How do ramps calculate their load?

[Stimw]

I have been thinking about a set of these- Shop Reese 1-ft x 7.5-ft 1500 -lb Capacity Arched Aluminum Loading Ramp at Lowes.com
Reese products are usually well made.

 

[DarkBlack]

If your wheelbase is longer than the ramps, as you describe, then the ramps will only see a portion of the vehicle weight.

 

[txdon]

You can chain an attached ramp at the same level as the trailer deck. It doesn't get in the way of hauling longer stuff.

Ok, I can see that working. If I can get the trailer side wall straight again, maybe. Have you seen any good plans for an add on ramp?

 

[txdon]

I have been thinking about a set of these- Shop Reese 1-ft x 7.5-ft 1500 -lb Capacity Arched Aluminum Loading Ramp at Lowes.com
Reese products are usually well made.

I saw those but I like the idea of the two ramps connected and wider, the rear tires on my Hustler Fastrack are 13" wide. I also like the idea of the spaces on the ramp close because of the smaller front tires of the ZRT.

 

[txdon]

If your wheelbase is longer than the ramps, as you describe, then the ramps will only see a portion of the vehicle weight.

That's what I was thinking, but the weight limit at any specific point on the ramp is not listed. I would think the 1200 limit would be in the center and the limit going toward each end could be increased before failure. Any engineers out there?

 

[newbury]

I have been thinking about a set of these- Shop Reese 1-ft x 7.5-ft 1500 -lb Capacity Arched Aluminum Loading Ramp at Lowes.com
Reese products are usually well made.

Just remember an arched ramp is usually not conducive for unloading with a hand truck or nything with small wheels

 

[bdog]

With a 16" deck height a failure isn't exactly going to be catastrophic. I would try it and see what happens. You will quickly find out if you will need new ramps or not. You could even use the trailer jack to lift the tongue and make the rear lower if you wanted. You can even do this with the trailer attached to the truck and get a few inches which helps. We had to do this when loading a low mustang on a trailer.

That being said I got some defective aluminum ramps once. I was loading a four wheeler in the back of a tall dodge 4x4 truck. It weighed maybe 500lbs and I was 180lbs. I got a little over halfway up and one ramp busted. I was very lucky it didn't flip over backwards on me. They were 1,000 lb ramps. The bed was over 3' tall so it was scary.

 

[4570Man]

Failure at 16" wouldn't be catastrophic, but why would you try it? At the very least you trash a set of ramps and then have to buy a proper set.

 

[bdog]

Failure at 16" wouldn't be catastrophic, but why would you try it? At the very least you trash a set of ramps and then have to buy a proper set.

Maybe he is and maybe he isn't. I am sure that rating is for something totally on the ramps. With his long wheelbase on the golf cart I don't think he will apply all that weight to the ramps at once. I guess it depends on how long the ramps are but even if they are 6' his wheel base is is 75" so his front tires will be on the trailer before the rears touch the ramp so he will never be applying 100% of that weight to the ramps. For no taller then he is trying to go up I would get some shorter ramps maybe 4-5' unless the golf cart was super low profile.

 

[dstig1]

I got my aluminum ramps from discountramps.com. They are awesome. Light and much less flex than the beaten old angle iron ramps that came with my used trailer. I recommend those guys for sure. Good product, good price, and shipped fast.