Trailer fab project...extending ramp and ramp assist

[mark12]

Been wanting to this for a while. I have a bagger for my hustler and when I try and back up the ramp to dump it catches on the ramp. I can not even back up on the ramp because the brackets hit the ramp before the rear tires come in contact with the ramp. Kinda a pain in the rear. So I decided I was not going through another winter messing with the ramp. I extended the ramp 2 feet. Added cross bracing down the middle too. After getting all that done the darn thing was way way too heavy to lift up and down. So then decided to add some springs to help with the weight. Put 2 springs on....still too heavy. Added 2 more springs......the gate wouldn't even hit the ground. lol It stuck out almost parallel to the floor of the trailer. So my buddy says heat the springs up until the ramp goes down. We heated up 2 springs...bad bad idea. Found out heating up these springs ruins them. So off to get just one more spring. Got that welded on and its perfect. It goes to the ground and I can lift it with one hand. I have included some pics of the project.

[mark12]

A few more pics.....before I could take my ramp off of my trailer...now with the springs on its on there for good.

[ProTouch Groundscapes]

looks good, any little thing you can do to just make things easier are the most rewarding projects.

[MikeKle]

Im curious how those torsion springs work. Does it lessen the gates weight alot? Where did you find those springs at? Ive only been able to find small torsion springs,

[mark12]

Yes the springs help a ton! I tried lift the gate up and it was very heavy. It was a struggle to get it past my hips and press up to close it. I got the springs at my local trailer fab shop. I have seen them on the web too at a couple of trailer supply sites. They were 15.00 each and worth every penny. With three on I can still put down the gate and stop about 6 inches from the ground and let go and the gate will rest in that position. I just step on it from that height to bring it to the ground. I can put my foot under the gate and kinda flip it up to my waste and then grab it and close it. I can lower and raise the gate with one arm pretty easy. I went out today and mowed 5 houses. It was still a little intimidating when you start to lower the gate, I can not reach the top of the gate when it is closed...I guess I can not get out the memory of how heavy it was and how heavy it should be...but when i start to lower it I just have to smile.

[TexasFire221]

My trailer had two of those springs on when I had it made. Its good and bad. When your alone and trying to load your ZTR and the gate is 10 inches off the ground. One of springs broke just last month. Trailer is less than 2 years old. I was kinda happy it broke.