5' Trailer Ramps - First "Real" Project

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Hello everyoneI am new to the forum and new to welding.  I have really liked what I have seen on this forum, so figured I would post my first "real" project.  I needed a set of ramps for my utility trailer so I figured it would be a good test.  I needed to haul a mini track-hoe (weighed in at 3000lbs).  I made them out of 2 x 2 x 1/4 angle iron.  They held up to the task with flying colors, how ever that doesn't mean the welds are worth a d**n.  Sorry the ramps/welds are rusty in the pictures, I built them the night before I needed them and they have been outside for about a month now.  Please pass on any tips/complaints you may have.  Thanks Attached Images
Reply:Not bad. The only comment I'd have is on how you built them. Almost all the ramps I've used or seen have the angle pointing up like this /\, as opposed to the way I think you built yours like this V. Usually on the small trailer ramps you just pop them off and slide them underneath the trailer. The way you did it the V will want to fill with dirt and crap as you load, then fill with water under the trailer. Thats a recipie for rust for sure.No biggie, just something to think about when you use them and for the next time. One other thing, you may want to clip the corners on the bottom of the sides. The way I think you have them they will dig into blacktop real easy, especially if you jockey the machine a bit. That can play he11 on a customers driveway digging holes. Been there, done that.Last edited by DSW; 10-20-2009 at 08:51 PM..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:Thank you for the comments.That is actually something I kept going back and forth on.  The only reason I did it the way I did was that this provided the most points of contact with a tire.  I didn't bother to think about them catching crud...  Little late for this set...Miller Millermatic 212... and that's about it... for now...
Reply:I had a feeling thats why you did it that way..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:I'm a tiny bit surprised they held up that well with 3000 lb, but thinking about it a track probably distributes the weight a lot better than a rubber tired rig. That's good info for reference. How wide are they? Nice job there.
Reply:We carry our mini excavators up to about twelve thousand pounds and some of our skid steers on trailers with ramps just like that minus the angle turned upside down.  We have never had a bit of problem with a ramp breaking or bending.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyI'm a tiny bit surprised they held up that well with 3000 lb, but thinking about it a track probably distributes the weight a lot better than a rubber tired rig. That's good info for reference. How wide are they? Nice job there.
Reply:Originally Posted by allengradingWe carry our mini excavators up to about twelve thousand pounds and some of our skid steers on trailers with ramps just like that minus the angle turned upside down.  We have never had a bit of problem with a ramp breaking or bending.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyI'm a tiny bit surprised they held up that well with 3000 lb, but thinking about it a track probably distributes the weight a lot better than a rubber tired rig. That's good info for reference. How wide are they? Nice job there.
Reply:Originally Posted by bartels_metal_worksThank you for the response.  ...So is that a "I'm a tiny bit surprised they held up" as in your welds look like poo, or that the angle is undersized for the task, or something else?    The scary thing is I considered thinner angle at first!  They are entirely 2" x 2" x 1/4".  They are 5' long.  The "rungs" are 12" wide and the overall width is 16".
Reply:That works for me! Miller Millermatic 212... and that's about it... for now...
Reply:I build my ramps similar to that, only I have my rungs pointed up so they don't catch ****, and I use 2" channel for the sides.  I think the last set cost me $56 in material.  I use them mainly to load a 3000 lb skid loader and vehicles.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI think the last set cost me $56 in material.
Reply:i need to rebuild my ramps for my trailer and they are similar, but i want to build my ramps out of aluminum.syncrowave 180 sd
Reply:What would the capacity be of an aluminum version of these ramps?  I would imagine far less than the steel, but I certainly don't know.Miller Millermatic 212... and that's about it... for now...
Reply:Originally Posted by bartels_metal_worksI think I need to find a better place to buy material, as I paid ~$90 for my materials (40 feet of 1/4" x 2" angle).  The other place I checked wanted ~$120...
Reply:We built some ramps at work out of aluminum cuz the dummy driver lost one of them on the highway, so we needed a matched set.  I think we used 3" aluminum channel for the sides and 2x2x1/4" angle for the rungs.My name's not Jim....
Reply:good advice on the position of the angles.........
Reply:Does anyone have any recommendations for building a 8' trailer ramp that can hold up to 10000 pounds?  Rectangle, square, channel, or angle iron and which gauge.  I would like to keep it light as possible without shelling out for aluminum ramps.
Reply:Originally Posted by venery99Does anyone have any recommendations for building a 8' trailer ramp that can hold up to 10000 pounds?  Rectangle, square, channel, or angle iron and which gauge.  I would like to keep it light as possible without shelling out for aluminum ramps.
Reply:My 5' ramps shown above weigh in at 68lbs each, just so you have something to compare to.Miller Millermatic 212... and that's about it... for now...