Crazy Idea?

[Karebru]

Maybe it's been done?
My ramp-door trailer is under a carport, but the ramp sticks out from under when it's down.
If I'm out working on it and it starts raining, I'll grab the ramp spring and turn it to slowly raise the door like a drawbridge.
It takes very little force to do this.

What about putting a sprocket on one end of the shaft and rigging up a small electric motor with a chain to power it?
I think with the proper gearing it might work.

I plan to enclose the door mechanism with a removable cover, but it would be nice to be able to raise it from inside.

Maybe a hand crank?

Hmmm...
Thoughts?

[hankaye]

Karebru, Howdy;

If there is a Garage Door specialty Co. near you I'd go and pick their brains a bit.
They may even have the right item just sittin' there on the shelf waitin' for ya to
show up. Never know till ya ask ...

hank

[flboy]

I saw a video where a handicapped gentleman just used a rope and a pulley to close the door. Can be as simple as that or just pay attention to the weather and close before it starts to get bad. ;-)

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[McDave]

If the ramp was covered with a waterproof rubber mat such as https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-7-5-ft- ... /205442047 , then you could just leave it down as long as splashing wasn't a problem. Or, you could increase the tension so you would have to weight or tie down ramp, or place a vise grip on the cable to keep it down. Or a small 12v motor and a pulley on the spring shaft. Like you said, it is not hard to turn the shaft.

McDave

[Karebru]

I saw a video where a handicapped gentleman just used a rope and a pulley to close the door. Can be as simple as that or just pay attention to the weather and close before it starts to get bad. ;-)

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I like a K.I.S.S. solution. A rope would be that. Hanging in the corner... Sounds kinda cool, actually.
But, Don... You ought to know how the Florida rains can sneak up on you. Even if you are paying attention.

My ramp will be covered with PVC flooring, but I'd rather keep things dry when I can. Rust, etc.

The roll-up doors on our metal shop building have a chain that's in a loop. Rope or chain, you'd probably want a loop for control so that the ramp would slam shut once it starts coming up.

I don't NEED this, but there's a lot of things I don't NEED.

[flboy]

But, Don... You ought to know how the Florida rains can sneak up on you. Even if you are paying attention.

I do! Oh, I do! Figured you get the humor in that!

Best of luck!

[McDave]

How about a rope secured to the shaft that wound up as the ramp lowered, reverse of the cable. Then when you pulled the rope it would wind in the cable as the rope un wound? As one goes up the other goes down... you may need a drum or pulley on the shaft.

McDave

[beachguy005]

I would consider just rigging a boat trailer hand winch. Look at etrailer.com. They have a lot of options. Open or inclosed, cable, rope or strap.

[Karebru]

How about a rope secured to the shaft that wound up as the ramp lowered, reverse of the cable. Then when you pulled the rope it would wind in the cable as the rope un wound? As one goes up the other goes down... you may need a drum or pulley on the shaft.

McDave

My ramp, and I imagine most of them , wants to slam shut once it's about two thirds up.
I think you're on to the simplest solution, but it might require the other end of the rope wound the other direction to use as a brake to control the tension.
(The loop again.)
I'm thinking that without it, it might throw the rope off the drum like a free spooling fishing reel.

Of course, you could reach out with your hand against the ramp to slow it down, but I'm planning on having a bug screen divider just inside the back door.