Question Tailgate assist

[Lucky1]

Does anyone know what pound springs (Useing 2 springs, 1 on each side) it would take to lift a 160 pound landscape tailgate. Need short spring about 16 - 18'' long. Don't want garage spring. Thank You

 

[GaryM]

It's going to depend on where the spring is attached to the tailgate in relation to the hinge point. The further from the hinge, the lighter the spring needs to be. However it does need to be longer/have more travel. Use a scale and measure the down pressure of the gate at the furthest point from the hinge. You'd need a spring with a pull of approx have of that, assuming two springs. If the attach point is halfway to the hinge, the springs need to be twice as strong. It's all in the leverage.

 

[KennyG]

I was trying to figure out how to do this a few years ago and it got real complex real quick. I bought the Gorilla Lift through Northern Tool. I got it on sale for about $139 if I remember and it's great. I could have spent weeks and still ended up with something that didn't work as well.

 

[Lucky1]

It's going to depend on where the spring is attached to the tailgate in relation to the hinge point. The further from the hinge, the lighter the spring needs to be. However it does need to be longer/have more travel. Use a scale and measure the down pressure of the gate at the furthest point from the hinge. You'd need a spring with a pull of approx have of that, assuming two springs. If the attach point is halfway to the hinge, the springs need to be twice as strong. It's all in the leverage.

I am having a Amish welding shop do this as he rebuilt the tailgate and changed the front so I could open the tailgate on my pickup with the trailer hooked up. He did put the tailgate on a scale and came up with 80 pounds. He figured to go between 8 and 12 inches up the ramp, would two 100 pound springs sound about it, he said something about makeing them adjustable.

 

[Redneck in training]

Go to junkyard and get torsion stabiliser for the spring. It is space efficient and not as dependent on perfect geometry. It doesn't need to lift the gate all the way up. Once it is lifted to certain angle it is easy to push it over to vertical position.

 

[Lucky1]

Does anyone know the pound pull of the spring on a Gator assist on their landscape trailer?

 

[Stever00]

Does anyone know the pound pull of the spring on a Gator assist on their landscape trailer?

Go here All Trailer Parts, Hydrastar, Dexter Parts, Dexter Axles, Brakes, Electric, Hydraulic, Springs and look under ramp springs. They are 1.5 od and about 13.625 long. I used one on a 4x6 top gate
with 2x2 tubing and mesh steel.

The L bracket is .375 x 3" x 11" cold roll (Cut and bend to suit your trailer.)
shackles are .250 x1" x 3
Eye bolt from Home Depot.

 

[keperkey]

Reviving an old thread. I am planning a spring assist similar to Stever and came across this thread. If you see this Steve can you post a video in operation. Did you have any trial and error about placement? My brake light is on the last upright and I am concerned about clearance. Plan on ordering the spring soon. Also need to figure out a bracket.

 

[davedj1]

All the ones I've ever seen are in a tube on top of the side of the trailer , https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Lift...ocphy=9004948&hvtargid=pla-571974798697&psc=1, that way length isn't such an issue. Garage door springs are cheap, start with some mid weight ones. Or you could put some like this on the hinges Ramp Spring - 2K Torque for 1-1/2" Shaft - RH Redline Enclosed Trailer Parts RS16933RH

 

[keperkey]

I can do the garage door spring set up but the short spring similar to the Gatormade trailer makes more sense to me.