Posted 2005-06-30 11:10 PM (#27452 - in reply to #27284) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Older horse vans have the slider ramps on the sides, usually head to head models. I've seen them on older Trail-ets. I think they got beat to heck and back, being on the underside and drug over every bump along the way...thus the move away from them today.
You can have them installed under the front escape door of a slant as long as the axles will allow.
The ramp isn't your horse's problem now that he fell, he hates your trailer not the ramp! I've had some flip over and down the ramp. Caught the lead rope and put them right back in the trailer. You must now be the assertive one and teach him to load. When I say teach, I mean teach. Stop wasting your time trying to feed him in the trailer and take control!
Posted 2005-07-02 8:51 AM (#27516 - in reply to #27284) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 2689
I remember inputting some thoughts on slide under ramps a few topics ago.
I think they could be made to fit well enough under the floor and OVER the axles of most trailers. This would seem to shield them from MOST of the rough ground problems, though you could still back over obstacles.
The biggest PROBLEM as I see it is that there would either be a step between the ramp and the floor OR the ramp would have to be lifted onto some sort of support when extended. Moving vans have them, though they're not 6 (7 or 8) ft wide, but much longer and there are USUALLY a couple of people around capable of lifting them onto the rear edge of the floor. Single handed trailerers might have problems with this sort of design.
Well, maybe some neat-o engineering could be figgered to make the ramp pop up into place when pulled out, then drop back when pulled again ready for stowing.
Then there are the possibilities of hydraulic - nevermind...
Posted 2005-07-02 9:06 AM (#27517 - in reply to #27284) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Reg, great points! It made my back hurt. Just thinking about being bent over holding the ramp at exactly the right angle and pushing it under the trailer. I'd feel better knowing a firing squad was behind me. At the end of the day I have just enough energy to load up and drive home usually.
Posted 2005-07-03 9:05 AM (#27540 - in reply to #27517) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by huntseat on 2005-07-02 9:06 AM
Reg, great points! It made my back hurt. Just thinking about being bent over holding the ramp at exactly the right angle and pushing it under the trailer. I'd feel better knowing a firing squad was behind me. At the end of the day I have just enough energy to load up and drive home usually.
You're doing something right. Spend ALL your energy on fun, then figure out where to find enough to load up and get home (-:
A "Push it in from the middle by one person" design wouldn't get past Gabz' design review (-:
Just imagine holding the end of the ramp and walking it in 4 or 5 ft., THEN your head/face would be a little less than arm's length above the floor and RIGHT IN kicking range (straight load trailers) BIG BADNESS )-:
Cranks and cables or electric/hydraulic ?
At least with the fold up ramps there's the length of the ramp to space us back from the hooves (about 4ft., if you don't hang your head over it).
I still think something along the lines of those 3-way tail gates on the big ole station wagons could work.
Swing it to the side out of the way if you want step-up, or lower it as a ramp. The down side is that it would take a 6 or 7ft sweep when swung out.
Posted 2005-07-04 12:14 AM (#27564 - in reply to #27517) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 2614
My old ramp trailer made more than my back hurt! I almost gave myself a slipped vertebra (C-area) lifting the one on my WW.I guess I didn't have one of these easy ones that obviously the ones who "love" theirs do,mine needed King Kong/Godzilla/someone similarly strong to put it up.You couldn't run fast enough/pay me enough to have another one.
Posted 2005-07-04 6:03 PM (#27579 - in reply to #27540) Subject: RE: Ramps ????
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Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Just imagine holding the end of the ramp and walking it in 4 or 5 ft., THEN your head/face would be a little less than arm's length above the floor and RIGHT IN kicking range (straight load trailers) BIG BADNESS )-:
Close the trailer door(s) before you push the ramp under the trailer. Hoofs would have to go through the door to get to your head.
Ramps ????
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