Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[BigBlue1]

I dislike removable ramps as they sometimes want to remove themselves when loading. Not often, but it happens. Plus having to lug them around is a chore as you have stated. On our delivery trailers we were using flip ramp style trailers, but when a guy calls at the last minute and says to add a rotary cutter we would have to switch the delivery over to the deck-over gooseneck as mowers take a ton of space and obviously you can't hang much more than a tailwheel over the back with the fixed ramps. We eventually settled on all tilt trailers. Hydraulic dove on the big trailer, tilt trailers on the bumper pulls. They can have challenges as well, but for us we would never go back to ramps.

Yeah, I can see that risk about falling off. I've never had it happen but I've only used one for 2 years. The mods I want to make will eliminate that issue too. But the ability to remove the ramps when hauling long equipment or other things (long boards, etc.) is very nice.

Rob

 

[sixdogs]

It also looked like he may have mashed the truck tailgate with the bucket when the tongue broke off.

That would be appropriate. Couldn't see that coming.

This situation is one of the reasons I really like my trailer with removable/storable ramps. They don't get in the way when you need to load something like you see in this pic. I do cuss at them when I have to lift them and slide them under the side of the trailer but overall they are the better solution for me. This summer I'm thinking of welding a tube to the front of them so I can put a rod through them which will allow me to use them as flip-up ramps or pull the rod and store them as normal. Best of both worlds.

Rob

To get more room on mine, I got longer retaining bars and drilled holes further out to set the gate more upright than leaning forward. Gives me an extra six or so inches and now my cultivators fit. I also drilled holes in the correct location so I only use the further hole when I need to.

EDIT--Here's the photos that go with this.

 

[aczlan]

The A frame looks to be made of rather thin material. I think the coupler broke off from fatigue exasperated by the large tongue weight.

The coupler looks to be a bulldog, I wonder what its rating was.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

A coupler, even a cheap stamped out one, would be far safer and stronger if bolted to a heavy piece of tubing, with your typical horizontal through, from side to side bolts. Welds can crack with time and stress.

 

[Rock Crawler]

A coupler, even a cheap stamped out one, would be far safer and stronger if bolted to a heavy piece of tubing, with your typical horizontal through, from side to side bolts. Welds can crack with time and stress.

Corrected...
All metal will eventually crack with cyclic loading stress.

The heat affected zone will crack faster from cyclic loading due to embrittlement and also from intergranular stress corrosion cracking.

 

[Diggin It]

Guy said tongue was already cracked prior ....

You can only go to the well of luck so many times before you kick the bucket.

 

[Industrial Toys]

True. That is why something like that should be WAY over built. Anything like that, built "JUST" heavy enough will fail, given time and stress. And, doing anything less is unforgivable. It does not add a huge price or weight to the trailer. It's only the tongue, but what could be more important?

 

[sixdogs]

The coupler looks to be a bulldog, I wonder what its rating was.

Aaron Z

Not sure but it looks like a 7,000 lb or 7,500 lb one I used to have.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always loved those old cast couplers you would screw "perfectly" tight and then adjust a wing nut to lock it in place. No one has time for THAT anymore!

 

[TMGT]

They make those couplers from 5k to 12,500lb versions but I'm willing to bet its probably a 7k.

I like to use 14klb rated couplers on 7klb trailers and 20klb rated on my 14klb trailer. I like to have a little more safety margin, plus the heavier couplers are a lot nicer to use.