Best material size for car ramps ?

[timh30]

Metal safely home, so thought I would report back.

The guy at the counter had a chuckle and seemed to think it would be too long for the car (even though I showed him the DOT guidelines). Anyhow loaded up with about 2m hanging over the back (it looks more than that in the photo because of the perspective) and the rest at the front. Obviously most of the weight is carried on the front roof bar as it is nearest the middle of the load and acts like a pivot. The front was supported as much as possible by the ladder but still a good couple of meters unsupported which swayed up and down a little (I guess a prop of some sort on the front bumper would help, but I only had a few miles to travel).

Cheers Tim.

 

[mike os]

... open the ladder out a bit

it is an extension ladder after all

 

[Robotstar5]

... open the ladder out a bit

it is an extension ladder after all

That's what I did when collecting a couple of 7m poles on my SWB Landy

 

[TheJoker]

When building the ramps you might want to consider building them as two part, with the lower (pointy end) removable, especially if your car is very low and has got a long front overhang. If you do long ramps with a low angle it'll work, but you'll end up with very long ramps under the car and a lot of storage space is required.
If you build short steep ramps it's a b**ch to get the car up on them, and you might tear away some of the bodywork such as bumpers etc.

 

[Wedg1e]

Not quite on-topic but here's my best roofrack effort: long-wheelbase Connect with even-longer wheelbase sea kayak

 

[GB75]

Front bumper carrier on front bumper ajustable towbar, one of my most useful creations although not the not the most attractive being knocked up in about 10 mins from some scrap 2inch box and a couple of bits of plate 2 years back, but it alows me to carry 7.5m lengths with no worries! and yes hi-viz vests make ideal markers

 

[Delta]

I wouldn't worry too much, we've all seen a lot worse, I remember seeing a guy pick a house door up, open the back side door of his Peugeot, putting it across the back seats and driving off down the road with the side door wide open and new door sticking out....