wheelchair ramps

[BrokenBiker]

i did just post this then realised how long winded i made it, so...

will 3mm ally treadplate, as wide as a upvc front door and maybe 2 meters long, be strong enough to take a 16 stone person plus wheelchair.

there would be ally box section frame at either end and probably in the middle. box would be 1.5" x 3.2mm wall thickness.

off the shelf ramps arent viable due to cost really, the cheap ones arent the right size, the ones that fit are too expensive

from what i can tell, the tread plate i am finding all seems to be 5754...the box will either be 6063 or 6082...can this be done with 5356 filler? 4043? something else completely?

 

[voipio]

There may be off the shelf solutions for this kind of thing, that might allow the necessary modifications.

 

[BrokenBiker]

There may be off the shelf solutions for this kind of thing, that might allow the necessary modifications.

they need to be made relatively quickly and so far the off shelf options we have seen arent viable.

 

[voipio]

That size box section should be OK, though it will sink a bit with the weight in the middle. Some regularly spaced cross members should stop the checkerplate from sinking too much with the weight. I take it the long box sections will be one piece, rather than hinged in the middle.

 

[BrokenBiker]

That size box section should be OK, though it will sink a bit with the weight in the middle. Some regularly spaced cross members should stop the checkerplate from sinking too much with the weight. I take it the long box sections will be one piece, rather than hinged in the middle.

yes all one piece, it doesnt need to hinge

 

[My Old Landy]

I have a commercial foldaway one by my front door. It is probably less well made than your proposal and does groan under my weight which is similar to what you suggest.
You are usually only on it for a few seconds at a time. If it is permanent then add extra bracing where the wheels will go.

 

[gaz1]

7ft is better

Telescopic Channel Ramps 7ft from Essential Aids

The Telescopic Channel Ramps 7ft are an innovative tool for wheelchair users, allowing safe and smooth transition over steps, doorways or kerbs

www.essentialaids.com

 

[BrokenBiker]

I have a commercial foldaway one by my front door. It is probably less well made than your proposal and does groan under my weight which is similar to what you suggest.
You are usually only on it for a few seconds at a time. If it is permanent then add extra bracing where the wheels will go.

i was thinking i could run a length of box down the areas where the wheels would run to strenghten it a bit more if needed.

i think im just going to go for it to be honest. its going to be fairly obvious if its going to work or not after the first run. if it doesnt work for whatever reason i can rethink it after the fact and adjust til it does work.

will be well under half the price of anything thats close to fitting, plus gives me something to do and a way of helping them out as they almost always refuse anyones help, so being asked to get this done is actually quite a big step for them in realising they actually do need help from time to time, especially now as my father in law only got over bowel cancer in april, then in october my mother in law was diagnosed with failure in the left side of her heart, given all the usual 'take these tablets and then we will look at a pacemaker for you' talk, then got rushed back in last week to be told the heart is too far gone now, we didnt think it was that bad but the tablets we gave you have also destroyed your kidneys and your lungs cant cope either.

7ft is better

Telescopic Channel Ramps 7ft from Essential Aids

The Telescopic Channel Ramps 7ft are an innovative tool for wheelchair users, allowing safe and smooth transition over steps, doorways or kerbs

www.essentialaids.com

so a smidge over 2m then?

 

[gaz1]

the adjustment helps when you need it either by length or use it on a shorter length

plus they can be used if you get a transit vehicle so when theyve finished been used for a wheelchair you can use them for tools out of the van

 

[BrokenBiker]

the adjustment helps when you need it either by length or use it on a shorter length

plus they can be used if you get a transit vehicle so when theyve finished been used for a wheelchair you can use them for tools out of the van

i see what you mean about the adjustment, but these will only be used for their house. they dont really go elsewhere except my father in laws parents house which is already accessible.

looking at the link you sent though i think i may pinch their dimensions and design...just slightly tweaked to avoid the obstacles they have on the steps to the house

 

[angellonewolf]

when a mate/boss now passed (not going in to it ive possably said about it on here before)

i used left over fence posts built a square infilled for support put on legs the hight of a door some 6mm ply board to cover built the slope out the same just on the slope and used a few of the 6mm ply cut in to inch stripes layed horazontial to make grip for the chair and the person thats pushing

done a hash job as they had a company coming out to put in a proper ramp so he could get out the door the next day i put it in there i built on a night and put it up the next moring took half hour once it was built to to put together

they come round to do the job wanted to drill holes here and there for railing and fixed points in the end they where sent on there way with thanks but we are already sorted bare in mined this was 6 months later buy the time they come round so hed have been stuck in the house for that long (this from memey and was a few years ago but was months)

 

[BrokenBiker]

when a mate/boss now passed (not going in to it ive possably said about it on here before)

i used left over fence posts built a square infilled for support put on legs the hight of a door some 6mm ply board to cover built the slope out the same just on the slope and used a few of the 6mm ply cut in to inch stripes layed horazontial to make grip for the chair and the person thats pushing

done a hash job as they had a company coming out to put in a proper ramp so he could get out the door the next day i put it in there i built on a night and put it up the next moring took half hour once it was built to to put together

they come round to do the job wanted to drill holes here and there for railing and fixed points in the end they where sent on there way with thanks but we are already sorted bare in mined this was 6 months later buy the time they come round so hed have been stuck in the house for that long (this from memey and was a few years ago but was months)

when my grandmother was first diagnosed with dementia she had rails and what not fitted down the path...took them about 6 months to come out then too and in the end i had to pull them out and concrete them in properly as it all cracked after the first attempt, then the second attempt was to just pour cement powder in the cracks and hose it down a bit...ive never trusted anyone that does large scale work like this for the 'government' but these boys didnt have a clue what they were doing...i used a few bags of post crete 7 years ago and we are now looking at selling the house and the railing is still as solid as when i repaired it.

if it werent for my utter hatred of wood in all its forms i would probably use ply myself, but i have no tools for wood butchery apart from a recip saw and a 6mm chisel

 

[angellonewolf]

when my grandmother was first diagnosed with dementia she had rails and what not fitted down the path...took them about 6 months to come out then too and in the end i had to pull them out and concrete them in properly as it all cracked after the first attempt, then the second attempt was to just pour cement powder in the cracks and hose it down a bit...ive never trusted anyone that does large scale work like this for the 'government' but these boys didnt have a clue what they were doing...i used a few bags of post crete 7 years ago and we are now looking at selling the house and the railing is still as solid as when i repaired it.

if it werent for my utter hatred of wood in all its forms i would probably use ply myself, but i have no tools for wood butchery apart from a recip saw and a 6mm chisel

dont get me wrong i cant say what there workmenship is like as they would have been doing what they need for safety but as he had been using my ramp for months and was getting on ok with it as his case was termnial he did not want holes drilled here and there when he was able to get out of the house if hed been in a differnt situation im sure hed would have agreed just so he could get out of the 4 walls

 

[Robotstar5]

The stationary engine crowd tend to use ally 'C' section as ramps for the engines, most of them weigh 200+kg

 

[BrokenBiker]

The stationary engine crowd tend to use ally 'C' section as ramps for the engines, most of them weigh 200+kg

Not a bad idea, will have a look see what size C section is available.

My reformed design is leaning toward some 40x40x2 box and some 3mm tread plate, to effectively make a C section type arrangement, 2 ramps but with 2 drop in cross members to avoid them splaying on the un-alterable but uneven ground at the base of the steps (been on to the council for years, neighbour tried to fix it and got threatened with a fine)

Will be lighter, easier to move and less welding so quicker production.

Going up to measure later then waiting for the go ahead

 

[BrokenBiker]

So...just been up to measure...we can add an eye test to the father in laws list for this year...he told me 2m from the door to the bottom of the steps...what he actually meant was 1100mm 2 meters would have the chair touching the floor about 100mm past the edge of the walkway and directly onto a steep muddy drop 1100mm ramp length works out at a 22° ramp angle which is a bit steeper than I'd like, but it's literally all we have to work with and still have space to get the chair off the ramps at the bottom

But it does mean I only need to order 1 length of box section and 1 sheet of tread plate and i can make a little hinged flap that will flop over the bottom of the door frame and ramp down to the floor inside over about 500mm distance, and a little lip to secure it from slipping on the door frame.

So, let's order some material

 

[hotponyshoes]

Where abouts are you located?
If anywhere near Frome I've got some powered wheelchair ramps for a bus. (The sort of thing that mounts under the front door and comes out when required)

The mechanism might be unnecessary but the ramp part itself is some sort of textured grp and obviously designed and tested for the job..

 

[DAPPH]

i did just post this then realised how long winded i made it, so...

will 3mm ally treadplate, as wide as a upvc front door and maybe 2 meters long, be strong enough to take a 16 stone person plus wheelchair.

there would be ally box section frame at either end and probably in the middle. box would be 1.5" x 3.2mm wall thickness.

off the shelf ramps arent viable due to cost really, the cheap ones arent the right size, the ones that fit are too expensive

from what i can tell, the tread plate i am finding all seems to be 5754...the box will either be 6063 or 6082...can this be done with 5356 filler? 4043? something else completely?

Yes saw a 2.4 mtr long one several years ago raising a big lad in an electric wheel chair up from ground zero to almost 9 inches over steps and the door cill , they had folded the outer edges down and slipped the outer braces under them & made a foot or so hinged access ramp across the width to get up from off the ground , along the top outer edges they had pop riveted some ally angle to ensure the machine stayed on the ramp .

 

[BrokenBiker]

Where abouts are you located?
If anywhere near Frome I've got some powered wheelchair ramps for a bus. (The sort of thing that mounts under the front door and comes out when required)

The mechanism might be unnecessary but the ramp part itself is some sort of textured grp and obviously designed and tested for the job..

Nowhere near frome unfortunately but thanks for the offer. If I'm anywhere near in the crane over the near future I will drop you a message though

 

[8ob]

Is ali treadplate a good idea? Just thinking wet/horrible weather especially for foot soldiers, ply with that grit glued on top of it might be an option, will only need bolting to the runners on the underside. Just thoughts.

Bob