Will Aluminum Transition Plate Bend On Enclosed Trailer When Loading Heavy Zero Turn Mower?

Updated 11/26/2025 | Published 11/19/2025

Question:

Hi, wondering if the aluminum M-3 plate would bend under a heavy lawn mower. My zero turn is around 1,200 lbs total but only part of that’s on the plate at once.

asked by: Tina

Expert Reply:

Good question, Tina - you’re in the safe zone with the M-3 aluminum plate # M348FR. It’s 3/16 inch thick and fully welded across the piano hinge (some cheaper ones are just bolted instead of welded), so even with heavy mowers or small tractors, it won’t flex or deform unless you go crazy with a very heavy tractor or something like that. Only a portion of the mower’s weight ever sits on the hinge at a time, so you’re well within what this can handle. It technically doesn't have a weight limit though.

How wide is your ramp door? You can trim the aluminum plate if you need a custom fit.

expert reply by: Andrew N

Tina

11/26/2025

Awesome, thank you! Ramp is 82” wide edge to edge. So that should fit right in then?

Andrew N.

11/26/2025

@Tina Yep, you’re good to go, Tina - the aluminum plate # M348FR is 81-3/4" wide, so it’ll fit an 82" door opening without any trimming. You’ll just have a tiny bit of clearance on each side, which actually makes installation easier. If you ever notice it catching on the edges when you try to flip it up, you can take an inch off with a grinder (at your own risk) and that will give you a bit more leeway.