Community Forums

Ted Lambert · 07-21-2013, 07:52 AM

My master tow dolly has fixed ramps and with the car I am going to tow, it is obvious that the ramps at some point in time will hit the bottom of the car. I am going to shorten them.
Has anybody done this?
I know that by shorting the ramps the angle will increase making it much steeper. I am looking at possibly a removable section.
I have a fabrication welding experience, so that part is not a problem.
I'm a little stump on design and how much to cut off.

Dogpatch · 07-21-2013, 08:00 AM

I had a tow dolly for a few years. never had an issue. I have never heard of anyone who did.

dsbike · 07-21-2013, 08:14 AM

If you are concerned with the ramps hitting the undercarriage while the car is loaded and ready for or during tow. How about adding a spacer of some sort under the tires to raise the car up.
With out seeing your dolly and car setup. I would be concerned with shortening the ramps now your front spoiler will contact when putting the car on or off of the dolly. If you use external extentions then you must store them somewhere. IMHO its a pain.

Frutza · 07-21-2013, 09:01 AM

Why not raise your hitch? or a reciever with lift?

Dogpatch · 07-21-2013, 09:06 AM

Raising the hitch would lower the ramps and create a possible new issue of ramps dragging.

Ted Lambert · 07-21-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsbike

If you are concerned with the ramps hitting the undercarriage while the car is loaded and ready for or during tow. How about adding a spacer of some sort under the tires to raise the car up.
With out seeing your dolly and car setup. I would be concerned with shortening the ramps now your front spoiler will contact when putting the car on or off of the dolly. If you use external extentions then you must store them somewhere. IMHO its a pain.

Did you read the question?

What spoiler are you talking about? The car has none. I am not concerned with loading or unloading. The car I am hauling is a very short wheel based car. IE sports car with no back seat which makes the ramps, as they are long extend half the distance of the wheel base.

Ted Lambert · 07-21-2013, 10:19 AM

Some dolly's have sliding ramps. Mine does not. Is there anybody who has shortened or modified the ramps to be removed on the first mentioned dolly?

Forget the reason why I want to do this, I obviously confused some people. My apologies.

Dogpatch · 07-21-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narampa

Did you read the question?

What spoiler are you talking about? The car has none. I am not concerned with loading or unloading. The car I am hauling is a very short wheel based car. IE sports car with no back seat which makes the ramps, as they are long extend half the distance of the wheel base.

I think the poster was just concerned about the fact that once you cut the ramps shorter, the front of the vehicle comes into contact with the ramp before the tires reach the ramp. In many cases today, the cars are designed with a lower "spoiler" for aerodynamics.

What about a rubber bumper at the base of the ramp? That would cushion if contact was made.
I think if you cut the ramps, you would have to carry something to bring back the proper slope to get on. Or, make the ramps detachable, however, you would have to stow them somewhere when traveling.

Ted Lambert · 07-21-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogpatch

I think the poster was just concerned about the fact that once you cut the ramps shorter, the front of the vehicle comes into contact with the ramp before the tires reach the ramp. In many cases today, the cars are designed with a lower "spoiler" for aerodynamics.

What about a rubber bumper at the base of the ramp? That would cushion if contact was made.
I think if you cut the ramps, you would have to carry something to bring back the proper slope to get on. Or, make the ramps detachable, however, you would have to stow them somewhere when traveling.

You are exactly correct. I know the possibility's that you suggest are things that I'm concerned about. That is why I was hoping to hear from somebody who has done this.
I know I will have to compensate some how and carry something. I just think the car is capable of running up something steeper.
With the gradual slope of the ramps I now have, my 86 year old mother could climb it with a loaded wheel barrow of cement.

I have very high clearance on the front of the car. Seems these ramps were disigned for Corvettes to pickup trucks.
I'm going to wait till the last minute before cutting the ramps maybe somebody who has done this will read my thread.
I will have it apart soon for sandblasting and paint I will leave the ramps for last.
Maybe there is a formula to figger out the max angle the ramps can be before they hit the front.
I think I will us some blocking and simulate it before I cut.

TXiceman · 07-21-2013, 02:33 PM

If you shorten the ramps, they will be a steeper grade to get up and may hit the front air dam on the auto or be impossible to load in the rain.

Ken

Ted Lambert · 07-21-2013, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

If you shorten the ramps, they will be a steeper grade to get up and may hit the front air dam on the auto or be impossible to load in the rain.

Ken

The angle should not be a problem as the car is a rear wheel drive.
The dolly will also be used for other things besides behind the motor home.
I am also going to be adding a hand winch as there are vehicles without power trains that I will be moving. I thought of electric but that would be overkill for the small cars I will move.
Anyway I have figgered out a way to test to see if my idea will work and I am going to cut the ramps and they will go together again with inserts which will attach with pins if I ever require longer ramps.
Dolly is all apart ready for paint prep.

Belgian · 07-21-2013, 07:16 PM

I towed a 1979 VW bug for several years without a problem. The VW was a convertable so the side channels were larger than the regular bug. I know the ramps look very close to the underside of the vehicle but as far as I know they never hit. If they had hit I would expect some damage to the edge of the ramp.

papaw.1 · 07-21-2013, 07:22 PM

Hi Narampa,
I have the same tow dolly.I have towed my 2012 Hyundai Accent for 3000 to 4000 miles in all kinds of situations and have never had an issue.Good Luck and Many Safe and Happy Miles and Smiles.

P.S.Like someone else posted you may have a hard time loading if you cut off very much.JMHO

Scarab0088 · 07-21-2013, 07:28 PM

Cut the ramps or just remove them and carry some RhinoRamps:
Welcome to RhinoRamps®

The EZE-Tow comes with these as original equipment. No rust, light weight, very wide, works for any car or truck and EZE to use. The only downside is that a hard acceleration with a front wheel drive car on gravel or dirt surfaces can cause the ramps to slip back away from the dolly. But an easy foot on the accelerator and loading is no problem.
You don't want to drive over the dolly anyway.

Best of luck.