Tipping trailer ram location

[Ollie6070]

I’m currently lengthening a trailer chassis to accommodate a 12ft trailer body. Does anyone have any measurements for the location of where to put the hydraulic ram to get the correct angle for tipping the trailer? The ram is 920mm closed end to end and 2300 mm at full length Any help would be much appreciated cheers

 

[le bon paysan]

What are you tipping?
Corn doesn't need as much angle as say silage.
Base of the ram would need to be about a 1/3 of the way along the trailer bed, 4 ft from the front.

 

[startinghandle]

When trailer body is lowered ram should be open slightly also there is best angle for ram but I can't remember what it is

 

[Ollie6070]

Thanks both , trailer is going to be used for dung and other rough jobs so probably want a fairly steep tip angle

 

[upnortheast]

Sounds like you need to find similar trailers & crawl under with a tape measure

 

[Ollie6070]

Sounds like you need to find similar trailers & crawl under with a tape measure

I agree , I’ve got a 14ft Marshall so I’ll measure the rams up on that and the location of them and have a think !

 

[startinghandle]

I have been thinking..... the trailer was originally 10 foot body and you are extending the chassis at rear

 

[Ollie6070]

I have been thinking..... the trailer was originally 10 foot body and you are extending the chassis at rear

Yes that is correct…

 

[Andrew]

If you’re using the rams off the smaller trailer copy that geometry. If you’re using the rams off the larger, copy that one?

 

[Oliveau]

Get a bit of squared or graph pape and do a scale drawing. You will need closed and extended ram length and the current mounting positions of the ram [[chassis and new body.] Draw the body at the max tipping angle then play about on paper with the ram position until the body tip is right, and it comes right down as well. [use something like an ice-lolly stick as your ram template, marking full extended and fully closed length]

 

[JeremyD]

Get someone with CAD programme to work it out correctly, it's not as simple as you think to get correct geometry.

 

[Ollie6070]

Think what I’ll do is ask around and go and see another trailer the same length and copy that one that sounds easiest

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Leave the ram where it is,
Add 2 foot on the draw bar, and 2 foot on front of body,
And that is it

 

[startinghandle]

Leave the ram where it is,
Add 2 foot on the draw bar, and 2 foot on front of body,
And that is it

I don't think that'll work but I might be wrong

 

[Andrew]

I don't think that'll work but I might be wrong

If the ram being used is off the original trailer, it is the ONLY way to maintain the tip angle. If the rams do not have enough power they will need to be moved forwards, but this will reduce the tipping angle.
An easy way to guesstimate would be to plum in a pressure gauge on the smaller trailer and tip it loaded before you start cutting it about.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

I don't think that'll work but I might be wrong

As @Andrew says,
If he moves the ram forward, ram will be 2 short to tip trailer to original angle, this will mean it will be too shallow for stuff to run out,

There is an other way, to tip it as high as original, and tip a heavy load with existing ram.
That is to mount the ram the other way round, this would mean making new anchor points on the chassis at around 3/5th of existing length of closed ram going backwards, put the ram in other ways round, and make new anchor point on trailer body.
This would mean ram is lifting more at the front, than the middle, this would be a lot easier to lift a heavy load, yet when it's at full stretch out, it will tip trailer as high as before,
Now having said that, he will be making himself a very lot of work, and expense, on what could be an old trailer well past its best, and was never designed for doing this or carrying the extra weight.
So at this point I would say, buy one that will do your job, rather than converting this trailer, yes it will cost more, and if you don't want to spend the money. Then use what you have got now as it is,
And make do with what you have already,
Adding 2 foot on a 10 foot trailer, will only save 1 trip in 6. Is taking 5 loads, then having to take 1 extra that big a hardship ?
The time and money will probably come to a saving of 25 load, is it worth it

 

[Andrew]

Second option if using the original rams, which would be cheaper and easier, add a couple of assistor rams t'd into the tip circuit.

 

[ewald]

As @Andrew says,
If he moves the ram forward, ram will be 2 short to tip trailer to original angle, this will mean it will be too shallow for stuff to run out,

There is an other way, to tip it as high as original, and tip a heavy load with existing ram.
That is to mount the ram the other way round, this would mean making new anchor points on the chassis at around 3/5th of existing length of closed ram going backwards, put the ram in other ways round, and make new anchor point on trailer body.
This would mean ram is lifting more at the front, than the middle, this would be a lot easier to lift a heavy load, yet when it's at full stretch out, it will tip trailer as high as before,
Now having said that, he will be making himself a very lot of work, and expense, on what could be an old trailer well past its best, and was never designed for doing this or carrying the extra weight.
So at this point I would say, buy one that will do your job, rather than converting this trailer, yes it will cost more, and if you don't want to spend the money. Then use what you have got now as it is,
And make do with what you have already,
Adding 2 foot on a 10 foot trailer, will only save 1 trip in 6. Is taking 5 loads, then having to take 1 extra that big a hardship ?
The time and money will probably come to a saving of 25 load, is it worth it

Correct answer, but where is the challenge/fun/excuse to spend several weekends in the workshop?

 

[Ollie6070]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I’ll explain my reasoning better :
So I had two 10ft trailers with knackered body’s but solid chassis and a 12ft trailer with a knackered chassis but solid body and I’ve already extended the chassis using the two 10ft chassis to make a 12ft chassis to fit the body

 

[Andrew]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I’ll explain my reasoning better :
So I had two 10ft trailers with knackered body’s but solid chassis and a 12ft trailer with a knackered chassis but solid body and I’ve already extended the chassis using the two 10ft chassis to make a 12ft chassis to fit the body

It’s easy then. Use the rams off the 12ft body. Use the existing mounting points on the 12ft body. Copy the 12ft chassis mounting points onto the 10ft chassis.