8' ramps

admin

I need to build 8' ramps for my 16' flatbed trailer.  The ramps need to hold at least 8000 lbs.  I was thinking of using 3" x 4" x .083 steel for the sides and using (5) 1 3/4" x .120 angle iron equally spaced for the rungs and 1/8 steel diamond plate over it and 4" x .25 angle iron for the hook.  Does anyone think that this will support the weight?  Also does anyone have any other suggestions.  I want to have strong ramps, but keep the weight down as much as I can.
Reply:What's your deck height, and what do you plan to load?My name's not Jim....
Reply:Sounds a bit light in all material IMHO.Not knowing the particulars such as how it mounts, type of machine etc. it's hard to gues but I'm gonna anyway :-).I'd be using 6" channel for the sides taped to sit flat on the bottom when it's down. Crossspieces 2 x 2 x 1/4" (minimum  depending on the span) with no checkerplate spaced 12" minimum. Using plate on top you're going to have a tough time loading a track machine at any kind of angle. Even a rubber mounted one will be slick with rain or muck on it. Leaving it open it's self cleaning.Hook, the ones I've made/repaired use 1" plate cut in the shape of a hood to fit over a 1 1/4" dia bar running full length across the bak of the trailer.If you decide to go with light material for the stringers consider a mid support.It's not going to be light especially if you have to lift it. Picking one end up to slide into a pocket under the trailer it won't be too bad but still not going to be easy.We use the pneumatic assist ramps at work as it's a lot easier on the back.but I realize that's not a cheap option.....Mike
Reply:If the machine weighs that much, I would build the ramps in a triangle shape that hinge on the back of the trailer and the bottom of the triangle supports the back of the trailer on the ground when the heavy machine is on the ramps.   Otherwise, you risk bending the back of the trailer behind the rear axle.   My light weight 7000 GVWR flatbed is now 'dove tailed' in the rear from the previous owner loading too much weight on the ramps without supporting the rear of the trailer on jack stands.  The ramps are the kind that detatch and slide into storage pockets under the trailer.   True heavy equipment trailers have the fold down ramps that support the back of the trailer on the ground.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I don't think I've seen ramps that long on any heavy equipment trailer with the exception of a few super heavy lowboys. Those ramps were hydraulic. The biggest I've seen is maybe 4' and usually they are lik DR said, triangular to support the rear of the trailer.What are you trying to load and on to what?.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:My 35' flatdeck has 6' ramps made the way DesertRider is talking about. They are some heavy SOB's, without the spring assists on them I would have a hard time folding them back up on the dovetail (not that it's easy now). They are actually harder to unfold until gravity takes over. If you are sure the rest of the trailer can take the weight I would suggest ramps that are shaped like that so they take the load as whatever it is gets loaded, then have them fold up straight in the air and latch there.... sort of like a big tailgate, that way you don't have to move them around to load them.Just curious but why do they need to be that long, seems awful long but without knowing the trailer deck height it's hard to speculate.Last edited by Greyhorse; 10-29-2009 at 01:12 PM.HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:You could poke around this site for some design ideas.  Of course, a structural failure isn't something you want to have happen when you're moving something that weighs 16,000 pounds.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Thank you everyone for your ideas.  The rear of the bed is 34" from the ground.  At the end of the trailer there is angle iron to attach the ramp.  I would like to load a 1 ton truck that weight around 7200 lbs.
Reply:OK  You are talking 3 to 4,000 lb ramps rather than 8 or 10,000 lb ones then. Remember only half the weight goes on each ramp.  Even that can be cut almost in half, since you most likely will never have 2 tires on the ramp at the same time. I can get my 12K truck up 12" high on 6x6 blocks using a 4' long 2x12 as the ramp. I lift only the one rear wheel so I can drain and flush the diesel tank 2 or 3 times a year. I'm guessing you can probably get away with 6' ramps, possibly shorter depending on the ground clearance of the truck and wheelbase. We load our 1 tons on the heavy trailer at work and the ramps are much shorter than 8'. I want to say 3 to 4 foot long and maybe 28-30 high to the beaver tail. I'll have to look if I get to the shop this weekend..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for the information.  I think I will add a beaver tail to my trailer and make some ramps long enough to drive a car up on.
Reply:To get a passenger car up on a 36" high trailer, yeah, you're going to need a dovetail and long ramps.   I have 4' long ramps for my trailer that's only about 1 foot off the ground in the rear and sometimes cars still high center on the edge of the trailer if I don't block up the ramps.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op