How to Determine the Length of Cable to Use on an Enclosed Trailer Ramp Door

Published 08/20/2015

Question:

How do you determine the right cable length for a ramp door?

asked by: Kevin

Expert Reply:

If you lower the ramp door on the trailer you can determine where you would attach a cable. Measure from that point diagonally to the upper corner of the opening, same side, and you would need a cable at least that long.

Or, you could measure the height of the opening (A) and the length of the door when opened (B). Then you would multiply (A x A) + (B x B) = C squared. So if the opening and the ramp were both 8 feet tall you would do 8 x 8 = 64 + 8 x 8 = 64 to get 128. Then you would take the square root of 128 to get 11.31. You would then add to that the amount in inches the end of the ramp hangs down from level. Let's say that is 8 inches. So you would take 11 feet 4 inches (11.31) + 8 to get 12 feet even.

expert reply by: Michael H