I just purchased a used Merhow 2-horse trailer. The ramp is a lot steeper than I anticipated (bought sight unseen). I will be buying a coco mat to add traction, just wondering if there are any ways to make the angle less severe? I plan to have the trailer in the shop over the winter for a full inspection and some minor repairs, so will ask about a more permanent solution, but if there are any temporary fixes I’d love to hear them. Thanks.
You could rest it on a sturdy block, like a length of 4x4 or similar, instead of setting it on the ground when it’s open.
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When you can, park it strategically into a hill.
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I had the same issue with a previous trailer. I had 40lb sandbags (for work) that I put under each end of the ramp. The ramp was able to sink into the sand for added security but still get noticeable lift. They also helped to steady the ramp on uneven surfaces. This worked very well for me.
Step-up trailers usually have a ‘dock bumper’ – a hollow rounded bumper with holes in it so you can insert the tool to bolt it to the trailer.
Can you add one of those on the bottom edge of the ramp? That will lift it 4-6 inches when the ramp is down, and change the angle.
Here’s a photo of a section of the bumper I’m talking about on a step-up: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmoak…7704743630135/
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Adding a cleat or two, to the ramp is a big help in slip prevention going in or out. By cleat, I mean a strip of wood 1" x 3" across the width of ramp with long screws. Horse hoof can only slip to the cleat, no further. Horse gets confident he won’t slide down while entering or exiting the trailer. Horse WILL DO baby steps out, to find the cleat, put his hoof down solidly for the next step.
We have cleats on all our ramps, so much safer to load horses with them always in place. Our ramps are longer, 4ft, so we have 3 cleats on each of them. We put the cleats over rubber mats on the ramps. Cleats get marks, pieces chunked out from studded shoes, so in time (usually years) they may need replacing. Just unscrew, put on another cut piece of wood, screw it down. 15 minutes work.
I never wanted to mess with the coir mat. Needs storage, bound to get poopy and then needs handling to put away. I get sweaty and dirty enough loading to go, packing needed stuff! I am just a grubby person, do not want to add poop to the mess I collect on me.
I love the cleats, always in place, never have to think about them when going places.
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I have seen short legs added to a ramp.
I had an old Merhow with a steep ramp. I needed to get the floor replaced and also the wood on the ramp. So I had the repair person screw a stall mat with ridges? ( strips of rubber )- on upside down so the strips were on the upper side of the ramp. It was still steep but it was not as slippery as before when the ramp had a slick rubber surface. The ramp was heavier but the horse had better traction .
