Dual purpose trailer gate, mower and tractor

[Jetmekdc-10]

I have a customer that has a 16 foot trailer with a 2 foot dovetail. He uses it to haul a 35 hp. midsize tractor and a 60 inch ztr mower. Right now he has two sets of ramps and wants me to build a single ramp that is strong enough for his tractor but wide and smooth enough to drive his mower up. I explained to him that this was going to be an extremely heavy ramp and I doubt the back edge of the trailer can support a gate like that bouncing down the highway. Any ideas. Thanks in advance, Adam

[Vernon]

Here is a fast drawling I made you can use lite material and still be very strong Sorry the drawling was not to scale. Just a ideal to think about.
Vernon

[m.k.swelding]

I had taken some ramps and welded some pipe to the end of them and then welded a section of larger pipe to the trailer with the pipe on the ramp slide on so the ramps will move back and forth.

[Jetmekdc-10]

Vern, Thanks for the pic, Mk, That is what I have on my trailer and tried to sell that idea to him. What he is asking for is a gate like on the back of a landscape trailer that is strong enough for a tractor but smooth enough his mower deck won't hang up. I have no doubt I can build it for him but I think it will be so heavy he won't be able to raise and lower it.

[Diverdude]

Do a search for commercial mower accessories. Some of the guys I work with have lawn services on the side, I saw a device in one of there supply magazines that was a gate assist that bolted on the rails of the trailer and used springs to make lifting the gate easier.

[Diverdude]

Found some! http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w..._166839+778207

[metal-doctor]

Did you consider a winch,either manual or electric to assist the lift. Winch could be mounted on front of trailer & used to load eqipment as well as lift ramp

[Broccoli1]

Can you make it in 2 sections?

My little Trailer has the rear ramp gate set up that way.

Dunno what a 35hp Tractor weighs though.

[Jetmekdc-10]

Diver dude, Mr. Ed,
I think I am going to combine your ideas, I will build him a set of split gates, with assists. I can probably get by with lighter material if I use some vertical stiffeners like Vern drew out for me. Maybe a 1-1/2" sq tube frame with some stout #9 exp metal for the mower. Thanks guys, Adam

[uhohjim]

The Gorilla lift that Diver sent you works awesome.....have one on my trailer makes it super easy to lower and raise back into position. Jim