Aluminium ramps

[GSR]

Evening all,
Looking for some aluminium ramps to replace steel ones currently in use. Looking on eBay and seen these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123721962683
which look very smart and will tie in nicely with the aluminium already in the rest of the truck, but what’s the general thoughts on 4.5mm aluminium with no frame underneath them? Likely to bend when being loaded - heaviest car into them will be about 1100kg and there will never be all 4 wheels on them at the same time.

 

[Ruffian]

Personally I wouldn't want to use those. Look a little light.

As like overkill But then again we used to build them with c section channel either side and if I remember 1/4" top plate.

 

[GSR]

That was my concern, that’s there’s not enough to them - but then again I always end up with something that’s far too over engineered.
just after anybodys experience of using simple ramps that are folded sheet

 

[Greeves246]

Bought a bike ramp from these people. Very satisfied.

The Ramp People: Redefining Ramp Solutions for Every Challenge - The Ramp People

Discover The Ramp People: Your trusted partner for secure access and innovative ramp solutions. Our passion for your needs, extensive product range, and strong partnerships make us the ultimate choice for enhancing accessibility and comfort.

www.theramppeople.co.uk

 

[addjunkie]

both ifor and nugent do ramps for their flat bed trailers, Ive used mine for a 2.8 ton digger. nugent certainly do steel or ali

 

[bricol]

The strength is in the depth and way they are folded - that return fold adds a lot of strength and rigidity, especially in 4.5 thk. Look good to me.

I'm just redesigning a lot of sheet metal at work that people with less (no?) experience of sheet metal have designed in all sort sorts of angle iron and hollow section frames as they think it adds strength, when all it does is add work, and designs in so many more ways for the welded whole to warp and twist, when some simple folding will add in all that is needed.

 

[hotponyshoes]

15kg for a ramp that long sounds a bit light to me.
My guess that the 4.5mm sheet spec is actually 4.5mm chequered plate, I.e. 3mm sheet with 1.5mm of cheques on the top.

They may well be ok for light use now and again but they are not heavy duty.

I repair the odd one for a recovery truck now and again, they are normally pretty bent up and they are mostly 5/6mm+.

Although a car with a wheel missing being dragged up on a winch is a lot harder on the ramps than a running micra..

 

[GSR]

Its for personal use rather than business so definitely not heavy duty use, but still dont want them bending up. It should always be a car with 4 wheels pointing roughly in the right direction. Ill see with the seller if its actually 4.5mm base thickness or overall. Thanks

 

[arther dailey]

pm sent re some ramps I have available to sell that might be suitable. Hope this is ok, let me know if I need to list in for sale section please Mods.

 

[zzr1200]

The spec states they are rated for 1250Kg a pair..

 

[hotponyshoes]

The spec states they are rated for 1250Kg a pair..

Up to about a vw mk4 golf then. .

 

[gaz1]

 

[GSR]

The first video is what I originally had in my mind - I can make the frame and rivet the aluminium on, but was then considering the possibility of all aluminium but this takes it out of my capabilities, hence looking to purchase something ready to go.

 

[arther dailey]

the guy mad nice job off that but I have to say with the body and ramps his payload isnt going to be very much , same reason I looked and eventually found a pair of heavy duty ali but obviously lighter ramps.

 

[Munkul]

We made some 2m long alloy ramps a while back, went with a design loading of 0.5T each to the same standards of deflection as lifting beams. I forget the calcs. Then we went heavier again still, IIRC, for a safety factor.

Used 6mm treadplate top and bottom, with 3" x 2" x1/8" channel at each side and in the middle. It all added up to a very hefty set of ramps that were almost as heavy as steel ones.

Of course they were horrendously over-engineered, but it gets you thinking... about all those lighter ones on the market, in particular the cheap basic ones without much stiffening.

Personally I wouldn't use those ebay ramps to load my lawnmower they're way under-specced, and alloy really isn't as stiff as it looks.

 

[gaz1]

if you look how this is built up you will see its sides

then if you look what can be stacked up on it it should give you a good idea

 

[arther dailey]

to give you an idea how mine were made, might be of some help to you.Arther