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Post by Guestless on Dec 2, 2014 12:30:36 GMT
Anyone have a rough idea of how much it costs to change ramp from "too darn heavy for one" to "push a button"? I'm still not sure it's the way to go, so if anyone knows how much it would cost to have better springs installed instead, please let me know about that too
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Post by sjw87 on Dec 2, 2014 13:06:28 GMT
Often it doesn't need new springs, just them readjusting in which case it's labour only
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by Toaster on Dec 2, 2014 13:10:47 GMT
I have just bought my first box (its ancient but its all I could afford!) I've had the springs changed to better ones which cost £150 (done by the local 'horsebox man') which means the ramp now starts to spring up on its own once the gates are closed but it only springs so far, the last bit is the worst and a bit of a struggle but not too much for one person so I'm a bit further on than you but the thought of pressing a button and the ramp auto closing is bliss!
My only worry about an electric ramp is if it fails
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Post by Guestless on Dec 2, 2014 13:29:22 GMT
Often it doesn't need new springs, just them readjusting in which case it's labour only Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards I've had them adjusted as much as they can go and I it's now a bit like Toaster describes. It goes up the first bit really easily but then that last bit is too much for one person, unless I'm parked uphill. Taking it down is a struggle now too as I'm just a little bit too small to get a good purchase on the handles. There is usually always someone around to help me, so it's not a huge deal but I would like to be able to take the lorry out by myself if necessary and it's only the ramp that is holding me back
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Post by sjw87 on Dec 2, 2014 13:41:54 GMT
Bugger! Sounds like new springs would help! I've never gone down the electric route as I worry about it failing/in an emergency so not sure on price but new springs would most likely be £150-200
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by gillwales on Dec 2, 2014 14:34:10 GMT
if you have an electric ramp fitted make certain it comes with a "fail safe " button to open in an emergency, you can always find muscle to close it. I had a ramp with springs go once, it was frightening. You could also have you ramp re-floored with something strong but light, that makes a lot of difference too. Good luck
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Post by Guestless on Dec 2, 2014 15:39:40 GMT
if you have an electric ramp fitted make certain it comes with a "fail safe " button to open in an emergency, you can always find muscle to close it. I had a ramp with springs go once, it was frightening. You could also have you ramp re-floored with something strong but light, that makes a lot of difference too. Good luck Yes, I would definitely be making sure an over-ride was provided too. We refloored the ramp shortly after getting the lorry as the ponies were slipping on the surface. Got some good quality rubber with built-in runners. It doesn't weigh a lot but is heavier than the carpet was; that seems to be where the problem came from but I would rather the ramp was too heavy than the ponies slid down it
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Post by judyh on Dec 2, 2014 16:59:41 GMT
I had a ramp which was fitted with an electric winch. Milleeca advised that to avoid any chance of not being able to get it down. The springs were great apart from the last bit. I loved it , made life easy.
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Post by baileybob on Dec 3, 2014 8:29:36 GMT
I had new springs on my first lorry, about £180 if I remember rightly and afterwards you could literally flick it all the way closed with one hand. Opened much more safely too, only partially opening then needed pulling down, but was still easy to pull, rather than "falling" and potentially banging someone on the head!!
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Post by kateanne0 on Dec 3, 2014 10:21:19 GMT
Anyone have a rough idea of how much it costs to change ramp from "too darn heavy for one" to "push a button"? I'm still not sure it's the way to go, so if anyone knows how much it would cost to have better springs installed instead, please let me know about that too I had a winch installed and it was brilliant. Connected to a 12v battery and we charged battery every 4 or 5 runs. It came with a safety button so that it couldn't just drop down! If the battery gets too low because you forgot to charge it, the ramp can still be operated on it's own by unclipping the cable. Cost about £150 all in best money I ever spent on the lorry. Just make sure you buy a winch that is made for this job. We bought ours off EBAY after contacting the firm that was selling them to make sure it would do the job. The one we had seen advertised wasn't right for the job but they had another that was suitable. Very easy to install, my son installed it and we had no more worries about travelling on my own.
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Post by judyh on Dec 3, 2014 12:59:40 GMT
My winch ran off the living leisure battery. This was on a split charge from the engine.
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iconhorseboxes
Newbie
ICON Horseboxes - Builders of Quality Horseboxes at affordable prices
Posts: 17
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Post by iconhorseboxes on Dec 5, 2014 8:45:33 GMT
Having your spring set up and ramp construction looked at by someone who understands how to set up and balance a ramp correctly would be my first suggestion and much more cost effective than a hydraulic arm.
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Post by dancer on Dec 7, 2014 18:40:59 GMT
We had hydraulics fitted as our ramp was just too heavy for 2 of us to lift - I think it cost £2000 approx 6 years ago but I wouldn't be without it! It has a manual override lever so no worries if the electrics fail.
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Post by cloudee on Dec 7, 2014 18:47:41 GMT
I've just had a hydraulic ramp fitted on mine. It cost me circa £1500, it was a bit cheaper as I had to have my ramp rebuilt anyway so the labour costs were reduced. My ramp is still on one spring, so if needed you can unbolt the hydraulic ram and still lower/raise the ramp using the one spring. I looked into having new springs ans that would have cost me c. £700.
Having struggled for years on my own this has been a real boon...but make sure you get someone experienced to do the work.
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Post by Guestless on Dec 7, 2014 19:34:57 GMT
Thanks everyone. I think we'll look into having the spring replaced firstly since that seems to be a far cheaper (and less potentially dangerous) option.
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