little project

[BrokenBiker]

hi all

i am in great need of at least 2 car ramps i.e. the ones you use to suspend one end of a car

my question is, do you think 30mmx30mmx3mm angle iron will be sufficient enough to hold a car up if i follow the standard design that can be bought in the likes of halfrauds

to buy them i am looking at 60 quid a pair, and i already have 10 metres of said angle iron and enough mig wire to do the job, so im thinking instead of spend spend spend

 

[BrokenBiker]

this is the design i would be using

 

[Wozzaaah]

3mm angle should be fine, you can always over-engineer them a bit for extra security.

 

[BrokenBiker]

over engineering is what i do best. i cant seem to stop myself adding bits for support, and in the end i can lift the bloody things lol. judging by the ones i saw in halfords, they looked about 2mm, and only 10mmx10mm angle.

looked quite flimsy to be honest.

i shall do some measuring up and calculations to make sure i have enough metal for 2, or maybe even 4, and whack all my spare metal in criss-cross suport braces for the sides

its only to hold a bloody corsa in the air long enough for me to work under it, cos im fed up of having to plan where my 2 trolley jacks and axle stands are going so i can still get in there and work without knocking them lol

 

[brightspark]

make the top platform 4 inch longer and move the top stops 4 inch further back from the end it stops the ramps rising when the wheels hit them

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers bright spark. i assume you mean, have the stops in from the end, instead of on the end? so there is still stand left infront of the wheel?

 

[brightspark]

cheers bright spark. i assume you mean, have the stops in from the end, instead of on the end? so there is still stand left infront of the wheel?

yep saves them tipping up when u hit the end a bit fast

 

[BrokenBiker]

yep saves them tipping up when u hit the end a bit fast

you havent seen my car, its not fast lol. a 1.7D corsa 5 door. it doesnt do fast lol.

it makes sense to have the stopes a bit in from the end though

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

to buy them i am looking at 60 quid a pair

What a rip off. After I paid £40 for mine from Halfrauds a couple of years ago, I very quickly snapped up a 2nd set of ramps I found at the local tip for £2

 

[BrokenBiker]

i was going to relieve my grandfather of his set, as he no longer needs them, as i have his trolley jacks, axle stands, and majority of his tools, and i do all his work, but upon insection, they are way too rusty and dont look safe

and as he made them himself 40 odd years ago, i'd rather make mine myself too

plus, wheres the joy in buying something when youve already got it at home, just in a different shape lol

 

[philpullan]

theres a set on ebay buy it now for £23.90 including the post . i have some but never use them allways seem too much hassle for whatever im wanting to do , i stick with axle stands

phil

 

[BrokenBiker]

i used to have a set till they got nicked, but even if i could pick em up brand new for a fiver i think id make them just for the experience and practice.

obviously i'll test them before diving under the car lol

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Don't make the ramp part too short otherwise you might find the front valance / spoiler might catch.
I had a set that ended up being chucked for that very reason yet had been perfectly OK for older cars.
At one time I owned a XJ6 and a set of tubular ramps that I didn't realise had deteriated internally. Quite funny after I drove the Jag onto them and they slowly collapsed so it was back on the ground. Good job I wasn't underneath at the time The replacements are massive and capable of even a big 4x4 but so heavy as PIA for use with my Smart Fortwo or Austin Healey Sprite.
I've also the remains of a set that were given to me. The ramp aspect was too steep to be used with modern cars but a seperate item so I kept the raised platform that is perfect for a wheels after using a large trolley fack to lift the vehicle onto them.

Paul H

 

[BrokenBiker]

how can i get full penetration on lap welds?

the stands i have been looking at have alot of lap joints and i havent really done anything that needs to be this strong with lap joints

i can get penetration with butt joints and fillets with a few passes, but dont see how to do it with 3mm on 3mm lapjoints

 

[BrokenBiker]

Don't make the ramp part too short otherwise you might find the front valance / spoiler might catch.

i have been and done some measurement, and a bit of pythagoras to make sure i have a shallow enough ramp so i dont catch on them

that was one of the things i was worried about but ive drawn one up with the lengths and angles needed

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Just checked my large / HD ramps.
They are 48" long with the ramp aspect being 24" long. 12" wide at base. 9" high. The end has a high stop to avoid vehicle "going over the edge".
There is a dip in the middle of the raised, flat area, that the wheel drops into and helps stop it moving.

Paul H

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers compo, thats roughly the sizes i worked out, but your ramp seems a little longer and shallower than mine, so i think i'll go with your dimensions

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

This thread is looking safe as far as h+s goes!!!

there alright as long as you think about the way there layed out like having joins under the thing its supporting rather than the side

 

[Ed.]

I would also add another vertical in the middle of the ramp, and also join where the verticals meet the bottom horizontal accross to the other side

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Whilst my ramps are perfect for large vehicles (currently I have my Peugeot Expert van on them ! ) I'm thinking a second set along the lines of these would be better for our other cars (Skoda Fabia, Smart Fortwo & Austin Healey Sprite)

http://www.cjautosheywood.co.uk/hyramp.html

Project for the future

Paul H