Ramp deck material??

[quadracer04]

When you make metal ramps what do you use as the deck materail, the stuff for the face uf the ramp? I want to build a metal ramp and Im not reallly sure about which materials to use.:ermm:

I was thinking 1" square tubing that is 1/4" thick. What do you guys thnk?:confused:

[flyin#5]

use expanded metal for the face. id go with 2x2 tubing but 1" would work if it was thick enough, and had enough supports, not to mention good welds.

[HtFoxChick]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p160f6718773aecae067f692d5687bceb/f371a82a.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p4a944a32904cb34d75e00e2064f0aba6/f36ed8cf.jpg

These are some pics of the backflip ramp that i THOUGHT might help but you can't really see the top layer..which is like a mesh metal. I've seen where they use just the mesh, so you can see threw it, to the landing. ehhh....maybe no help here but i tried.:ermm:

[Atkins]

The ramp surface should be expanded metal over sheet metal or just expanded metal.If you use something like just sheet metal youll lose traction on the takeoff which is not a good thing at all....so dont use just sheet metal!

I would use 2x2 instead of 1x1 for the frame of the ramp, itll last forever this way. Ive seen 1x1 framed ramps bend over time...I think Steve Weissinger's did so he could prob vouch for that.

[quadracer04]

2x2 does sound better. So use expanded metal for the deck? Is it like sturdy? I've seen it before, but never up close or bought it before.

[quadracer04]

That ramp looks nice Jamie. Are you gonna hit it and show up your brothers?

[flyin#5]

expanded metal is strong, but there are different size holes and such that you have to choose, you want the smallest sized holes you can get. more metal=more strength and durability

[quadracer04]

Thats what I figured. Any idea how much it costs?

[Atkins]

I believe expanded metal will be the most expensive element in thewhole project, but steel prices change alot and I have no idea what they are right now.

[HtFoxChick]

The Backflip ramp has about 1500 pounds of metal. Costs was $900.00....but that ramp comes apart in 8-9 pieces so it can travel in a trailor.

[Atkins]

Jamie, do you have any idea buy there metal from? That seems real cheap.

[HtFoxChick]

I know the price of Metal is always changing but they got all their metal from a neighbor of ours, that does alot of custom welding and ****. They just put in an order and he can order it for them. It gets delivered right to the shop.

[mxquadracer]

Have to use both a layer of sheet metal then the expanded metal on top of that...not sure if that's what everyone was saying and I misunderstood or what?

Anyone taking a welding class through their school can get metal for pretty cheap.

me and my buddies used 1/4" mesh i think
and it works great so id recommend that becuz it was fairly cheap for us