Trailer loading ramps question

[PILOON]

When I built my ramps I lucked out finding surplus 2" X 3" X 1/4" 6 ft lengths.
Also they had 12" X 6 ft lengths of very duty woven mesh that used 1/4" material for the weave.
Since it was a woven material I welded a few spreaders and then welded the HD mesh at every weave.
Naturally used the 3" side vertically welding onto the 2" sides.
They get used often to load my CUT c/w cab, loader onto my trailer and no complaints.
A tad heavy but still manageable.
Best is they don't complain or bend.

Got to say my welder sure has earned its keep.

 

[BlueKnife]

So is the C channel of 1/8" thickness stiffer than Angle iron of 1/4" when used in a ramp building application.

Yes, is the short answer, assuming you stiffen it with a few cross members. Seems like the easiest thing for you to do would be to straighten the old ramps and then just weld the channel to the sides of it.

 

[Xfaxman]

My trailer ramps are hydraulic powered : Compact telehandler

 

[jaxs]

Were I to have a ramp bend as in op's instance,I'd probably straighten then patch it rather than building new ramps. When building ramps and other things where strength is important,I search my salvaged steel racks or ask my friends at recycle yard to be on the lookout for suitable used material. Much of material coming from oil field and industrial plants is higher quility than structial steel commonly found at steel yards. Here's how I build ramps more than half again stronger than op's using same material as op's are made from. Using cold processed stringers would reduce construction time consideriably and more than double ramp capacity. Cut all cross pieces EXACTLY the same length then remove/roundoff corners so that cross pieces are in tight contact with both horizonal and vertical legs of stringer. Weld crosses to vertical and horizonal legs of stringer. Having cross fastened to both stringer legs limit's twist deflection under load similar to how cee channel and I-beam do. Inside corner of cold processed stringer angle isn't corved like hot rolled,consequently time is saved from modifying cross corners.

 

[mini14]

I would buy the 3In c channel and weld the ramp inside of it

 

[MAD MARK]

Ended up welding a 2x2 on top of the 2x2 already there. Mainly back into the hillside to load now though.

 

[Renze]

Ended up welding a 2x2 on top of the 2x2 already there. Mainly back into the hillside to load now though.

View attachment 665084View attachment 665085

It would be three to four times as strong if you welded that the other way around, to put as much material as far away from the neutral axis as possible.

 

[jonsstihl]

It does look like that from the picture but he states it is 2x2 material so it would be the same strength no matter which direction it is placed.

 

[Southern Comfort]

Your ramps should be for the load capacity of the trailer. If you over load that trailer your asking for trouble.