Welding Tips and Tricks

I need to build some ramps for my Bobcat trailer to load a '79 Camaro with.
They will need to be about 10' long and about 16" wide. I would like to use Alum. but steel will be cheaper.
I understand building them and have some here for the Bobcat that will not work for the car, too steep. Car will hit trailer.
My question is what thickness should I use for this project to hold the weight of the car without bending and be as light as possible. The car is more nose heavy than most, big block with steel heads, I have heard a couple plans from friends but I am not sure.
Any help would be nice,
Thanks,
Richard

Why not build a 'folding' ramp extension?

krazziee wrote:I need to build some ramps for my Bobcat trailer to load a '79 Camaro with.
They will need to be about 10' long and about 16" wide. I would like to use Alum. but steel will be cheaper.
I understand building them and have some here for the Bobcat that will not work for the car, too steep. Car will hit trailer.
My question is what thickness should I use for this project to hold the weight of the car without bending and be as light as possible. The car is more nose heavy than most, big block with steel heads, I have heard a couple plans from friends but I am not sure.
Any help would be nice,
Thanks,
Richard

I'd use 1 1/2" X 1/4" angle (in steel), same design as the bobcat ramps, but:

At the 5' mark, I'd have a box frame extending to about 3" from the ground (based on level-surface loading). Three inches should allow the trailer's rear to sag without the frame hitting the ground, or at least not loading it much. From that frame, I'd have 1/2" solid rod extending to within a few inches of each end of the ramp to form a truss. This will increase the rigidity to behave like two independent 5' ramps tied together.

You can do the same design in 6061 aluminum, but I'd swap the rods for 1 1/2" angle, to compensate for the ductility of the aluminum, and maybe box it at 3'4" and 6'8" for a three-section truss.

Steve S

that is a good idea werkspace but the car hangs over the rear of the trailer ,
Steve that is a good idea too, i kinda thought the 1/4" angle with a little help would be enough to handle the weight,
just not sure and i needed a little more help from people that understand what will work.
thanks again to all
Richard

There are plenty of photos with this ebay advertisement.
It might give you some ideas of what to use for metal?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-72-5000-LB-AL ... a1&vxp=mtr

thanks werkspace i will check that out
Richard