Gravity Tilt Convert to Hydraulic Controlled

[Imaybail]

I have a 22 gravity tilt trailer I use for my tractor, implements, etc. 16 tilt, and a 6 fixes section in front.
Works well for most things I transport. It has a cylinder installed under the tilt bed that dampens the up and down actions. Recently bought a Ram 3500 truck and thought I would haul it home on the trailer, but found that the weight of the truck brought the tilt section down before the rear wheels even got on the ramps. Thought a little about backing it on, but trailer deck is only 84 wide and just made other arrangements.
Question is, what would be required to control that cylinder in an up or down position? Could it be done with a simple valve setup, or am I going to need some kind of pump?

Any ideas welcomed !

 

[BWinTX]

I have a trailer very similar to this. It has a valve just to the rear of the locking latch. It also has a very small reservoir for excess fluid.

 

[TMGT]

Yes and it shouldn't be too difficult, might even be able to use the existing cylinder. Need a pump with double acting controls, some hose, a good deep cycle battery and possibly a double acting cylinder if the existing one can't be converted.

I'm surprised yours doesn't have a way to lock the deck in the up position with the hydraulics, all the gravity tilts I've looked at have that ability. What brand is yours?

 

[Imaybail]

This is a Delta brand made in Arkansas. Yeah, no locking latch in the up position.

 

[TMGT]

The ones I looked at didn't have a latch, it was a ball valve that adjusted the drop rate, if the valve was closed it would lock the damper cylinder. Similar to how the drop rate control works on the tractors 3pt.

 

[BWinTX]

The ones I looked at didn't have a latch, it was a ball valve that adjusted the drop rate, if the valve was closed it would lock the damper cylinder. Similar to how the drop rate control works on the tractors 3pt.

That’s how mine works but it also has a lever to actually lock the bed down. I can post a couple of pics if the OP would like.

 

[TMGT]

That’s how mine works but it also has a lever to actually lock the bed down. I can post a couple of pics if the OP would like.

Sorry, I meant a mechanical latch to hold in the raised position, all of them had a latch to lock the bed down.

To the OP, the specs for your trailer make it appear your cylinder should be able to be powered, can you get any pictures of it?

 

[Imaybail]

Yeah, it does latch down. Will see if I can tell the specs on the cylinder, etc, and get some photos.

 

[TMGT]

Yeah, it does latch down. Will see if I can tell the specs on the cylinder, etc, and get some photos.

Is there a way to adjust the damping rate on your trailer?

 

[4570Man]

All the gravity tilt trailers I’ve seen had a valve to lock the cylinder in place and a lever to lock the deck at the bottom.

 

[Redbug]

My gravity tilt trailer has a valve that you open or close to control the bed. You can close the valve with the bed tilted down and the bed will stay put no matter how much weight you have on the deck. That was one of the issues I investigated before I got the trailer. My trailer has two hydraulic rams and the fluid just goes from one ram to the other with the valve in between. A simple design.

 

[Imaybail]

Talked with the manufacturer today and they said I could just attach a remote ball valve connected to lines at each end of the cylinder and control where it is positioned. So just need to rig it up and mount it along the rail where the locking mechanism is located.

 

[BWinTX]

You will need some sort of reservoir as the amount of fluid from the retract and extend are different.

 

[TMGT]

You will need some sort of reservoir as the amount of fluid from the retract and extend are different.

It's already a functional system so I don't think he needs to do anything other then add the valve. I'm guessing they just used a fixed orifice to control the drop rate as opposed to an adjustable valve.

Looks like you'll get this done reasonably inexpensive.

 

[Imaybail]

Yeah, I’m not sure how the cylinder works now, maybe just moving fluid from the gland end to the piston end. No hoses on it, ports are plugged. Factory just said get a couple of 3/8” hoses, and a ball valve to connect them. Have to unload the tractor tomorrow and see what’s up.

 

[TMGT]

Does it just use air instead of fluid?

 

[Imaybail]

No, it’s a double acting cylinder, according to the builder. Could be used on a dump trailer with supporting brackets.

 

[TMGT]

No, it’s a double acting cylinder, according to the builder. Could be used on a dump trailer with supporting brackets.

Without any external setup though it sounds like it might just use air to dampen, unless there's internal valving which I doubt (and could cause a complication for adding a valve).