My New Ramps - aks 'Poor Man's Lift Table'

ultrafxr

1250+ Posts
Gold Member
Aug 21, 2017
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1,505
Lakeland, TN
Name
Jerry
Someone on this forum posted about a set of ramps he built for his trike. Sorry I cannot locate the thread but thanks to him for the ideas. So I built myself a set a couple months ago but haven't had a chance to use them yet. Today was very warm and sunny and my TG was very grungy from a recent 1,600 mile road trip so I decided to wash and detail it. Thought getting it a bit up in the air would aid greatly in getting the underside cleaned . . . and it did. Here is a pic of it on the ramps ready for a wash:

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I made the ramps pretty long so I made a hinge to move the rear portion from under the motor area. That is important when changing fluids and it also helped in cleaning under the motor today.

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Here is a shot of the right side with the hinged portion moved from directly under the trike. It will of course move fully out and align with the portion of the ramp which is under the front wheel so I have total access to the underside.

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Here is a close up of the hinge.

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The boards for the ramp that fit the rear wheels are 2 x 10 material while that for the front wheel is 2 x 8 material.

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I have three sections to the ramp. The bottom section is 51". The center section is 39". The top section is 30". I choose these dimensions because I could get them all from a 10' (120") piece of material.

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It's overkill I know but I did not want any chance for a problem while driving up on it and this gives me plenty of flat area to traverse the sections one at a time. The angle cuts are 45 degrees but I probably could have made them a bit shallower since the ramps are so long. The board sections are screwed together with 3" exterior deck screws.

All in all I'm very pleased. These buggers are heavy but very sturdy. I think I'll enjoy using them for maintenance and cleaning.
 
I did the same, except I do have to jack my bike up high enough to place under each wheel.....

I had a 2x10 board, that I cut (6) 1 ft. boards, and screwed two boards together so now I have (3) 4" high board but I have to jack my bike up and place the three sections under each wheel..

I like your idea better!

Ronnie
 
That is looking pretty good there, just curious, do you plan on painting or staining the ramps since you use it to clean the trike, wood and water doesn't really mix well, I'm sure it would take awhile to rot but hindsight is better to last forever and if painted or stained it can be touched up

All for now Trampas
 
That is looking pretty good there, just curious, do you plan on painting or staining the ramps since you use it to clean the trike, wood and water doesn't really mix well, I'm sure it would take awhile to rot but hindsight is better to last forever and if painted or stained it can be touched up

All for now Trampas

Good idea. I do have some clear sealer I bought to use on a new door for my wife's sauna (infrared heated).
 
I did the same, except I do have to jack my bike up high enough to place under each wheel.....

I had a 2x10 board, that I cut (6) 1 ft. boards, and screwed two boards together so now I have (3) 4" high board but I have to jack my bike up and place the three sections under each wheel..

I like your idea better!

Ronnie

3 steel or aluminum car ramps also work
 
3 steel or aluminum car ramps also work

That would scare me also. Had some car ramps years ago and really didn't like driving up on them and not being able to see. Just had to trust I'd feel the tires drop down into the shallow well at the top and not overshoot the ramp. Doing on the TG would have me puckered for a month!
 
That would scare me also. Had some car ramps years ago and really didn't like driving up on them and not being able to see. Just had to trust I'd feel the tires drop down into the shallow well at the top and not overshoot the ramp. Doing on the TG would have me puckered for a month!

I saw a car backed up on ramps once

The guy had the drive shaft out to service the joints

The car rolled down the ramps and out the door

That was when I promised my self I would never use ramps:p
 
I saw a car backed up on ramps once

The guy had the drive shaft out to service the joints

The car rolled down the ramps and out the door

That was when I promised my self I would never use ramps:p

See.....Like my Old Man would always say........A ''Truly'' wise man learns by the mistakes of others....Not by his own mistakes...:D.....
 
See.....Like my Old Man would always say........A ''Truly'' wise man learns by the mistakes of others....Not by his own mistakes...:D.....

My dad was a mechanic ( unlike parts changers today)

He taught me how when I was young, if he ever saw me doing something that stupid he would slap me upside da head:p
 
No problem riding rear's up two ramps.....don't have the nerve to try a third for the front.:AGGHH:

For some jobs my smaller 2 1/2" low profile heavy-duty plastic ramps are all that's needed.
 
No problem riding rear's up two ramps.....don't have the nerve to try a third for the front.:AGGHH:

For some jobs my smaller 2 1/2" low profile heavy-duty plastic ramps are all that's needed.

Really no big deal. I was a bit anxious until I started up and realized I could lean out a bit and see the front wheel and the ramp with no problem. Driving up it blind gave me pause but when I discovered I could see what was going on and verify that the front wheel was on the ramp . . . well no problem at all.
icon14.png
 
3 steel or aluminum car ramps also work

Yea, I was thinking of the post above on regular sized ramps, but didn't quote it...:laugh:

I probably wouldn't have much difficulty doing three with the ones you built.....but, with my lack of woodworking skills, I could never build them....with woodworking hand and power tools, I'm like a monkey fumbling a football.:D
 
Really no big deal. I was a bit anxious until I started up and realized I could lean out a bit and see the front wheel and the ramp with no problem. Driving up it blind gave me pause but when I discovered I could see what was going on and verify that the front wheel was on the ramp . . . well no problem at all.
icon14.png

Jerry, I built 3 of these 2 years ago but only stacked 2 of the 2x10. I may add the 3rd one to get more height. I like your hinge on the front ramp to get part of it out of the way for oil change. I did paint them and used them under my enclosed trailer (trike stored inside) when parked for the winter.
 
Bill if you have a circular saw and even rudimentary woodworking skill (which is definitely what I have) then you can make a set. Very easy.

No saw , Jerry ... Can ya come up & make em for me ????:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:
 

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