Portable loading dock

Mtractor · Nov 21, 2013

Has anybody ever made a portable loading dock say maybe out of a old trailer or something? I have been having a few semi trailers come to pick up tractors and am thinking about making some kind of a loading dock that I can use and then roll out of the way. Thanks

Wheat Farmer · Nov 21, 2013

Never got one made, but always thought about a old 16' truck box on axles that would move to raise and lower. Kinda like moving the rear axles on a tractor trailer. The hitch would be on the box and block the wheels to slide it. ??????

Jim in Ma. · Nov 21, 2013

I used to use a ramp just down the road in an Industrial park.
After we got busy here I dug a ramp into the ground and used RR ties for the headwall - Works great and ground level loading.

fixerupper · Nov 21, 2013

An old flatbed semi-trailer in the 40 foot range would allow you to have a more gradual slope on the ramp. Downfall to a longer ramp is you will have to drive careful for more feet before you're off the ramp. Truck dollies work well for adjusting ramp height and they're strong but they give a limited amount of height adjustment. If you're just wanting to vary the height a few inches dollies are the way to go. A couple of hydraulic cylinders would work too but you'll have to have a way to lock both of them before you use the ramp.

The permanent ramp at the Albert City Threshing Show has bridge beams underneath with special made high lift truck dollies for adjustment. (thanks, John) It's a real Cadillac of a ramp. The dollies are cranked with a gear reduction electric motor with top and bottom limit switches. Cranking by hand would test your stamina for the amount of range they have. Jim

big jt · Nov 21, 2013

The White dealer in Menno South Dakota is where I got the initial inspiration for the AC Threshermens dock.

His is portable and has a limited range of adjustment. If you want it for your own use you can built it to suit. 48" is standard height for van type and full height flatbed semi trailers, drop decks would be lower and if you have a combo of these trailers you will need to make arrangements for that.

If it is gonna be used without your supervision it will likely need to be built monumentally stouter.

Most of the materials I used were from county secondary road departments. The deck is made from a steel bridge deck. Ran 4 14" ibeams down the 20' length and one across the end that raises. The 4 beams were overkill for the overall weight but also provided support for the 12 foot wide deck.

email is open.

ps I am the John fiserupper is referring to in his post.

jt

waltdavies · Nov 21, 2013

I have a nice flatbed tilt trailer that works very good raise it up and then block it good. Use lift on the tongue to raise nd lower it.
Walt

showcrop · Nov 22, 2013

Do you have a place where you could dig a 2 foot ramp down with a concrete block to back against, and then use ramps for the other two feet?

Mike M · Nov 22, 2013

Every so often I've seen some advertised for sale.

Portable loading dock

Mtractor

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Wheat Farmer

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Jim in Ma.

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fixerupper

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big jt

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waltdavies

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showcrop

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Mike M

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