I made some folding ramps for loading equipment on and off my flatbed, and they work ok, but they bounce/flex significantly (couple inch's) with me on them, and each section (1/2 of each ramp) has curved about 1/4" in the middle of the section from being flat after just a couple months of regular use. When I start loading/unloading winter equipment which is heavier, it'll just get worse.
The ramps are primarily made of 1.25" square tubing, 1/8" thick mild steel.
Each section is 52" long.
Here's a top view of a "section":
And a side view of the extended ramp:
I have considered having some kind of support in the middle, but given that the area around the truck when loading/unloading isn't always flat and/or even, it would get complicated to have some setup that would brace it right reasonably quickly.
I've got another set of ramps that my dad made, about 7.5 feet long, non-folding, also 1.25" square tubing, 1/8" thick, but I don't know what kind of steel (my dad made them and has since died), but with a couple of more cross members, and they don't noticeably flex for me. I would use them, but they are too short for using with the deck of my truck.
Would putting a diagonal or additional cross members help with the flexing, or do I have to remake the ramps with better steel?
The ramps are primarily made of 1.25" square tubing, 1/8" thick mild steel.
Each section is 52" long.
Here's a top view of a "section":
And a side view of the extended ramp:
I have considered having some kind of support in the middle, but given that the area around the truck when loading/unloading isn't always flat and/or even, it would get complicated to have some setup that would brace it right reasonably quickly.
I've got another set of ramps that my dad made, about 7.5 feet long, non-folding, also 1.25" square tubing, 1/8" thick, but I don't know what kind of steel (my dad made them and has since died), but with a couple of more cross members, and they don't noticeably flex for me. I would use them, but they are too short for using with the deck of my truck.
Would putting a diagonal or additional cross members help with the flexing, or do I have to remake the ramps with better steel?