Car ramp thickness ?

[CompoSimmonite]

The other thread about a scissor lift has got me thinking.
My knees are bad (have to wear brace and suppose to walk with two sticks !) so bending down is difficult.
My Marlin kit car is going into the garage for a full rebuild and modifying so it'll be easier if I can raise it off the ground. Whilst axle stands are one option I'm thinking that a pair of channel sections folded so they can be used as ramps would be better idea.
Looking around I've found this firm -
http://formworkdirect.co.uk/Road_Forms.php
I was thinking of contacting them for a quote to provide 3m long x 8" or 10" wide channels but without the concrete form lugs etc
I know I can probably find a local firm who would fold them but I'm thinking that this one does it day in day out so worth asking.
At present all I've done is send an email asking confirmation of metal thickness but what do other people think should be suitable ?

Thanks.

Paul h

 

[gordon stephenson]

Don't know what section material they are, I have built lots of ramps in the past from 25mmx25mmx3mm angle, Usually about 40" long with a 13" platform,Very strong with correct supports and bracing,

 

[Spot the welders dog]

If the car is too remain in situ for any length of time, and will not need to be mobile at any point, the ramps may be OTT.
Perhaps some wheel stools constructed from 4x2 would be sufficient to gain the height required: infinitely adjustable, whilst also benefiting from less clutter around the sill height should you need to clamber underneath.

 

[gordon stephenson]

If more access is required to the car underside,the ramp section is easily made to be detachable. Leaving each wheel on its own pedestal.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I should elaborate :-)
If I'd got the space I'd have a 4 post lift and am thinking along the lines of a DIY version ie a way of raising a vehicle to a better working height for maintenance of my other cars as well as the Marlin rebuild.
I've got a Jackall "Jack Safe" which is something that no longer seems to be available. Best way to describe is a small fork lift type device. There are two uprights the same beam as the Jackall. They are attached to a base and sliding "forks" crossbeam that the full Jackall jack fits in the middle. You can then jack up safely as the Jack Safe forks have ratchet mechanism. The original intention was to lift Land Rover. Jeep etc by bumpers and then be safe enough to work underneath without additional axle stands. When desired height reached the Jackall can be removed.
KeeKlamps are some of my favourite items and I've got quite a large selection. Plan therefore is along the lines of making a fixed support frame at one end of the platform and then lifting the other end with the Jack Safe before adding another support.
End result will be along these lines -

but higher and ability to adjust that from, say, 18" to 30" (just a quick guess - not worked out exact amount yet).
Also my drive is double width and one side slopes so when a vehicle is on ramps then it becomes level so the idea is such that the platform could also be sued there to provide higher working height than my normal ramps currently give.
As an extra I'd also make a cross beam so a jack could be used so wheel can be removed etc.
This is sort of the idea -

BTW such ramps are now being sold for people who have property that is at risk of flooding. You can raise you car above the water or even add a platform to store other possessions. Not a problem for me - we are at 900 feet.

Paul H

 

[MoreWellie]

when you talk about "Jack Safe" are you thinking of something like http://www.cjautos.eu/product_p/cl06a.htm ?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

when you talk about "Jack Safe" are you thinking of something like http://www.cjautos.eu/product_p/cl06a.htm ?

Sort of

It's like two farm jacks around 24" apart and mounted on a base frame similar to that of the CJautos item. The actual lifting arms are longer than the ones on individual farm jacks and linked together, again 24" apart. The jack then fits between the base frame and lifting arm so both come up together. All are genuine Jackall parts and not a Chinese copy. It's around 15 years old and I haven't seen one for years. Google finds nothing other than posts on other forums where I refer to it. I think it was a Canadian (or US) product that was marketed in the UK but never took off.
This is a proper Jackall -

Nasty things - I chopped then end off one finger when it collapsed unexpectedly so the Jack Safe is a useful way of preventing sudden drops. I'm thinking of maybe using a Land Rover Defender pillar jack for the actual lifting -

or possibly a dual piston hydraulic ram.

Paul H

 

[mike 109444]

Ref post 5 pic 2 (guy under car!) I had thought about using some armco (crash barrier) as it is strong and preformed as wheel guides to create some long and high ramps but thought it would be difficult to get hold of some. See plenty being pulled up along the motorway but then gets recycled! Then I seen the recent link by your self (I think) to Brokenbikers request for metal suppliers and noticed that guy had some for sale. So there are sources for the barrier steel (short of lifting it from the motorway)
There were some post on youtube ref high ramps and some look VERY scarey namely 6ft up yikes.
There are also the seesaw type that car sales places have. Drive up till tipping point and weight of car takes it over tipping point. Looks a good ideal if maybe again a bit scarey.

 

[brokenbiker]

Ref post 5 pic 2 (guy under car!) I had thought about using some armco (crash barrier) as it is strong and preformed as wheel guides to create some long and high ramps but thought it would be difficult to get hold of some. See plenty being pulled up along the motorway but then gets recycled! Then I seen the recent link by your self (I think) to Brokenbikers request for metal suppliers and noticed that guy had some for sale. So there are sources for the barrier steel (short of lifting it from the motorway)
There were some post on youtube ref high ramps and some look VERY scarey namely 6ft up yikes.
There are also the seesaw type that car sales places have. Drive up till tipping point and weight of car takes it over tipping point. Looks a good ideal if maybe again a bit scarey.

re: see saw type devices, we use a few in work for lorry cabs. Very effective although a lot bigger than would be needed for a car.

we also have a set of ramps permanently fixed at a certain height, with movable ramps to position infront and drive up for the rigids (and cars than need work doing on nights)

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate managed to get a length of Armco. He was a lorry driver delivering tarmac to motorway work and foreman let him have an offcut around 8' long as he wanted it to make a bike trailer. Back home he found it wasn't suitable so it got used as a bike ramp. Chuffing heavy stuff !

Paul H

 

[fenton_neil]

I use a set of the cjautos hydraulic ramps....they are very sturdy with a good locking system. I haven't got the head height in my garage for a 4 poster + I needed something I could just prop against the wall when not in use.

http://www.cjautos.eu/product_p/cr01.htm

 

[mike 109444]

Another option.....
http://www.rollerhoop.com/index.html
I'm thinking ring rolled scaffold tube......
No need to rotate car more than 30/45 degrees for basic work on underside maybe.

 

[bigegg]

Here's mine:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/car-repair-pit-ramps.35211/

lifts van 2ft off ground, and level.
not adjustable for height, tho

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Yesterday, on motorway, I saw an older beavertailed Transit with the load ramps made out of galvanised perforated channel. This sort of thing -

I've been searching but don't know the name of such product so don't know where to start. Whilst people like Ifor Williams etc will have facilities to fold and punch the holes themselves I'd assume coachbuilders simply buy it ready made and that is what I'm interesting in.
Any suggestions as to what to Google to find such ?

Thanks.

Paul H

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I can answer my own question. The "stuff" is called grating plank.

Paul H

 

[ned]

sorry to dig this thread up from the past. Have become interested in doing something like this myself. Did you ever make one Paul?

That grating plank stuff is good looking. Im not sure if its the same stuff, maybe different thickness, but similar is used for galvanised steel scaffolding planking, and it seems to be cheap.

 

[octo0072000]

perforated channel that's used on most big car transporters but not galved

a phone call here should help you

http://www.hunwick-transporter.com/

 

[J.F]

If I'd got the space I'd have a 4 post lift and am thinking along the lines of a DIY version ie a way of raising a vehicle to a better working height for maintenance of my other cars as well as the Marlin rebuild.

Not sure how much you have to spend but why not look a professional mobile lift if you have the space needed for the ramps shown in you first picture the blue ones with the Mercedes on.

http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7630-mobile-scissor-lift/


http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7530d-garage-scissor-lift/

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've forgot I'd even started this thread
The need is still with me for such ramps so will go with the galvanised planking and intend getting prices tomorrow of 3m / 10' lengths.
http://www.prmetals.com/Category/Grating/Plank-Grating (US company so for example of what's available only)
http://www.pcpgratings.co.uk/planks.html
I'll report back on my "findings" idc

 

[MG David]

I will be interested to hear how you get on.