Dirt shedder ramps

[Hay Dude]

So if one were to buy a deck over with dirt shedder ramps like my Kaufman GN, is there a way to install something to make it easier to run small tire equipment up the ramps?
Looks like ordering a trailer is a bridge to nowhere and dealers do have a few in stock that meet most of my needs. Really don’t want to go this route, but it is what it is.
Dirt shedder bars make running zero turns up the ramps a very uncomfortable experience.
Weld mesh on them? Install wedges in between bars?
I haven’t found ONE trailer with wood filled monster ramps.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I don't see how you could permanently mount something to the ramp that won't interfere with it's clearance while folding it back up. You could maybe lay a couple of cut 2x6's up the ramp to drive up when needed. Could bolt a bracket or flange to the end of the board to hold it on the ramp, then remove it to fold up.

I have more aggressive open ramps on my flat bed car trailer, and I lay 2x6's on them when loading small wheeled stuff.

 

[Panik]

I have a Kaufman and a BX. I get what you're saying about comfort. With 4wheel drive engaged I can go slow enough that the whoop de whoops from the cleanouts on the ramp aren't that bad.

This would require a lot of cutting a welding, but you might:

- Measure the width of your zero turn's back wheels center to center
- Transcribe that width as a path on the cleanouts on the trailer ramp
- Cut and weld sections of smaller size box tube perpendicularly between each of the cleanouts along the path described by the width of your zero turns tires; doing so in in such a manner that the sections of box tube are maybe 3/4" or so shy of being level with top edge of the cleanouts.

The idea being that the box tube would prevent the tires from dropping as far into the gaps between the cleats, without creating a situation where you lose all traction going up the ramps. Dunno, hopefully someone can come up with a more elegant and less time consuming solution for you.

LOL, my real issue is that I can just barely get the ramps on my trailer to adjust in far enough to match the width of the BX's tire track.

 

[Hay Dude]

What about welding wire mesh to tops of dirt shedder bars? Wonder if it’s strong enough to “span“ them without ripping?
I don’t think the zero turn or my F3680 are heavy enough to rip the wire fabric.
Ramps should still fold, right?

 

[TMGT]

Just get some diamond plate or expanded metal and bolt or weld it over the ramps/dove. As long as the ramps don't have the raised angle that fits into the dove (I think diamond C is like this) then it won't interfere.
There enough support that you should be able to use pretty thin diamond plate, like 14g, even alum would work to save some weight but I'd do 1/8 for alum.

Could also just do strips if you only have a couple peices of equipment that needs it.

 

[TMGT]

What about welding wire mesh to tops of dirt shedder bars? Wonder if it’s strong enough to “span“ them without ripping?
I don’t think the zero turn or my F3680 are heavy enough to rip the wire fabric.
Ramps should still fold, right?

You can get expanded steel that would be plenty strong and still fairly light.

 

[Hay Dude]

I wonder if this area may be a problem for small tires. I don’t think it would be.

 

[Hay Dude]

Seemed like a few years back, all bigger trailer dealers would keep a few units in stock with wood filled ramps.

 

[Birdhunter1]

If you ever load or unload something when it is wet you will very much appreciate the surface on those ramps vs a more solid surface, especially wood, that will be slippery as ice.

 

[TMGT]

Seemed like a few years back, all bigger trailer dealers would keep a few units in stock with wood filled ramps.

I've had the same problem, at least you can special order it from a couple manufacturers on the smaller models but its definitely not very standard until you get into the bigger "paver" trailers.

Of course ordering isn't really an option right now unless you can wait a year.

 

[Hay Dude]

If you ever load or unload something when it is wet you will very much appreciate the surface on those ramps vs a more solid surface, especially wood, that will be slippery as ice.

I’m well aware of how slippery it can be a few times a year, but that pales in comparison to barely being able to load at all if little tires won’t go over dirt shedder ramps.
I tried a practice run loading my mowers on my Kaufman GN with dirt shedder ramps and it was rough.

 

[TMGT]

Some 3/4-9 expanded metal would be plenty strong and have great of traction while still being smooth for small tire equipment.
I would probably just do runners where the equipment that needs it travels instead if the whole ramp.

You could get the flattened 3/4-9 also but would lose a lot of traction without any benefit in ride.

 

[TMGT]

I wouldn't worry about the hinge area, its smoother then the angle and has the hinges to help bridge it, plus its only the 1 spot instead of dozens in a row!

 

[npalen]

Looks like a few wood inserts temporarily laid in between the angle irons would smooth it out if they would be supported on the ends well enough.
Welding a few additional angle iron pieces in place might help but at the expense of additional weight.

 

[i7win7]

So if one were to buy a deck over with dirt shedder ramps like my Kaufman GN, is there a way to install something to make it easier to run small tire equipment up the ramps?

Small equipment - look at landscape/mower type trailer

Added winch to raise/lower tailgate. Added hoist to remove tailgate for palletized loads. It also dumps

 

[Hay Dude]

So if one were to buy a deck over with dirt shedder ramps like my Kaufman GN, is there a way to install something to make it easier to run small tire equipment up the ramps?

Small equipment - look at landscape/mower type trailer
View attachment 705352
Added winch to raise/lower tailgate. Added hoist to remove tailgate for palletized loads. It also dumps

Need 102” x 25’ of deck and probably 17-20k GVWR for 6 tons of hay bales on heavy days, or 2) mowing machines on lighter days.

 

[nikerret]

The dove tail and ramps, in the one pictured, doesn’t have the angle iron above the frame. For one built like this, I would use expanded wire mesh and cut some strap to use to bolt the expanded wire mesh to the angle iron. You can reach through the holes, in the ramp frame, to secure the nuts on the bolt through the strap under the angle iron.

For the trailers where the angle iron is built above the perimeter frame, you’re not going to be able to use the same method or the ramps won’t lay flat on the dove tail. For this type, I would build four ramps that would lay over the angle iron the same way the ramps lay on the dove tail, when folded closed. Essentially, I would build ramps that cut the gaps at least in half. This would mean having to stow and carry around more ramps, but may be the lesser evil. If you know you aren’t going to need them, you could leave them at home.

 

[fried1765]

So if one were to buy a deck over with dirt shedder ramps like my Kaufman GN, is there a way to install something to make it easier to run small tire equipment up the ramps?
Looks like ordering a trailer is a bridge to nowhere and dealers do have a few in stock that meet most of my needs. Really don’t want to go this route, but it is what it is.
Dirt shedder bars make running zero turns up the ramps a very uncomfortable experience.
Weld mesh on them? Install wedges in between bars?
I haven’t found ONE trailer with wood filled monster ramps.
View attachment 705333

Those ramps are too rough for all your little lawn mowers?

 

[Hay Dude]

Those ramps are too rough for all your little lawn mowers?

Yes, especially the toro push mower!

 

[TMGT]

Yes, especially the toro push mower!

Toro? You need to upgrade to a Kubota to match your other mowers!

I think I've had mine for about 25yrs and still going strong.