Jump to content

Unofficial Home of Old Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractors

Folding gate for my trailer.....done.


B10Dave

Recommended Posts

Back in the spring when my brother-in-law passed I bought his small utility trailer from my sister. It  has a mesh ramp gate which is handy for loading tractors etc. However, I find these gates, even with the expanded metal deck act like a sail in the wind when you are towing. To improve gas mileage I decided to make the gate into a folding one so it will not catch the wind so much. To start with I spent over an hour getting it all back to square before I cut it in half. Also before I cut it I built a test jig to make sure my hinge idea would work.

61303adb7e0a8_Gatebuild001.thumb.jpg.0ab88a2d3d37d701a1671ebcbffce689.jpg

 

61303b2f1a6e2_Gatebuild002.thumb.jpg.e820385ec4dc1b52a5f88d720baa6489.jpg

 

61303b83189a0_Gatebuild003.thumb.jpg.24ffc4746560c2b54568988da018c404.jpg

 

I then did my measuring, (twice) and cut the gate in half with a thin disc in my 7in. grinder.

 

61303be5c4b15_Gatebuild004.thumb.jpg.745e999b4142204f0d4e4b059f01fcb9.jpg

 

61303c3d1bc84_Gatebuild005.thumb.jpg.280d346918f8e38b66d4d177ad06ae9b.jpg

 

I already had some 1in. square tube to weld to the dissected gate halves. Today I only completed the one half. I welded some 1 X 1 angle between the cross members to give a surface to weld the expanded metal deck back down.

 

61303c93ab186_Gatebuild006.thumb.jpg.99ce790102acbba9f0a923abbd939aa4.jpg

 

61303ce6344d6_Gatebuild007.thumb.jpg.2f7e932678b768c20ae40b8625b6644d.jpg

 

61303d3863586_Gatebuild008.thumb.jpg.c5a379a4cdbcfb15ada07e75de2b4295.jpg

 

The welding is all done on this half and I cut and drilled the pieces for my hinges. I hope to get back to this project some time tomorrow but first I have to go pick up some rear tires I bought for my CA at an online auction this morning......Lloyd...first small step in getting the CA going again. Stay tuned.

 

61303d9361db6_Gatebuild009.thumb.jpg.d013f0d93595fe60f55725e818611041.jpg

 

61303de74b6b1_Gatebuild010.thumb.jpg.1cd5114563a6df1b7a4d28de6be4c432.jpg

 

More pictures as the project progresses. 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, B10Dave said:

I decided to make the gate into a folding one so it will ...

I just knew you couldn't relax and sit around and drink liquids (beer perhaps?) and wait until the official start of fall to start another project.  

  

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see one small thing that I would do different ?  I would take a section of angle iron and weld on the top or rear section of gate so as when it is down it would lay over the entire length of the gate and help to support the weight when it is down , make sense ?

I applaud ya finally maybe get the old girl going, I'd love to have it myself but just something else to sit in the road, kick myself for ever selling mine

 

DSCN4231.JPG

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, B10Dave said:

Thanks for the idea Lloyd. I will mock something up before I weld the hinges on and see what I think.

not saying your way won't work , just think that it would stiffen it up when your loading or unloading

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 720nut said:

not saying your way won't work , just think that it would stiffen it up when your loading or unloading

 

Would definently keep it from sagging in the middle

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Finally had some time today to do a bit more on the tailgate. Good thing I have not needed to use it yet. Prepped the second half gate and did the welding and angle iron to weld the decking to. Maybe some more tomorrow........or not.

 

61510b0a7cfd6_ride51079.thumb.jpg.552555d4cc29f219861187d3a1c253bf.jpg

 

61510b393215f_ride51080.thumb.jpg.ed4ec4c82c2e38870b973ffd67fe9208.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the engineering in this. I  have looked into these trailers before and never considered the tall ramp gate acting like a sail.

My concerns over ramp gate trailers are that  often times a deck can hang up on the transition angle as you go over it, especially if the gate is all the way down with the trailer parked on flat terrain. 

 

I keep musing over how one could build a gate that is arched, much like my individual arched aluminum ramps I have..?..

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, SmilinSam said:

I like the engineering in this. I  have looked into these trailers before and never considered the tall ramp gate acting like a sail.

My concerns over ramp gate trailers are that  often times a deck can hang up on the transition angle as you go over it, especially if the gate is all the way down with the trailer parked on flat terrain. 

 

I keep musing over how one could build a gate that is arched, much like my individual arched aluminum ramps I have..?..

Dies could be made to roll the tubing but unless your building a lot of trailers or ramps I don't really see it being cost effective just for one, you may find a trailer place that would roll the desired arch for you  Just my $.02

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did some more on my gate this afternoon. Lined up and clamped together the two halves.

 

61539b0bcaf73_GateBuild015.thumb.jpg.e767019c7d2176f7233a1d11b845976f.jpg

 

I made up a rod to go through all four hinges and tack welded the hinge pieces to the gate frame. Tested the movement. All good.

 

61539b55ca9e0_GateBuild016.thumb.jpg.173c353b8a441df58d57fb45ca32410a.jpg

 

61539ba1c6716_GateBuild017.thumb.jpg.47100baacf09031eee1c700201d572d0.jpg

 

61539bf1655cf_GateBuild018.thumb.jpg.62342403979ac48c75f1d7f5a4663149.jpg

 

Finished all the welds on the hinges and added the washers and cotter pins to the hinge rod.

 

61539c3856b3e_GateBuild019.thumb.jpg.096462770a6f529c70b957f2b9865117.jpg

 

61539c83805e4_GateBuild020.thumb.jpg.02063341b3f1ff5a0e089406ac331964.jpg

 

61539cceae048_GateBuild021.thumb.jpg.a98755c99c9a3f1741280d875cbd2998.jpg

 

Turned the gate over. I have to make two more small brackets and pins and weld them on then it will be time for paint.

 

61539d1ac1b18_GateBuild022.thumb.jpg.984f3b0adefe2621f84082d0a6cbef25.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • B10Dave changed the title to Folding gate for my trailer.....done.

Today I finished the modifications to my trailer ramp gate. I made two brackets to keep the gate rigid when lowering or raising it.

6156478724374_GateBuild023.thumb.jpg.4da9212d16d066cf568d1e2bd98e44ed.jpg

 

615647ce4f3e8_GateBuild024.thumb.jpg.2687b7af4de3cd5fbd788aad36de6715.jpg

 

Where the gate mounts to the trailer on one side is a closed hole and on the other side is a slot so the gate will come off. However when raising the gate if you lift it on the slot side the gate pivot lifted out of the slot.

 

61564819ac996_GateBuild025.thumb.jpg.cf8d04a9c714787fa96ac3bda65d52d8.jpg

 

615648623894b_GateBuild026.thumb.jpg.51dfff101c53f048509a5222642c2025.jpg

 

To fix that and still be able to remove the gate easily I drilled and tapped a 5/16  20TPI hole to screw in a bolt to hold that side in as well.

 

615648accbdeb_GateBuild027.thumb.jpg.219aaba5141de666747731b6cfb0d513.jpg

 

615648f5010c5_GateBuild028.thumb.jpg.482f2e9b9f6d7c03c235d9e7cbaf3b99.jpg

 

61564937a01c3_GateBuild029.thumb.jpg.30fa1250b0ef677c5651548d71f9cd29.jpg

 

Then I mounted the gate and tested it open, closed and folded. All is good.

 

6156497f98b7f_GateBuild030.thumb.jpg.56661ec21290e514c88a3e78a4ba9c8a.jpg

 

615649c2ed7ce_GateBuild031.thumb.jpg.85bdd60feb63a737c95c26a86ed81db8.jpg

 

61564a0f9a09f_GateBuild032.thumb.jpg.a4ffcc0ced153a43bae6bc8b3fecbcf4.jpg

 

61564a5f0d6d5_GateBuild033.thumb.jpg.c5d97c293501fa7121899e90f5e03645.jpg

 

An hour with a paint brush and can of rust preventative paint finished off the project. Just have to pick up a tarp strap to hold the gate folded part from moving while going down the road.

 

61564b38d719f_GateBuild034.thumb.jpg.2c78ebaf8099ea52c26d5e0013fb8bc5.jpg

 

61564b867c98c_GateBuild035.thumb.jpg.3510d976f3ef0ad2a2c06a94c843af8a.jpg

 

61564bd5bb2aa_GateBuild036.thumb.jpg.7c83c76b5cbcbc13bf39f38344058d39.jpg

 

Couldn't even stop for a celebratory beer as I had to cut my grass while the sun was still up...wah

Edited by B10Dave
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, B10Dave said:

Couldn't even stop for a celebratory beer as I had to cut my grass while the sun was still up...wah

I'm not sure about your priorities. 

Maybe you should reevaluate?  Like leave more "celebratory time" between projects - a 3 month period is recommended.  

(Great work as usual)

 

  • Haha 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bill; several beers were consumed after the grass was cut. Can't leave that much time between projects or I will be dead and stuff will not be done yet.  Notice that I started this project on Sept. 1st and finished it on the 30th. Lots of motorcycle riding, beer drinking and other stuff gets done while the project is in progress. And; I hate to sit around with nothing to do. Growing up in the 50's and 60's gave me a whole different mind set than the current generation of gamers, scammers and lazy***individuals who think the world owes them everything. Rant over..666.......Thanks for the compliment on the work.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, B10Dave said:

Growing up in the 50's and 60's gave me a whole different mind set than the current generation of gamers, scammers and lazy***individuals who think the world owes them everything.

If anyone, it's this generation and earlier that should be "entitled".  Personal responsibility is mostly gone.  The only thing that gives me some hope that we will survive is the comment my Dad made back in the late 60's:  "This country won't last another 20 years" and we have. 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/26/2021 at 6:22 PM, SmilinSam said:

I keep musing over how one could build a gate that is arched, much like my individual arched aluminum ramps I have..?..

18 hours ago, B10Dave said:

Today I finished the modifications to my trailer ramp gate. I made two brackets to keep the gate rigid when lowering or raising it.

It seems like a little redesign/re-engineering on this flip gate could make an arch in the middle and accomplish the same thing. You could even make them adjustable with screws or selectable stops.  The arched gate could be accomplished by welding a 1/4" or 3/8" thick strip - that creates the desired angle -  to the tubing on either half of the gate where they come together. Then, adjust the holes where the pins fit on the open/close locks. here's a concept drawing - 

Great work, by the way!

 

 

hinge for ramp.jpg

Edited by AC710
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lloyd; I will try to get the tires on in the next couple of weeks and the loader off so it won't take up as much space in the shop, but I also have to strap the frame on my tarp building and add the steel before it gets too cold to work outside...Decisions...decisions..sm06

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, B10Dave said:

Lloyd; I will try to get the tires on in the next couple of weeks and the loader off so it won't take up as much space in the shop, but I also have to strap the frame on my tarp building and add the steel before it gets too cold to work outside...Decisions...decisions..sm06

If ya at least get it in the shop we'll all consider that a major step forward. 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • ShaunE
    • SmilinSam
    • a_sannine
  • Recent Status Updates

    • gwiseman

      gwiseman

      As you know SimpletrACtors.com has changed some recently. Working through this so PM me with questions, suggestions, and/or challenges you have. Appreciate your patience and feedback.
      · 0 replies
    • gwiseman

      gwiseman

      Site programming updates were made 3/23/2024. As a result some things have changed including dues payment options. We will continue maintenance and work with technicians to regain credit card payment option and clear up minor challenges. On positive it appears attaching pictures is now easier. Good day. Gene 
      · 1 reply
  • Adverts

×
×
  • Create New...