Raalloy Aluminium Ramps, Platforms and Stairs - Van Ramp Design Considerations

Van Ramp Design Considerations

Considerations When Designing Your Own Van Ramp

Ra`alloy can manufacture single span aluminium ramps to your specific design. When designing your ramp there are considerations to make with regard to size and equipment to be loaded and hopefully the details below gives a simple breakdown on how to design a Van Ramp

Size.

Width - Will the equipment being loaded easily track up and down the ramp ?

Any ramp should have edges that protrude up from the ramp for safety. These edges prevent the user from wheeling the equipment off the edge of the ramp while at the same time high enough for the user to safely walk up and down as a guide to using the centre of the ramp only.

These edges can interfere with wheeled equipment so it is important to determine the usable width of the ramp for the equipment being loaded. Please expand the picture below and see fig 1. which shows low wheeled equipment which requires a wider ramp and high wheeled equipment fig 2. which can require a narrower ramp therefore being more cost effective.

Length - Make sure that the length is sufficient to allow the equipment to easily travel up and down the incline without grounding out.

It is important to consider the length of the equipment being loaded and the length of the ramp required so that the equipment does not bottom out at the top of the incline. It is also imprtant to note the length of the leding edge to the front wheel of the equipment ,to make sure that the ramp incline does not exceed the gap below the equipment bfore it meets the first wheel (please expand detail below). This should only be considered on four wheeled equipment and not two wheeled such as Sack Trucks.

Secondly - Consider the weight of the equipment to be loaded

It is important to determine the maximum weight that the ramp will be subjected to and also if the equipment being loaded has wheels , what point load the walkboard will receive at each wheel. Ra`alloy standard ramps are designed to withstand a spread load of 750 kgs (1650 lbs) with a point load of 350 kgs (770 lbs) before posible damage could occur to the floor. Therefore make sure that the ramp floor is sufficient to support the point load of the wheels without getting damaged, as well that side Walkboard Stringers will carry the total load

Ramp Surface - Ra`alloy Ramps offer a surface that is exclusive to us. Our surface is a construction grade aluminum extrusion that ihas ribs that run across the ramp which are also serratted and this in turn gives full lateral traction, whatever the weather and for the life of the ramp. We do not use aluminium treadplate as this material is extremely slippery when wet. Also we never use anti slip paint as this wears and requires repainting regularly and this can be extremely expensive

Storage - Storage of your van ramp is usually in with the load, however you may prefer smaller sections so decide whether you require single span van ram[ps or multi section

Connection - Whether you want a van ramp purely for one vehicle or a van ramp that is versatile and offers use on other vehcles or for briding stairs and steps there are various solutions.

Hook On If you use a hook on ramp then you will have to drill a couple of holes in the rim of the van or fasten a female connection to the van. This connection offers a quick solution as the ramp is fully secured the moment you place the ramp in position. We always recommend using a hook on type ramp when using a multi section ramp as it speeds up ramp deployment..

Rest On - A rest on ramp is a great tool for unloading the van and moving to another position such as stairs or steps. However always consider the strength at the rest on end. The Rest On end should always be built into the side Stringer so as to give full strength where the ramp overlaps the van bed. Ramps are on the market that have an angle type section fitted to the top of the ramp and not incorporated into the side Stringers, this is potentially a breaking point as the whole load is carried along the front edge and could result in breakage - please expand detail below.