we just bought a cute little  1995 Hart alum.  BP.   it's been sitting a while but overall is in very good shape. I drove it home in the dark, over bridges and thru tunnels praying to the tire gods the 15 yr old tires wouldn't blow!     it's gonna be a fun project, getting it spiffed back up.   first thing we did was  get new tires, which was a relief.  it needs brakes worked on, and wheel bearings repacked, etc. 

   the ramp makes a very loud squeel/screech when lifted up and down.  it moves easily enough tho.     It's so loud I could hear it from across a 4 acre pasture yesterday.    my husband oiled everything that could be oiled and said probably something is bent, we're hearing metal on metal and probably not much we can do- does that sound right??    maybe it's the rod that goes thru the hinges or something?   

  if we can't get it work any quieter I'll have to do some serious groundwork w/ the horses  around the trailer first cause the little darlings will freak out when they hear it!       

any suggestions/advise?   thanks! 

Keep oiling and working it... May need disassembling, cleaning and lubing with some Mobil 1 synthetic grease. That Mobil 1 will also work really well in those old dry wheel bearings...

https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_1_Synthetic_Grease.aspx

If the mobile 1 Oil Retento mentioned doesn't work, you can also try some specific penetrating oils such as Kroil or Liquid Wrench. Other fluids can also be effective as penetrants; brake, ATF, and hydraulic fluids are also good candidates. Brake fluid is especially good, but do not use it where in might drip onto a painted surface.

If by liberally applying the oil to the hinge pin in the middle of each open space, you cannot alleviate the noise, the hinge pins can be driven out and the hinges disassembled and the ramp removed. Then the hinge bosses can be individually drilled and taped for Zerk grease fittings. When the hinges are reassembled, they can then be lubricated using synthetic grease applied with a pressure gun. This will ensure the original problem will not again resurface.

Do not put any sort of grease on the hinge parts now. It will only block the application of the oil, necessary to free up the hinge pins.

Gard

thanks everyone!

 so how hard would it be to get the rod out of the hinge barrels?  it's a single rod the width of the trailer and seems to be in there pretty solid.  think we'll  try some super penitrating oils first.   

I'm not a big fan of ramp trailers but couldn't pass up a good deal!  don't most have 2 or 3 seperate rod and hinge assemblies?  

All I've seen lately has from 4-7 hinge joints with one continous rod that runs all the way across.... This rod may be welded to the outside hinge on the ends.