pmason

Created a set of trailer ramp extensions for the trailer (car would just hit on the way in)
Picked up a 4x10 1/8in aluminum diamond plate off of craigslist, took it to a local custom welding shop to cut and bend.
Mounted them up tonight and realized after I was done that what do people do to secure the ramps to the back door?
Don't want to stop quickly and have them hit the car.
Also need to tighten the torsion bar for the increased weight.



Phil

Darren

Looks awesome! Great project! Are the hinges bolted through? I'd think you'd need to go through and have a 1/8" or so steel plate, maybe 10-12" or so high, to go across the outside. You might even want a plate like that on the inside. As close as the hinge is to the edge of the wood I'd be worried it might pull through. (2 cent advice only worth that much)

pmason

They are bolted through on the aluminum plate, but on the door they are screwed into the plywood, but they could be going into the steel frame of the door.
I also put on three of these bumpers to raise the door itself.

So when its open there really isn't any stress on the hinge itself.
My concern is them swinging when the door is up and hitting the car, may just use bungee cords or something until I figure a good latching system.

Darren

Hood pins would be an easy solution. You could put a spring on the bottom so they dont rattle.

Mike Buck

Maybe put one of those same bumper things on the ceiling, on each side, right at the door threshold. So when the door is up, the hinge is basically pinned against them and won't move.

Trying to think of something that is up and out of the way when the door is open. Any kind of latch that would pin them to the door is something I would be afraid to run or trip over.

Darren

Nah, the latch needs to be at the other end of the ramp because you get the advantage of leverage.

ltc

http://www.buffaloespeedenterprises.com/1520212.html

VERBOTN

A simple meathod a buddy uses is to mount a d-ring on each side of the door and run a small ratchet strap over the ramps which keeps all snug to the lift-gate.

pmason

Thanks for the ideas, agreed I want it out of the way as possible, most likely it will be something on the edges, but I will look at the top too.
Time to wonder around in the hardware store.

RickBetterley

That's how I do it, though I have 2 (separate) ramps and need to remember not to trip over the strap.
It works and its cheap and effective.

Cory M

We have a set of their ramps and the rubber holdown straps work good, the Buffaloe ramps are all aluminum and probably a lot lighter than the OP's ramps though. I'd feel safer with an eye hook or D-ring on each side of the door with a tie down strap to secure it.

pmason

I do like the d-ring idea, simple, cheap is good.

VERBOTN

the easiest for me are the orange traffic bollards I carry in the trailer: load the bike, load the car, put the bollards in and shut the door. The bollards are heavy duty plastic and serve as a bumper. At the track reverse the process

chrisp

How about the same idea but put the hooks on the sides so you don't have anything on the ground. Run a ratchet strap between them and then shut the door.

RickBetterley

Yup, that would work too. Might be a bit more awkward attaching but then again, maybe not.