sweetk30 · Apr 21, 2021

Gate will be level with ground in storage position . Then tilt down like a ramp of a reg utility trailer .

Weight of gate unit plus around 500 lbs of equipment at max . Prob more like 350-400 lbs .

LXCam · Apr 21, 2021

Sliding stanchions that are supported under the trailer run parallel to the length. Maybe two or possibly three 2”x3”x 3/16” wall tube.

Spencer Was Here · Apr 22, 2021

sweetk30 said:
Gate will be level with ground in storage position . Then tilt down like a ramp of a reg utility trailer .

Weight of gate unit plus around 500 lbs of equipment at max . Prob more like 350-400 lbs .

Once you factor in the forces applied by driving over bumps and potholes with the equipment load on top of the gate/ramp, the stresses involved would equate to loads applied by much heavier equipment in a static position.

I would think you'd be better off trying to make the entire trailer be able to be hydraulically lowered to the ground and raised again, versus a ramp that needs to also hold a load.

Monza Harry · Apr 22, 2021

How about using linear actuators to lift/lower and some hitch pins to hold it in the level, over the road position? Double shear would be best, and at least the real weight load for each of the two linear actuators (2X's to ensure that you don't have duty cycle issues). Harry

sweetk30 · Apr 22, 2021

Need manual control . Keep it simple .

Already planned from beginning to have travel pins to lock it up / level .

quickfarms · Apr 23, 2021

A ramp designed to become part of the deck during transport is not simple or easy to accomplish.

Pins are not enough you need to look at how the semi trailers are designed. Basically the sub frame, with the axles on it, hydraulically moves under the movable portion to support it

A tilting section of the deck would be simpler or the simplest is a fixed deck and ramp

joe49 · Apr 23, 2021

Your pictures looks like your still building it. Finish it as a tilt deck. Or add a gate/ramp at the rear.
You maybe thinking you will just make a pivot with a lock pin. Keeping the math simple, the distance to say the center of your 4', lets say 2' add load 400#+deck weight 100#? now what is your pin CL distance 6'' maybe.
24/6=4*500#=2000# now lets start thinking about bouncing down the road. This isn't impossible but will need to be strong. Add to that the strength of the frame next to the joint, will need reinforcement.

bradpac · Apr 23, 2021

We put folding extensions like that out of 3" channel 4ft +1ft of hinge/pin off the back of a gooseneck with maybe 500lbs on it. just using pins about 6" out from the hinge pin to hold it. They bent pretty quickly, we ended up have to put bars down to the tail panel of the trailer to triangulate it. If your trailer has sides use a gate with hinge and put removeable bars up to a fixed point on the sides, otherwise you will need quite a bit of structure to resist the bouncing of the load on that tail of the trailer.

sweetk30 · Apr 23, 2021

Here is the idea and 2 units it would hold .

Just to clear it up the trailer frame is 5" x 3" x 3/16 wall rectangle tube . I have been known to build over kill . Just dont need / want ramps when i think the platform could do both if built right .

Little wounder blower = 120lbs .

Tar buggy = 135lbs .

Propane tank full = 38lb - 40lb range if full .

Up to 60lbs tar in buggy but prob 30lb range on average .

Sumboodie · Apr 23, 2021

Would it not work to have a tailgate style gate at the rear?

sweetk30 · Apr 23, 2021

Could if i have to but trying to keep it minimal and less stuff .

Muckin_Slusher · Apr 25, 2021

Keep your two frame rails as they are, build ramp in between them, use any number of ways to attach ramp to frame rails when raised (pins, bolts, slide plate, etc).

All that's left is a way to lift the gate, you could use an electric winch mounted at the back of the tank and connect to the ramp between those two things, or two electric actuators from the tips of the frame rail to the ramp, mechanical jack (like a tongue jack) or a piece of acme rod in the middle of the ramp to lift (use battery impact to spin rod), boat winch mounted on ramp between those two things and connected to rear top of tank, spring assist ramp springs at the hinge so the ramp is "weightless" and you may be able to lift by hand.

Why isn't this question in your original thread? Makes for poor organization of the site overall.

sweetk30 · Apr 25, 2021

Muckin_Slusher said:
Keep your two frame rails as they are, build ramp in between them, use any number of ways to attach ramp to frame rails when raised (pins, bolts, slide plate, etc).

All that's left is a way to lift the gate, you could use an electric winch mounted at the back of the tank and connect to the ramp between those two things, or two electric actuators from the tips of the frame rail to the ramp, mechanical jack (like a tongue jack) or a piece of acme rod in the middle of the ramp to lift (use battery impact to spin rod), boat winch mounted on ramp between those two things and connected to rear top of tank, spring assist ramp springs at the hinge so the ramp is "weightless" and you may be able to lift by hand.

Why isn't this question in your original thread? Makes for poor organization of the site overall.

already layed out my plans . said the rails stay as they are . just asked for help or ideas on a specific easy to use manual lift assist . cant do power or winch or other stuff . figured someone might of designed a lift gate / platform like this before and could post pics or link to some and save me time was all .

i figured this specific of a question would be better in its own thread . lots of people do it on other forums . i will provide a link to this thread in my build thread when i get to the gate part . so dont loose your marbles over this . . :lol_hitti

Muckin_Slusher · Apr 25, 2021

The little bulldog top wind jacks are awesome. You can cut off the quick attach part and weld it on lower on the jack body so you can mount it just above the ramp deck. Can also add more mounts on other areas of the trailer, like beside the wheels so the jack can be used to change flats.

Should allow you to drop the ramp to the ground with a few cranks. Also easy to remove if need be.

I can't think of much else that would be more reliable.

bulldog-round-topwind-swivel-jack-5k-pipe-mount-trailer-jacks-nationwide-trailers-parts-store-32.jpg

sweetk30 · Apr 25, 2021

i would need 1 per side . then do this 5-8 times a day . . .

i had a idea come to me the other day of a L-arm setup . kind of like using a long prybar to move things . then have a link bar to the gate . each guy just holds the bar and pulls his pin and down / up she goes .

going to build the gate / platform monday and see how it goes and maybe try the arm trick .

i cant have the center of the gate / platform obstructed or i could use the 1 jack in the center maybe but thats still a lot of cranking .

speed bump · Apr 25, 2021

A lever dolley that you can lift up the center would probably accomplish what you need. Heres my two seconds of sketching what I would probably do.

bugnut · Apr 26, 2021

Don't have a sketch pad in front of me but a single rod and roller centered under the gate extended to make parallel and retracted to lower would work. Additional support provided by a yoke if needs be. Could be activated by winch, hydraulic, spring, screw or hand. I can sketch it up if you like, let me know.

Look at dock levelers as the mechanical systems are similar to what I am thinking.

google this truck loading dock mechanical system

sweetk30 · May 11, 2021

So i wound up doing the KISS method and used a 2k boat winch . Its easy for me and 1 hand cranking up & down .

Did some trailer / gate cam pins with a 3/4" pin size .

Help me fab a lift for my trailer gate

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