Great video Scott,,,I basically copied your setup today...My trailer is a 5x10 standard utility trailer with expanded metal tail gate...I went to Home Depot got the 120# set of 2 springs,,,they are about 24 inches long...also got 4 each 5/16 eye bolts and 4 each 5/16 chain connectors ( the ones that unscrew in middle of its oval shape). I drilled my 5/16 holes in each of the top 2x2 rails only 2 1/2 inches from the end of top rail...I drilled the top 5/16 holes at both sides af the top of the tailgate...I just barely stretched each spring and attached them into the connectors.....only work was drilling 4 holes and attached springs total time ,,20 minutes...spent about 26 bucks,,,1 finger to open,,, 1 finger to lift...Scott, I credit your design...
Roy moody. I have the same trailer like you. going to put springs on mine as well. so on yours u only went 2-1/2 inches from the end towards the front to mount your spring? Mine is angle iron though. but still can be done like yours. But that was my question to you because that's where I am stuck on where to mount it on the top rail
Rod Moody I plan on doing this project today. Been in lawn care 5 years now and have arthritis in my lower back. I most definitely need this. My only concern is what bit to use to drill the holes. I have a Dewalt impact driver.
You should have installed a safety cable down the center of the spring and attached to your eyebots, If those springs should ever break, You may be up shit creek and a hospital visit. A 130 spring streched out and flying free could really hurt you are anyone close by. Chevk it out friend.
I have this trailer. Mine is a 6X8. This did not work for me. Drilled the holes, used the eye bolts. I used 140lb springs. I could barely notice anything at all with 2 springs. I moved the bottom springs to the next support toward the wheel well and drilled 2 more holes as high as I could. It worked a little better but not much at all. I could put a alot if tension on them but the springs want to pull the ramp back toward the bed. Really disappointed. I am taking the springs back and chalking this up to a bad experience.
Tried it without tension and did not work but we have different springs mine is from home depot about 2' long and does not seem to be as stiff as yours where did you get your springs from? I think that is the problem.
What strength springs did you put on that? This seems to be the most simple way to do an assisted ramp gate without a whole lot of effort or expense. I was thinking of putting a small hydraulic ram on my trailer ramp and just connect it to my quick connect hydraulics on my Kioti tractor which I would be carrying most of the time. The just use the bucket control to raise and lower the gate. BUT, the gate is still heavy if I don't have my tractor aboard for some reason ! lol
I wish I could remember. Never thought so many people would be interested. They were just plain vanilla garage door springs. I just got the ones that looked like they would fit. I got one at first and then added another because one wasn't enough. I would just go buy two and if they don't help lift the gate I'd buy the next heavier set of springs. I just bought them at my local hardware store.
It was suggested to me NOT to use a winch system, as the winch won't stop pulling exactly where you'd want your door to 'stop'...so it could potentially snap the winch cable or damage the ramp.
your spring an your eye bolts are inside this only mean one thing sooner or later u will hang your zero turn mower or atv / utv or golf cart going buy new tires when u run into the eye bolts or spring ! need to be on the other side trailer rail / tail gate other side trail gate plus + your spring want broke
I have a box truck 16 foot box, I had a ramp welded on to it and it weighs 160 lbs 7 feet long with a fold out extension an other 4 feet. What weight spring do you think I should buy? How much your ramp weigh, and what weight spring did you use? Thanks
I'm not an engineer or anything, I just "Okied" this up. Probably the guys at a garage door company could answer your question. I don't remember how much the ramp weighed. I'd say something in the neighborhood of about 50 or 60 lbs. Garage doors are pretty heavy. I'd start with a heavier spring on both sides of the ramp and see how it goes. There may be some trial and error involved.
Scott Van Artsdalen Yeah my welder guy have pretty much given up so I'm on my own but I will try the 160 pound spring on each side and see, I guess there is a lot depending on the position of the springs as well. Thanks
Yeah, too much spring and the gate won't open, not enough and it will slam down. You may have to just do some trial and error. Just keep your toes out of the way!
i got two springs at 160 lbs each and it did not work but I stretched it out at the upright putting them under tension do you think that is why it doesn't work that and I just hooked the top end for now on the grid but will use eye bolts when I know it works
When the ramp is upright the springs are not under any tension, just hanging there. They stretch out when the ramp is lowered. I was able to put the springs on without any trouble.
