Project trailer almost done.

[HFV]

Today I welded on tabs for the hinges, and added some latches to hold the ramp upright. I think I’ll remake the latches in steel, I just wanted to test the idea with wood. The slot is angled so that the tailgate has to be pushed in about a 1/2” inch before the latch can be lifted up. I shook the gate has hard as I could and they wouldn’t come loose, even with only one side hooked.

Of coarse once the ramp was actually attached I had to test it out. https://www.instagram.com/p/CIRMfVOjg1H/?igshid=w5k0epk3m8

[RallyDarkstrike]

I'd still put something as basic as a hook + eye from those locking pieces of wood on the pins that hold up the ramp and latch them to the bed sides just to make SURE the ramp won't come loose while you're towing. Cheap and easy solution for a little extra security.

[Urambo Tauro]

@hfv said in Project trailer almost done.:

I think I’ll remake the latches in steel, I just wanted to test the idea with wood.

That's a relief! I expect that wood would likely split along the grain if tasked with holding that gate for long.

[jminer]

@hfv That’s starting to come together nicely. I loved a landscape trailer with a ramp for loading motorcycles. I hate putting them in truck beds with a passion.

[NomDePlume]

You should look into better fenders after your ramp is securely locked for travel.

[HFV]

@urambo-tauro yeah I don’t have full faith in that wood. But it took about 10 minutes to make those out of scrap wood. I have some 3/16 steel to make new ones tomorrow now that I know the design works.

[HFV]

@jminer I’m really happy with how easy it is to load/unload my bike on to it. I could even ride my cruiser on there. When it’s hooked too the car the bed of the trailer is only about 16” high. And the ramp is 48” long so it’s not very steep at all.

[HFV]

@nomdeplume I’m planing on filling the open area around the fenders with some leftover 1x6.

[VincentMalamute]

I just googled trailer ramp latches. That's a design rabbit hole you could spend hours thinking about.

[HFV]

@vincentmalamute there are so many options.

[Shop-Teacher]

Even in steel, I wouldn't trust that latch design. I think that will end up vibrating/shaking loose. You want something with a positive connection.

[jminer]

@HFV for trailer latches I'd recommend a spring loaded pin. Something like this bolted to the wood frame and the pin seating into a hole in the ramp.

The landscape trailer I used had this design and it's very simple to operate and very secure.

[HFV]

@shop-teacher I think what I’ll do is drill another hole to put a pad lock in. It seems like the simplest solution.

[Shop-Teacher]

@hfv That should do. It could ever be a hitch on n. Just something that positively connects.

[NomDePlume]

@hfv said in Project trailer almost done.:

@shop-teacher I think what I’ll do is drill another hole to put a pad lock in. It seems like the simplest solution.

At that point why not circle back to my hinted at reinforced tie down points and make securing cargo an integrated solution. Since cargo is obviously going to be motorcycles and other toys.