Welding Tips and Tricks

I was thinking of building an aluminum ramp for my utility trailer. The ramp would be for loading my dirt bike(s). And I want to build it straight at about 6' or so. I want to slide it under the trailer for storage during transport. I'll build something into the trailer for the storage. I also want to go a little wider than the ones you can get online. But when I started googling around for materials, I was shocked at the pricing on thicker stuff. A 12' piece of 1-1/2" square 1/4" wall tube is $168 on Metals Depot. And that only covers the sides. I would try to go local, but there are no metal dealers near me. There is a home depot, but all they have is 1/8" angle aluminum.
What would be a good wall thickness for a dirt bike ramp? And should I go with angle or tube for the sides? I'd probably go with angle for the rungs.

I’d go angle on both the sides and rungs. You can install the sides so the rings sit on the flats, keeping the dimensions the same for both pieces. But at 6’, even 1/4” wall will flex. Aluminum just doesn’t have the strength. Ideally, you’d make a “truss” for the sides, and then add the rungs. That would be miles stronger. Or you could use channel for the side rails, though that will be lots more expensive.

Factory made ramps tend to be less expensive than you can buy and build for yourself (at least in aluminum) because of volume of units made. If you had scrap material, then go for it. If you must buy it, you will pay dearly for it.

cj737 wrote:I’d go angle on both the sides and rungs. You can install the sides so the rings sit on the flats, keeping the dimensions the same for both pieces. But at 6’, even 1/4” wall will flex. Aluminum just doesn’t have the strength. Ideally, you’d make a “truss” for the sides, and then add the rungs. That would be miles stronger. Or you could use channel for the side rails, though that will be lots more expensive.

Factory made ramps tend to be less expensive than you can buy and build for yourself (at least in aluminum) because of volume of units made. If you had scrap material, then go for it. If you must buy it, you will pay dearly for it.

Thanks for the reply. I'm seeing ramps online for about $75. That's crazy cheap for an aluminum ramp when you consider that it would cost me three or four times that to buy the materials to make it.

cosmokenney wrote:

cj737 wrote:I’d go angle on both the sides and rungs. You can install the sides so the rings sit on the flats, keeping the dimensions the same for both pieces. But at 6’, even 1/4” wall will flex. Aluminum just doesn’t have the strength. Ideally, you’d make a “truss” for the sides, and then add the rungs. That would be miles stronger. Or you could use channel for the side rails, though that will be lots more expensive.

Factory made ramps tend to be less expensive than you can buy and build for yourself (at least in aluminum) because of volume of units made. If you had scrap material, then go for it. If you must buy it, you will pay dearly for it.

Thanks for the reply. I'm seeing ramps online for about $75. That's crazy cheap for an aluminum ramp when you consider that it would cost me three or four times that to buy the materials to make it.

Exactly my point

cj737 wrote:

cosmokenney wrote:

cj737 wrote:I’d go angle on both the sides and rungs. You can install the sides so the rings sit on the flats, keeping the dimensions the same for both pieces. But at 6’, even 1/4” wall will flex. Aluminum just doesn’t have the strength. Ideally, you’d make a “truss” for the sides, and then add the rungs. That would be miles stronger. Or you could use channel for the side rails, though that will be lots more expensive.

Factory made ramps tend to be less expensive than you can buy and build for yourself (at least in aluminum) because of volume of units made. If you had scrap material, then go for it. If you must buy it, you will pay dearly for it.

Thanks for the reply. I'm seeing ramps online for about $75. That's crazy cheap for an aluminum ramp when you consider that it would cost me three or four times that to buy the materials to make it.

Exactly my point

I might just go with a split/folding ramp that's hinged at the back of the trailer. I can make that out of steel and expanded metal.