Help! How to modify heavy trailer ramp?

[McGurk]

Help, COTH hive mind.

I recently purchases a lovely, lightly used two horse aluminum bumper pull trailer that I love; however, the ramp is freakin’ heavy. DH and I both have bad backs and bad knees.

For my bday; I asked for new springs for the ramp, and DH made it happen. Unfortunately, new springs did.not.help.at.all. Very depressed about this development.

DH’s next thought is to replace the 3/4" mat on the ramp with a 1/2" or 1/4" mat.

Current ramp mat weighs over 100#, going to the 1/2" saves about 40# of weight.

I know I am not the first person to struggle with this issue. Please tell me how you all cope with a heavy trailer ramp.

[sherian]

friend of mine has a winch to raise and lower the ramp on his, probably easy enough to have added (runs off battery)

[trubandloki]

Springs would have been my answer.

Have you taken it to a trailer place to ask for their thoughts on why the ramp is so heavy to lift even with the new springs?

[clanter]

even though the springs were replaced were the correct springs used? As suggested it may be helpful to take this to a company that knows what they are looking at.

I owned an overhead door company for years… not all springs are the same, a garage door spring has to be rated for the use to counter balance the door properly. If done correctly an overhead garage door can be manually opened or closed with less than 10 pounds of force…and can be stopped anywhere along its travel and the door remains where stopped (does not fall to the ground or zip to the roof)

If it can be done for a garage door the same can be done with a trailer ramp. Either incorrect springs were used or too few were used.

[eightpondfarm]

i had my ramp taken apart and a corregated steel sheet installed to replace the 3/4" plywood that was between the mat and the steel exterior. That plywood would get when when i hose out the trailer and stay that way for a verrrrry long time…making it extra heavy. And then, i changed the rubber mat to a thinner rubber sheet. AND i keep the springs WD40’d. Also, if you can, don’t ever park uphill, park downhill (if you can) or at least on the level if you must. Let gravity assist.

[OTTBs]

Brenderups have gas shocks to assist with closing the ramp, could be something to ask about at a trailer place. Actually, I know my B’up must have not been set up quite right. It took a little oomph to get it raised, but in their literature they quoted someone that could raise it with one hand. Now my Shadow trailer, I can raise that ramp with one hand easily!

[McGurk]

Help! Sweet, determined, non-horse husband is on a mission to fix this problem. He has found a product used for roof walkway mats that he wants to use to replace the existing matting on the ramp as it’s 1/3 of the weight.

[https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/rooftop-walkway-rubber-mats]

I am very skeptical. I have no idea how safe this will be for horses. His first idea was truck bed liner which I vetoed as way too slick, dangerous for horses and impossible to clean.

[grinanride]

I may have more advice but would need brand and a photo - PM if you want -
get your mat from Hawk Trailers - it is thin jute backed very durable and very nubby and non skid
Risa
HappyTrailsTrailers.com
BalancedRideTrailers.com

[McGurk]

@grinanride,

2006 Eclipse Straight Load Bumper Pull Warmblood size.

[grinanride]

Hmmm - should not be heavy at all - is the rod bent? barrels bent? not sure if they are still open but
try River Valley Trailers ( should be the follow up to Eclipse )
R

[Joozybug]

I replaced my mat on my old Kingston because the ramp was so heavy. Trailer place used a mat that they put in Hawk trailers. Much lighter. It did lift up at edges so I was always stapling it back down.

[grinanride]

use flat head screws with a small washer
Risa

[Joozybug]

That would have worked better! Sold trailer though, bought step up.

[McGurk]

Update: DH actually did pull the old mat off the trailer ramp, and it was 3/4s of the weight of the ramp - crazy heavy. He is in the process of installing the roof walkway mats. They will certainly be tons lighter. I will post back with the final results including the horses loading on the new mat.

[cutter99]

Can you tell us what mats and where you got them McGurk? Thanks!

[McGurk]

Link is up above, they are Sure-Seal 30 X 30 PS Walkway pads made by Firestone.

We bought them at a roofing/construction supply store. Total cost for mats and screws ~$120 for a ~ 6’ X 4’ ramp.

[LCDR]

I agree with a previous post. A powered ramp winch is the way to go for those of us who are aging and losing upper body muscle mass, or physically challenged due to injury, or both in my case.

There are many on the market, both manual and electric. These have saved several older riders I know, who otherwise would not be able to load and haul alone.

A Google search will reveal a lot of options.