Trailer upgrades

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Did some work on this trailer for a Company called Sierra Firescape. Basically they wanted longer/stronger loading ramps and new attachment method for them. This pick is the attachment point for the new ramps Attached Images"after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:Here are the ramps-8' long Attached Images"after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:This is a close up of the 'hook' Attached Images"after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:Nice sturdy looking set-up, what does the company do?
Reply:Good looking ramps. They must pick them up and slide them onto the trailer??"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Keltic- defensible space. Basically brush disposal to reduce fuel loading around peoples homes as a preventive measure for wildland fires.Sandy- yes they just lift off. He wanted them to be adjustable width wise to fit various trac widths from bobcats/small tractors,ect.He had specked spring over axles to give him increased clearance,but neglected to take into account the loading ramp angle increase. And even though the trailer was rated for 10,000lbs there was only 1/8" angle iron rail as attachment point for the original ramps, also made of angle, the attachment was starting to bend due to a couple of things. 1)heavier loads 2)minimal angle adjustment of original ramps. This would mean the too short and lack of adjustment left the end that was supposed to be on the dirt in the air sometimes which he would just pull down as drove on them. Leverage + 'thin' material = bad combination. "after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:how much do the ramps weigh ? being 8' long they look quite heavy !
Reply:Originally posted by morpheus how much do the ramps weigh ? being 8' long they look quite heavy !
Reply:Px,Looks nice, and well thought out.  Good work.
Reply:16' of .120 wall'd 1.5x2 = ~42 lbs17' of .120 1.5" x 1.5" angle = ~21 lbs10' of .120 2" wide = ~8 lbs==========================est grand total = 71 lbs ( 35 lbs each) of raw materials.pretty good guess I'd say .. from the looks I'd say each one has at least a pound or two of mig wire
Reply:And still, nobody has noticed the main design feature of those ramps, the one that makes them strong and still light.Clean your goggles guys.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Franz, would that be the strap underneath to eliminate sag?
Reply:Yup, that strap underneath makes the ramp into a truss.Back in the days of wooden barns, we'd often install a large steel rod alongside a checking wood beam to truss it, and remove sag.It's commonly referred to as bow stringin on ramps, and allows a light weight ramp to carry a huge load.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:I was wondering if anyone would notice those  The pic came out bad, someone forgot to take it off 'macro' so do not really have any decent ones to show. If someone were interested in learning the gist of things like ; Warren & Pratt trusses. I would suggest the homebuilt aircraft resources/webpages. Compression,and Tension are basic concepts, but being able to 'see' them in your projects will be an asset.Franz, why am I not suprised that you would spot the trusses and in fact know what they are called in the trailer bizYou should consider writing one of those 'how' to make things with metal books, not too much quality stuff out there written for the Layman. I would like to have it on my 'resource library' shelf."after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:X I been doin that little trick on multimedia ramps for a few years.Folks around here buy them extruded ends and a couple crappy 2 x 8 boards, and try killin themselves loadin a small tractor on a pickup.  The good thing is they generally throw out both ramps when one busts, and I pick em up.One of the best ways to bowstring a light ramp is a piece of steel strapping, generally jacked tight enough to put a slight arch in the ramp.I'd post a photo, but some rat bassard is sendin me 8" of snow, and the ramps will be under that.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Franz, you getting snow now ? Nothing here at 10:30....hmmm..maby the higher taxes I pay are worth it...!