Trailer question

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I have a friend whose trailer ramps tacks welds broke on his ramp. The picture is not his trailer ramp, but is the same mesh material or what ever it is called. He wants me to fix it, but is it something I would be fine with tacking up or should he just get some replacement metal to go over the top of it. If I can fix it what process is recommended. Attached Images
Reply:Post a picture of the ACTUAL ramp. Need more detail of construction and where damage is.
Reply:Yeah we need pics of the actual damage.It sounds as though there is a rip in the expanded metal (mesh stuff) that isn't at the edge over the framing?12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Have heard some complaints about the expanded metal creating excess wind drag while being towed. Fix for it is to remove expanded metal and replace w/ light weight angle iron rungs spaced about 10" apart. Weld in rungs w/ outside corner pointing straight up for strength.                                                                  MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:That stuff is at my steel supplier called expanded metal or grating.  As far as the repair, I would wait till you have info from the more expert folks on here.  If I were doing the repair, I would cut out a minimum of a full extension between steel members.  Then I can weld it to the members.
Reply:Yeah a lot of the grating has just broke. So I may just tell him to get some angle iron and cut it to size and go from there.
Reply:You can weld it back just fine but don't tack it. A tack is to hold metal until it is welded. Even on that small stuff you need to hold there until it welds it solid, a very small weld but more than a tack. As far as the wind goes, I'm sure he knows about it and doesn't care. He just wants it fixed.Last edited by Bob; 12-03-2014 at 06:06 PM.
Reply:The question that hasn't been answered is, why did expanded metal break/tear? Is it old/rusted, or is this section of metal in need of additional support? Angle iron is great, but you can add a lot of weight to lift gate if you add too much. If trailer owner is landscaper and lifts / lowers this gate a bunch of times during day, additional weight may not be desired.Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkQualified & experienced at welding scrap metal