building lightweight ramps - material ideas?

[rockready069]

I am looking to build a set of lighter weight ramps, main reason being the ramps I have are probably sufficient to load a tank. They are very short at only about 3 feet long and being made of 3x3 .250 wall with 3x3.250 wall rungs every 6 inches they weigh a shit ton.

Found a calculator online that shows deflection of a given size square tubing http://metalgeek.com/static/deflection.php and given that a friend of mine has 60" ramps built of 2x2 .250 wall main rails, I could build a set of 50" 2x2 .120 wall main rails with similar deflection numbers with an identical load.

ends free

ends fixed
tube size in inches
decimal gauge
length of beam in inches
center load in pounds


type = steel ends = free
est. weight = 5.9461# per foot
OD = 2" ID = 1.5"
Moment of Inertia = 0.9011

Deflection = 0.0841"

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ends free

ends fixed
tube size in inches
decimal gauge
length of beam in inches
center load in pounds


type = steel ends = free
est. weight = 3.068# per foot
OD = 2" ID = 1.76"
Moment of Inertia = 0.5332

Deflection = 0.0822"



I am thinking of going this route but curious to know if anyone had a calculator for channel. I passed a big 3 car wedge today and his ramps looked like maybe 2 pieces of 1x2" channel with a few rungs and topped with diamond plate.

The goal here is to build the lightest set of ramps (steel) to not bend while loading a 1 ton grand cherokee. Looking for any input and/or what material would be strongest/lightest of course I can go build them out of 2x2 .250 wall that's not what I'm looking to do.

[RoosterBooster]

why not Aluminum ramps ?!?

[2big bronco]

how heavy of a truck are you hauling/loading. find a friend in contruction and tell him to score you some metal scaffold planks

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=metal...9,r:6,s:0,i:99


im pretty sure anything like a jeep or lighter would be fine with these. you could also reinforce them on the ondersive with 2 bieces off 2x2 188 angle running longways to stiffen them up a bunch and they would still be light weight. i know the ones in the 12-14' range are rated for at least 250lbs in the center and thats including a good safty margin since lives are on the line

[rockready069]

It is a 1 ton grand cherokee. No doors, no cage, no friends in construction. The number I used for the deflection calculator was 500# figuring 2 main rails per ramp and estimating the front of my rig weights 2000#, I'm sure the back end is lighter.

[87manche]

buy some aluminum ramps.

best thing ever. I scored mine used for the grand total of 150 bucks and they're worth every penny.

[jam0o0]

Originally Posted by rockready069

It is a 1 ton grand cherokee. No doors, no cage, no friends in construction. The number I used for the deflection calculator was 500# figuring 2 main rails per ramp and estimating the front of my rig weights 2000#, I'm sure the back end is lighter.

you said one ton grand right? go actually weigh it. i bet you are way off. the front end of my small block one ton bronco is over 3000. it's not built to be light but it was more then 2000 on the front axle stock.

[LCOwner]

Big diesel truck frame if you can find it. Dad's driven low since the 70's and that's all he's ever used.

[91blaze]

FYI - I'd guess my rig was a little lighter than yours when i first built ramps

2x2 0.25" angle 7.5' long one each side of ramp and then rungs every 8-10 or something
First attempt they bent/bowed

I then capped them - doubling each angle essentially and they are rock solid