Heavy Lorry Ramp - Has anyone heard of Air Assisted?

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flyingfeet

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So my ramp is not a pleasure to use and I can just about shut it using my full body weight and providing the ground isn't slippy!

However no builder I've spoken to likes hydraulic systems as they seem to have a high fail rate (plus expensive).

I think I could upgrade to heavier underslung springs which would help.The main problem is the gorgeous but heavy krailburg ramp matting!

However has anyone heard of air assisted springs? If so can you point me in the right direction?

Any other suggestions gratefully received
 
My new lorry has Kraiburg ramp matting too - which meant I had to have a third underslung spring on it in order for me to be able to lift it easily - mine is really really easy, but the builder told me that 3 springs were essential if I wanted rubber matting on the ramp. Could you get a third spring fitted? I also would not touch a hydraulic/electric ramp system. Not heard of air-assisted springs, but assume they would work ok unless you got a leak - my locker doors are held open with air-assisted pole things (which is actually the technical term, honest!).
 
Humm not sure whether I can easily retro fit more springs, as current 2 would be in the wrong position, however does sound like a very sensible (and relatively cheap) idea!

I *think* air assisted springs are linked to the lorry's air for braking, which is the only worrying thing!

however you'll have gas struts on your lockers, which are a bit different! :D
 
Friend had a hydraulic system on her last lorry which had a manual over ride in case or emergencies. Seemed to be the best of both worlds.
 
You're probably right - brief to the builder was that I did not want to be hit round the head by locker doors, or have to fasten them open. These do that :D

I have 2 springs in the 'normal' position and a third in the middle (as an aside, you can also padlock the ramp closed which is v clever and makes me smile!):

26715_432561611873_533551873_5602679_4230075_n.jpg
 
Alibear said:
Friend had a hydraulic system on her last lorry which had a manual over ride in case or emergencies. Seemed to be the best of both worlds.
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Reason I would not have one is I have now seen 2 catch fire - terrifying (though put out both times ok) - and the over-ride wouldn't help with that.
 
As with anything ,a hydraulic system is only as good as the person who installed it (and the person who maintains it). If the hydraulic motor is installed without a suitable fuse at the battery end,there is plenty of scope for disaster if a cable gets damaged.I have never seen a profesionaly fitted tail lift catch fire .
 
Mike007 said:
As with anything ,a hydraulic system is only as good as the person who installed it (and the person who maintains it). If the hydraulic motor is installed without a suitable fuse at the battery end,there is plenty of scope for disaster if a cable gets damaged.I have never seen a profesionaly fitted tail lift catch fire .
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Both the ones I've seen were on well-known makes of horsebox, high-end ones. No reason to think they weren't retro-fitted I suppose, but these were names which would come up in 'money no object dream lorry' conversations.....
 
My lorry ramp was really heavy - to the point I dreaded going to shows. I also had Kraiburg rubber matting - I can see a theme here!

We took the rubber off and I could put the ramp up and down with my one arm as the other was in broken - it was just too much weight. We couldn't put a third spring on as the chasis was in the way, what we ended up doing us replacing the wood - as it was twice as thick as it needed to be and just put the rubber in the middle - it doesn't cover the whole ramp anymore. If you can reduce the weight somehow that will help you.

So we solved the issue by removing the weight. The person who made the frame for the ramp also used the heaviest metal he could find. The lorry did come with a hyrdalic ram that just needed fitting - we decided not to as apart from anything else it was adding more weight all the time.

The air assisted rams that you are talking about might be gas struts, the kind you have on car boots. Equitrex lorries use these as their springs. The other thing is a type of coil spring that trailers use.
 
SpottedCat said:
Both the ones I've seen were on well-known makes of horsebox, high-end ones. No reason to think they weren't retro-fitted I suppose, but these were names which would come up in 'money no object dream lorry' conversations.....
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Sadly just because they are a big name in horseboxes doesnt mean they know what they are doing on every subject particularly electrics.
 
I think what SC is getting at is with a hydraulic ramp if you have a fire that disables the electrical systems on the lorry without power it is not possible to remove the horses I dont think she specifically meant the ramp electrics catching fire through bad installation.
Air assisted systems are fitted to upmarket boxes such as Lehel and works by assisting the normal underslung springs the air is supplied by air tanks on the lorry and through a valve system help take some of the ramp weight.I have details somewhere and will try to find them.
 
My first lorry ramp was heavy and it just took a simple adjustment to the existing springs to make it easier but perhaps yours is more complex/heavier. It used to be alright at shows - find nice man to assist - but at home wasn't so easy as in those days just me and my mother.
 
popsdosh said:
I think what SC is getting at is with a hydraulic ramp if you have a fire that disables the electrical systems on the lorry without power it is not possible to remove the horses I dont think she specifically meant the ramp electrics catching fire through bad installation.
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AFAIK all Hydraulic ramps can be dumped manually. The ramp will come down hard & fast but you will be able to get horses out.
 
Nope, both times it was the boxes with the button on which caught fire, effectively disabling the ramp, trapping the horses and having a fire going. Not great! Luckily both times they (or I guess someone nearby?) had a fire extinguisher.
 
SpottedCat said:
Nope, both times it was the boxes with the button on which caught fire, effectively disabling the ramp, trapping the horses and having a fire going. Not great! Luckily both times they (or I guess someone nearby?) had a fire extinguisher.
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Yup, as I suspected ,shoddy wiring. Sounds like shoddy hydraulic instalation too if there isnt a dump valve to drop the oil from the ram.Should be a piece of cake to open in an emergency,(but a right ******* to close again :D)
 
Hum ok

Hydraulic - you can get as an add on, so you still have the springs in case the thing fails. Really hydraulics ought to be good enough (bearing in mind we use a lot on tractors!), however not that many people willing to install and the kits are thin on the ground
c £1,800

Air assist - Kit only made by one company and they do supply to PRB. So in theory ought to be useful. Everyone has said that only need fitting for people with bad backs as you should be able to make the ramp weightless
c £1,200

Heavy duty underslung springs - should be able to upgrade mine for c£70 +labour (quick job).

Third spring - think will cost more than upgrading springs, but will suggest it!

Thanks guys!
 
i wouldnt go back to a normal lorry ramp after using the lorry on the yard which is a hydraulic system makes life a million times easier :) as long as it is fitted correctly every thing should be fine
 
I would avoid anything air assited/hydraulic or electric to be honest - ive seen too many problems with them.

Our lorry ramp was really heavy, we took our lorry to Equicruiser to have some mods done on it and they also redid our ramp for us in lightweight materials. I can now shut it with one arm even if on a downwards slope, its brilliant :) It was around £600 + VAT though.
 
We've got some kind of oil hydraulic system (oh dear, I'm an engineer aswell, obviously not mechanical :D) on our big old girl. Think it only really comes into action on the way down though.

But the best method is OH has tied baler twine to the top of the ramp – I go in the lorry and pull and he pushes from the outside. Low tech but actually very effective if there's more than one of you :D
 
we had a hydraulic system put on our lorry and its brilliant. as long as you have a manual over ride lever (if the hydraulics fail you can still raise/lower the ramp to get the horse out/in). Its a bit of an expense but worth it as you dont have to struggle but simply press a button and watch it go up and down!
 
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