7′ x 24′ – HD Gravity Tilt Car Trailer / Equipment Trailer Plans – 14K or 16K

Description

This is the Heavy Duty version of our Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer.  Made with a longer full deck, and a longer tilting deck, this trailer is made for 14,000 lbs, with the option to build it for 16,000 lb capacity.  If you transport Cars and Equipment, and want to build an awesome Equipment Trailer, use these Plans.

All plans include the full engineering and design – so you know this trailer will perform.

A Gravity Tilt Deck equipment trailer is its own ramp – a full length ramp – with a low entry angle.  This tilt deck is 2 feet longer than most to make an even lower entry angle.  Plus, the trailer includes the same safety features as its lower capacity brother – hydraulic damping, gravity hooks, and more.  The I-Beam design is strong, and verified with proper engineering tools just as we did in the research.

These HD trailer plans have options!  Many.  See the “Specifications” accordion tab below.

Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer Plans

The Tilt Deck is 20 ft length (including the beaver tail).  It also has a mini fixed deck of 51 inches at the front.  The mini front deck offers a lot of flexibility – like loading equipment implements, job supplies, or who knows what other cargo.  It extends the carrying surface, as well as the tongue for stable towing.

Like all our trailer plans, this Gravity Tilt Equipment Trailer includes a bunch of design extras.  All in the plans waiting for you to choose.  Things like deck materials – 2 wood deck options, a split deck, or a metal deck (in steel or aluminum).  Jack types, many tie-down options, a winch, and more.  When we say the plans are complete – they are.  Far superior to other trailer plans.

Build your Tilt Equipment trailer with confidence.  Build it to meet your unique needs.  All the info and instruction for the Gravity Tilt Trailer are in the plans.  Read more by clicking the accordion tabs below.

Specifications

6’10” x 24′ – Gravity Tilt Car Trailer / Equipment Trailer Plans

• 6’10” x 24′ full deck size.  Tilt portion is 20 ft gravity tilt (includes the beaver tail).
• Width at the fenders is 102 inches.
• Weight for this trailer is hard to estimate because of the many options.  Your choices will certainly change the end weight.  However, a good estimate for the base 14,000 lb capacity trailer without decking is around 3000 lbs.  A bit more for the 16K version of this trailer.
• Trailer weight depends on many design choices.  Tie-Down options, Decking choices, Toolbox, Winch, Battery, Jack Styles, etc. all add to the weight.
• I-Beam construction for the gravity tilt portion is compact, yet very strong.  This is Standard I-Beam, not thin H- or W- Beams which look strong but are relatively thin.
• Rectangular tube for the trailer portion main beams for twist resistance.
• A mix of Tube, Channel, Angle and Flat where appropriate for the rest of the trailer.
• Tandem axles with leaf springs — Slipper recommended, double eye springs OK.
• The Instructions and drawing notes explain all the details of building the tilt pivots, the beaver tail, and the gravity hook features.
• For the 14,000 lb version of this trailer, on theoretically flat ground, the tilt angle is around 10 degrees.  Since many things you can choose in construction will affect this angle, we only give this dimension as a perspective.  This is less than most because our tilt deck is longer than most.
• Choices are in the plans for the Deck material and style.  Choose a layered Plywood deck (stiffest and strongest), a plank deck surface, or a split deck.  Or, choose steel or aluminum for deck and supports if that fits your style.  It is all in the plans.
• Crossmembers in the gravity tilt deck trailer are 4″ C-Channel.
• Several parts are made from CNC cut sheet.  Some beaver tail parts, the pivot stiffeners, some gravity hook components.  DXF files for these special parts are included.
• Option for Permanent or Removable Fenders.
• Ramps are not needed to load a vehicle.  It is, after all, a gravity tilt deck trailer.
• The hitch can be a standard straight ball coupler, or use an adjustable ball coupler.  Both are shown in the plans.
• Many tie-down options are in the plans, including solid anchors for attaching cars or equipment.  Use one type or many to meet the needs of your trailer.
• If you want a front deck stop, there is an options in the plans.  Then, choose to make it as short or as tall as you like.
• The option for a winch is also in the plans, including the additional option to make it fixed, or removable.
• Choose a front toolbox, or build an internal tray.  All of these are options to choose or not.
• There are options for the tongue jack.  Several kinds will work.
• Download the Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer plans, then save them on your computer right after payment.  It takes only a few minutes until you can start your project.
• Plans are in PDF format that can be printed on large or small paper.
• The download includes a full set of Drawings (59 pages) plus the Instructions Document (35 pages).  Plans DO NOT include the 3D CAD files (see our FAQ about CAD files).
• The instructions include a full materials list with both raw materials and components to purchase.  It also has options, explanations, Engineering Considerations, and Step-by-Step construction instructions.
• See this Trailer Parts Kit page to get a full kit of the needed parts without the hassle of shopping for individual components.

More About The Design Features

A Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer offers convenience for loading cars or equipment.  This trailer is the Heavy Duty version for cars and equipment like a skid loader or small tractor – within the weight limits – which are pretty high at 14,000 lbs or optionally 16,000 lbs – total capacity.

The convenience comes in tilting the deck to drive a vehicle on or off – without ramps.  And, this tilt deck angle is a lower than most, because the tilting deck is longer.

These plans are the Heavy Duty version.  For reference, if you build the 14,000 lbs version of this trailer, and if the complete trailer is 3500 lbs (reasonable for these plans), then your load can weigh up to 8500 lbs.  That is enough for almost any car, and most pickup trucks, SUVs and a lot of small loaders.

Of course, some weigh more, so make sure you know your trailer weight, and the weight of the vehicle you wish to put on it.  The plans include graphs for knowing the loading limits.

Operation

A gravity tilt deck trailer is easy to use.  To load it, just tilt the deck, then drive the vehicle slowly up the deck.  When the vehicle gets to the tipping point, the deck will tilt forward until it rests horizontal (flat).  Once flat and horizontal, drive the vehicle forward a little to put proper weight at the tongue for towing.  Strap it down.

Unloading is the opposite actions.  Prime the Gravity Hook, then back the vehicle until the tilt deck begins to pivot back.  Once the end of the tilt deck is on the ground, back the vehicle off the trailer.

Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer Features

Hydraulics under the tilt deck dampen the tilt for smooth motion.  These hydraulics are passive – meaning they do not require a pump or other power source to do the job.  They just keep the deck from tilting fast and banging things.  With the valve, you can adjust the speed of the tilt based on the weight of the vehicle.

The beaver tail (at the end of the deck) allows an easy driving up for the vehicle.  Taillights for this trailer are in and under the beaver tail.  This gives protection to the lights, yet allows good visibility when the deck is up for driving.

These trailer plans also include a unique feature that was invented for it.  The idea of a hook to lock the tilt deck horizontal is not new.  Spring loading the hooks so they snap on is also not new.  However, priming the system so it will release when action happens, then automatically reset to lock the deck is unique for the Mechanical Elements trailers.  It is made to improve safety when the gravity tilt deck trailer is operated by a single person.  It takes away a few points of error that could otherwise create a potential hazard.

The Gravity Hook has multiple modes including Locked, Primed, Snap.  The cool part is it will automatically change from Primed to Snap when the trailer tilts.  These modes will both keep the trailer locked for travel, and make loading a simple one person operation.  All the information is in the plans.

The Gravity Hook is self energizing – which means it does not want to release when there is significant load on it.  That keeps you from accidentally releasing the tilt in a condition where it will immediately, and violently tilt.

Your Trailer Needs?  We Give Options.

So, what are your needs?  Various needs require different configurations, which is why we give so many options.  Whether you are hauling Cars, or Equipment, there are always ways to make the job easier.

To make this trailer exactly what you want, we recommend considering the features you want and the options in the plans as a start.  Then, add your own flavor.  Things like Decking material and deck style, Tie-down places, a tongue mounted toolbox, a winch, jacks, removable fenders, front rail, and so many more.  These are all choices for functionality.  Choose what you like, then discard the rest.  Some options are mutually exclusive.  Not all options are in the pictures on this page.

If you want a Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer, this is an excellent place to start.  Buy the trailer plans now to get started.

We wish you the best of luck with your tilt deck trailer project.

Plans from Mechanical Elements are an awesome start to a great project.  Here are even more resources!

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