Discussion
Have just bought a used 7.5t truck and wondered if anyone has experience of fitting a tail lift, either single or double stage, to this type of truck. Have spoken to a couple of the major manufacturers (Dhollandia and Ross & Bonnyman) but have concerns about both the weight and cost of such lifts...
Ideas? Used lifts? Specialists? Any help much appreciated!
Oh yeah, forgot to say the cars (hopefully!) to be lifted are Caterham Sevens ~550kg
Ideas? Used lifts? Specialists? Any help much appreciated!
Oh yeah, forgot to say the cars (hopefully!) to be lifted are Caterham Sevens ~550kg
Edited by SimonY on Monday 8th January 19:09
Edited by SimonY on Monday 8th January 19:09
It is quite a challenging job. If you PM me I will pass on some details of the chap that did a fantastic job on my old truck. Although the costs of properly converting the truck may work as much or more than buying an already converted race truck.
Remember about weights though, with 2 550kg cars you may be very close to the weight limit of 7.5 tons, personally I would put the truck on a weigh bridge before you do any work.
One of the other options is basically to use ramps - not so nice looking but cheap.
Good luck
Remember about weights though, with 2 550kg cars you may be very close to the weight limit of 7.5 tons, personally I would put the truck on a weigh bridge before you do any work.
One of the other options is basically to use ramps - not so nice looking but cheap.
Good luck
My friend converts wagons to horseboxes and often the wagons he gets in to work on have lifts on the back which he just cuts off and weighs in for scrap if they are alloy. The alloy lifts aren’t that heavy, easy to lift between two people, the metal double stage ones are a different matter
If you are converting the wagon to a motorhome as well then weight will become an issue due to all the fixtures and fittings, if you are just wanting to use it to carry the cars and tools then you should be fine with weight.
The best lightest easiest and cheapest way of extending a ramp is to have two ramps made that are roughly the width of your tyres (plus 6” ish) and the length of your car and get them fixed onto your existing ramp. This is a lot lighter than having a solid extension made that is the full width of the existing ramp. It also makes manually lifting the ramp to lock it back in place a lot easier. I have seen a few lads that race minis do this. Oh and dont make the ramps so long that they are higher than the roof of the wagon when it is locked in place
If you do extend like this though you have to make sure that the lift will be able to cope, extending the ramp changes all the weight distribution and can strain the ramps.
If you are converting the wagon to a motorhome as well then weight will become an issue due to all the fixtures and fittings, if you are just wanting to use it to carry the cars and tools then you should be fine with weight.
jpivey said:
I am in the same position need some info on getting a tail lift my truck has a 1 ton ratcliffe already fitted just need it extending to be able to lift a radical.
The best lightest easiest and cheapest way of extending a ramp is to have two ramps made that are roughly the width of your tyres (plus 6” ish) and the length of your car and get them fixed onto your existing ramp. This is a lot lighter than having a solid extension made that is the full width of the existing ramp. It also makes manually lifting the ramp to lock it back in place a lot easier. I have seen a few lads that race minis do this. Oh and dont make the ramps so long that they are higher than the roof of the wagon when it is locked in place
If you do extend like this though you have to make sure that the lift will be able to cope, extending the ramp changes all the weight distribution and can strain the ramps.
My friend converts wagons to horseboxes and often the wagons he gets in to work on have lifts on the back which he just cuts off and weighs in for scrap if they are alloy. The alloy lifts aren’t that heavy, easy to lift between two people, the metal double stage ones are a different matter
If you are converting the wagon to a motorhome as well then weight will become an issue due to all the fixtures and fittings, if you are just wanting to use it to carry the cars and tools then you should be fine with weight.
The best lightest easiest and cheapest way of extending a ramp is to have two ramps made that are roughly the width of your tyres (plus 6” ish) and the length of your car and get them fixed onto your existing ramp. This is a lot lighter than having a solid extension made that is the full width of the existing ramp. It also makes manually lifting the ramp to lock it back in place a lot easier. I have seen a few lads that race minis do this. Oh and dont make the ramps so long that they are higher than the roof of the wagon when it is locked in place
If you do extend like this though you have to make sure that the lift will be able to cope, extending the ramp changes all the weight distribution and can strain the ramps.
If you are converting the wagon to a motorhome as well then weight will become an issue due to all the fixtures and fittings, if you are just wanting to use it to carry the cars and tools then you should be fine with weight.
jpivey said:
I am in the same position need some info on getting a tail lift my truck has a 1 ton ratcliffe already fitted just need it extending to be able to lift a radical.
The best lightest easiest and cheapest way of extending a ramp is to have two ramps made that are roughly the width of your tyres (plus 6” ish) and the length of your car and get them fixed onto your existing ramp. This is a lot lighter than having a solid extension made that is the full width of the existing ramp. It also makes manually lifting the ramp to lock it back in place a lot easier. I have seen a few lads that race minis do this. Oh and dont make the ramps so long that they are higher than the roof of the wagon when it is locked in place
If you do extend like this though you have to make sure that the lift will be able to cope, extending the ramp changes all the weight distribution and can strain the ramps.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff