Hydraulic ramp lifts

[powerscol]

I have a PJ 20+3 deck over with the oversize tip up ramps, PJ Trailers Heavy Duty Ramps . Has anyone added a hydraulic set up to lift them? I'm getting old and find lifting the ramps at times to be problematic. I was thinking of a long cylinder and lifting bracket L shape tied to the gate end with a chain. Locking angle would stay as is. That way if the gates are slid in towards the center it would still work. I looked into adding another spring, but it would make the ends too light - lift on their own. The initial lift is not the problem, it at the 1/2 position things get heavy (overhead pushing with arms). Pictures or drawings would be great. Thanks

 

[4570Man]

Are your ramps spring assisted?

 

[Diamondpilot]

We made a set of ramp aids out of some Garage Door Springs and some PVC pipe to house it.

Made it to where you could lift them with a single finger.

 

[CJONE]

I have built hydraulic ramps for large equipment trailers but not for smaller stuff, Like the others have said a spring assist system is simple to build and works. CJ

 

[powerscol]

Are your ramps spring assisted?

Yes, but at the 1/2 point things start to get heavy as the assist is less.

 

[powerscol]

We made a set of ramp aids out of some Garage Door Springs and some PVC pipe to house it.

Made it to where you could lift them with a single finger.

Pictures?

 

[Diamondpilot]

No, sold that trailer bit Google "garage door spring trailer ramps"

 

[civilian]

What about using a small electric winch to assist? Jon

 

[powerscol]

You know I have always wanted on for the trailer. Long remote cable and a chain between the ramps would work great. :thumbsup: Expensive fix, but could be worth it. What a good brand of winch these days.

 

[fried1765]

You know I have always wanted on for the trailer. Long remote cable and a chain between the ramps would work great. :thumbsup: Expensive fix, but could be worth it. What a good brand of winch these days.

A winch on a trailer is a wonderful thing.
I have a 9500Lb. Superwinch on my 20' equipment trailer.
I am an old guy, and I agree: lifting the ramps is getting tough, even with the helper springs.
I don't see how a winch could work though, unless the trailer was empty.
A loaded trailer would have the on deck equipment blocking the run of the cable.

 

[civilian]

A winch on a trailer is a wonderful thing.
I have a 9500Lb. Superwinch on my 20' equipment trailer.
I am an old guy, and I agree: lifting the ramps is getting tough, even with the helper springs.
I don't see how a winch could work though, unless the trailer was empty.
A loaded trailer would have the on deck equipment blocking the run of the cable.

My thinking is to use a portable winch setup. 1000lb unit mounted to a plate. Plate could be chained to stake pocket and cable to ramp. Plate mount could be one that goes over a trailer ball. Jon

 

[powerscol]

It would be easy to run a quick release pulley or snatch block to the side of the trailer so the cable would be out of the way. Ill haft to look into it more. I also may be able to use two wind up sets like go on boat trailers. Seen them real cheap. Now you got me thinking.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Moving a winch and battery around would be tougher than just lifting the **** ramps.

 

[fried1765]

It would be easy to run a quick release pulley or snatch block to the side of the trailer so the cable would be out of the way. Ill haft to look into it more. I also may be able to use two wind up sets like go on boat trailers. Seen them real cheap. Now you got me thinking.

The hand crank small boat trailer winch seems to make the most sense.
With the cable lying flat on the trailer deck though, in the initial part of the pull, I don't see how it could lift the ramp.
Seems as though a temporary "gin pole" in a stake pocket, and with a top mounted pulley sheave, would be necessary to get the cable at an angle suitable for raising the ramp.
Maybe ......this method is just too complicated also.

 

[powerscol]

The dove tail drops quiet a bit, I think the tip of the ramp being below with the cable up on the flat will be enough to start the lift. I'm now looking at cranks that might fit in the stake pockets. PJ thought that I might be able to add springs which I can, but it means taking the ramp off in the vertical position. If anyone knows of a good brand of cranks, please let me know. I can use them to load a dead tractor too if I use a snatch block