New trailer and a few improvements

[Scooter]

I needed a longer and higher capacity trailer than my 6' X 12' single axle, for the little tractor and hauling wood. I bought a Gatormade car hauler, 16' 7000 lb capacity trailer with brakes on both axles. You may have noticed from some of my other threads I have a real problem with leaving anything the way I buy it? So the modifications started. Here are pictures of when I brought it home. I added better safety chains and hooks to start.

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[Scooter]

Next was a 7K drop leg jack and a mount for my hand winch.

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[Scooter]

Next was to add some 1/4" X 2" flat bar to the stake pockets for a rub rail and extra places to tie down, plus I thought it might stiffen up the trailer frame some, except where the spare tire mounts?

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[Scooter]

Then it was time for the D-rings, first was 6 but I added two more later. All were bolted through the frame. To keep someone from walking away with the ramps I added an angle to lock them in.

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[Scooter]

I will be hauling cut wood on this trailer so I needed something for sides that are removable.
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[Scooter]

The wiring was the next thing on the list. I removed more than 18 scotch locks and replaced them with non insulated butt connectors soldered and then shrink wrapped, also added a charger to the brake battery. You can also see the hand winch installed. I do not use the winch enough to justify buying a electric one but in an emergency there is something?


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[Scooter]

Carrying the ramps from the side of the trailer to the back got old very fast. I made a set of ramps styled after the type used on light equipment trailers. I got on a roll and had them built and put on before I took pictures.


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[Scooter]

Here are the ramps installed on the trailer, with 1/4" X 2" flat bar for holding them.


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[Scooter]

When I drilled the 5/8" holes for the pins on the ramp, the side angle was weakened so I fit a piece of 1/4" flat bar to the inside to add some strength to it. All cut and beveled with the trusty PP60 cutter. Then came the spring assist for lifting the ramps, there was a problem here because all I found were springs for a 3/4" shaft ( to light I thought) and springs for a 1-1/2" shaft, with the recommendation from the seller I went with the 1-1/2" for the 1" solid shafts that were used but I did make sleeve spacers out of PVC pipe to keep the spring centered. There is a slight problem with the ramps not wanting to sit on the ground? I have oiled the springs so hopefully they will twist easier and I will let them hang to weaken. If this does not work it is back to the drawing board?
Thanks for looking
Scooter

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[performance]

Scooter, is this an entry for you into the contest? If it is please follow the guidelines for Posting project number so we can keep tabs. IF it is, I can try and change the title to reflect that for you so it will count.

Looks like the spring problem is a problem of not enough weight. They will weaken, but as I have found out, its more likely the placement of the tab that holds the spring and where it actually begins to build pressure.

[yotarover]

i say you should ditch the hand winch and get a atv winch or go to tractor supply and try one of their champions. other words i'd recommend mile marker,titan,warn, ramsey and i'd change the line over to synthetic line etc

[Scooter]

Scooter, is this an entry for you into the contest? If it is please follow the guidelines for Posting project number so we can keep tabs. IF it is, I can try and change the title to reflect that for you so it will count.

Looks like the spring problem is a problem of not enough weight. They will weaken, but as I have found out, its more likely the placement of the tab that holds the spring and where it actually begins to build pressure.

Mark it was suppose to be an entry for the contest, I guess I just did not read far enough in the instructions. LOL

I agree on the springs being to strong for the weight of the ramps, the springs do not even make contact until the ramps are probably 30 degrees from vertical, this allows the ramps to easily adjust along the 1" mounting rod. I wish I could have found weaker springs somewhere.
Scooter

[Scooter]

i say you should ditch the hand winch and get a atv winch or go to tractor supply and try one of their champions. other words i'd recommend mile marker,titan,warn, ramsey and i'd change the line over to synthetic line etc

Aaron, I have a Warn 2500 lb winch with synthetic line I took off my 4 wheeler because I never used it. I plan on using it on the tractor to pull small logs. I had the hand winch on the other trailer for over six years and used it once, thats why I don't want to run the wire to the back of the truck or add a deep cycle battery to the trailer that will probably never get used. I had the hand winch so I put it on, really don't need it, it was just something to do.
Scooter