Pushing machinery up ramps?

[ELL]

So, I have a van that I can make a ramp for. It will be used to push bandsaws on wheels and other machinery about 100-350kg on wheels into the the van. How long does the ramp need to be? I imagine it would need to be at least maybe 8ft so it's not too steep. Or would it need to be longer? The height of the back of the van the ramp is going onto is 400mm. Thanks

 

[DanZac]

It'll be a lot easier to mount a winch in the van and winch stuff up your ramp. You'll need a much longer ramp if your man handling than if your using mechanical advantage, plus it'll be a more controlled movement.

 

[dave h 2]

I think you'll get run over.

 

[xstian]

My motorcycle weighs 200kg and I use a ramp which is 4ft and it’s no bother, but that has massive wheels compared to a machine on casters for example which may also have an unbalanced weight.

A winch has to be the best bet. I doubt the length matter except when the machine is top heavy.

 

[BrokenBiker]

anything we need to move in work that has to go up even the slightest of inclines gets winched...100kg will tear you up if you slip while pushing it up hill...twisted backs, torn muscles, ligamnets etc...for the sake of a cheap 4500lb winch that will bolt to anything sturdy, its not worth the risk of pusshing anything imo

 

[Pete.]

The ramp needs to be long enough so that the machine doesn't ground out going over the top.

Personally I'd get on marketplace and find a cheap engine hoist. Modify the legs the same as mine and it'll straddle most small workshop machines so you can pick them up and roll them in the back.

 

[dieselsamurai]

maybe one of these or similar

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folding-Loading-access-Resistant-convenient/dp/B074C971G7/ref=asc_df_B074C971G7

 

[Erie Fred]

Did you not have trig in school ?
How many KGs can you/want to push ?

 

[Agroshield]

It will be used to push bandsaws...

Vertical or horizontal bandsaw?

In addition to the ground clearance issue, and to re-state what is said above, if the ramp is too steep, the machine could topple over backwards.

Think about how you will store/stow the ramps in the van on the return journey with the machine also loaded. I can see no immediate disadvantages to make them as long as possible to fit that space.

Drive the front of the van onto its own ramps and it will lower the rear as well as make the slope shallower (some of the tow trucks in Korea do that - they have jacking legs which raise the front of the truck off the ground).

As an alternative to a winch, a set-of-fours pulley block using some cheap Chinese double sheave pulleys and rope (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008428564302.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007300218587.html could work).

maybe one of these or similar

With the holes drilled in those, it would be easy to make some slot-in chocks so the machine could never roll backwards.

 

[gaz1]

no ramp needed with my reference

just screw jacks at 4 corners with a platform with 8 wheels

you need 4 for the jacks but you need 4 for the platform

 

[Guzrik]

The ramp needs to be long enough so that the machine doesn't ground out going over the top.

Personally I'd get on marketplace and find a cheap engine hoist. Modify the legs the same as mine and it'll straddle most small workshop machines so you can pick them up and roll them in the back.

And a curve at the top of the ramp makes it also easier

 

[Barking Mat]

Pull, don't push.

 

[mr haynes]

Pallet truck

 

[knighty]

fit a tail lift instead?

external tilt type are the best, or if you want something internal fit a wheelchair lift

we ran wheelchair lifts for years on vans, they were all overloaded and overworked and all lasted well