Trailer Outriggers

admin

A buddy of mine just purchased a 16' dump bed trailer that will also be used to haul a small excavator (6500lbs).  The trailer is plenty capable but the ramps don't have bumps/stops like some trailers to keep the weight off of the back of trailer when loading/unloading the equipment.  I told him that I could put outriggers on both rear corners to help stabilize during loading.  I was planning on 2"x2"x3/16" tube with 1/4" pads welded to the bottom.  I could then weld a piece of 2.5"x2.5"x3/16" tube to the body of the trailer and drill a series of holes to allow a standard 5/8" hitch pin to be used to make height adjustments.  I would prefer just to use a top crank trailer jack on both corners but he will be doing the fabrication work and he's to cheap to buy 2 trailer jacks when the steel is less than 1 decent jack.  What are your thoughts and have any of you done this or something similar before?Hobart 210 MVPEverlast Power Pro 256Best money I ever spent was on a welding class  MTEC
Reply:I always just threw a big wood block under that back end of the trailer when needed.  Make sure to tell him not to put the riggers on the ground BEFORE loading.  You want them a couple inches off the ground.  Otherwise they get stuck once weight is on the trailer.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI always just threw a big wood block under that back end of the trailer when needed.  Make sure to tell him not to put the riggers on the ground BEFORE loading.  You want them a couple inches off the ground.  Otherwise they get stuck once weight is on the trailer.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI always just threw a big wood block under that back end of the trailer when needed.  Make sure to tell him not to put the riggers on the ground BEFORE loading.  You want them a couple inches off the ground.  Otherwise they get stuck once weight is on the trailer.
Reply:I hadn't thought about not being able to get them up after the trailer squats.  Sounds like another reason to convince him to not be cheap and do it right.  Considering the weight limit of the trailer and load distribution do you think that dual 2000lb jacks could handle the job?  If not looks like dual 5000lb which I prefer but the cheaper ones don't swivel and would have to be cranked all the way up and down every time or I would have to fab up swivels for them.Hobart 210 MVPEverlast Power Pro 256Best money I ever spent was on a welding class  MTEC
Reply:A lot of equipment trailers have a foot that pins to the jack. That way you can quickly add or subtract the majority of the height and then just run the jack enough to take up the load. It also allows you to make sure nothing protrudes below the trailer to get caught on things. I'd much rather have a jack like this vs a swivel one.Not exactly what I was looking for, but fairly close to give you an idea what I'm thinking about..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan