Albert wrote:

I'm thinking about getting an open trailer for general hobby use
(hauling steel tubes, dimensional lumber, an occasional machine, and
an occasional car). I'm thinking tandem axle, electric brakes on both
axles, 18' long, and 7000 to 10000 pound GVWR. I've seen many of
these with a slanted dovetail on the rear-most 4 feet. I understand
this dovetail combined with 2 short length ramps make it easier to
load a low clearance vehicle. But I don't understand why a flat bed
and 2 long ramps wouldn't do the same job. Do long ramps bend
easily? Are they uneconomical in terms of cost and weight compared to
a dovetail? While they might be good for loading a car, I don't see
them helping if I'm carrying long tubes or wood.

Also, I've considered an enclosed trailer but have yet to see any with
strong tie-downs that would be appropriate for tying down a machine.
And they sure are expensive.


I have a 14' trailer that I built for my racecar and the bed is flat.
The ramps I built are made with 1' X 1'. .090 steel tube with diamond
plate welded on top and hinges in the middle and they will, indeed,
bend. I cured that problem with a pair of HF aluminum jack stands which
I place just forward of the hinge line. Works great. I've even hauled
the '81 Corvette on it. The ramps fold up to about 4' and are stowed
across the rear of the trailer with two shortened ratchet straps. Made a
hook for the trailer end of the ramps out of 1" angle iron and that fits
into a slot formed with 2" by 1/4" strap that goes the width of the rear
of the trailer. That way you can adjust the width of the ramps to suit
different vehicles.

Jim