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Materials Used:
1 - 8 ft x 4 ft x 3/4ft plywood
2 - 8 ft x 4 ft x 1/4ft plywood
1 - 8 ft x 4 ft (forgot the name of the wood used, get back at ya later)
7 - 8 ft x 2 in x 4 in
1 - 4 ft x 1 5/8 in fence post
This is the 4th ramp Ive built. I built this ramp by myself in a day and a half. I started with the sides. I use a different (but similar) method for drawing the transitions than shown on this site. I took a piece of string, tied one end to the bottom of a fence, then i measured 8 ft out on the string. I then took my pen and placed it at the 8 ft mark and wrapped the string around it a few times, then took some handy dandy tape to hold it in place at the 8 ft mark. Making a good transition is kinda difficult. I measured the 1 1/2 in up on one side for the 2x4 at the bottom. The top of the transition I made a mark 6 1/2 in in from the side of the wood. This is made to partly support the deck. You have to adjust the wood just right for the string to come in contact with both points you made. It may take a few trys, but itll eventually line up. Once my transition was drawn I cut it out. Next lay your cut out on the other side of the wood, trace it and cut it. Make sure when you cut the second transition out you cut inside the line, otherwise it will be larger than the other one, you dont want that. Next came a pretty hard part for me, all because I did it by myself. I first found a good point for every 2 x 4 to go. I didnt have a lot of money, so mine isnt braced as well as some on this site, but will still work just as well. From the bottom up, I placed a 2 x 4 every 18" apart (center) except for the top 2 x 4, which is around 10 in or so. The top and bottom 2 x 4 are the only 2 x 4 I laid on there sides following the transition. Now make note of how thick your plywood is, because you dont want to cut your 2 x 4 to exactly 4 ft, it will throw everything off. If your sides are 3/4 in plywood you want to multiply 3/4x2 giving you 1 1/2 in. That is what you want to subtract from 4 ft to make the ramp exact. So instead of making a 48 in cut, you will make a 46.5 in cut. Now you want to center your 2 x 4 on the marks you made on the transition, start your screws (its easier to control the wood this way) and screw um in. (More to come.....) .......This guy should really finish this, huh? Oh yeah, thats me. Haha. Email me if you have any questions.
September 2007
Texarkana/Wake Village, Tx
