[Fot] Trailer Ramp question

[BillDentin at aol.com]

In a message dated 05/27/2010 9:03:18 AM Central Daylight Time, 
toodamnfunky at comcast.net writes:
> That's 1250 per ramp. That's 2500 combined, only 1/2 the car weight is on 
> the ramps at any given moment. My car weighs in at about # 2400. I have a 
> 3100 lb corvette that I wouldn't think twice about loading with them. 
> 
Interesting.  I revisited the website and see that while a pair of ramps is 
shown in the picture, the description is definitely for just one (-1-) and 
lists 1,250 lbs as the total weight.  A pair of them would then rate 2,500 
lbs and certainly handle my TR3.  I also did not consider that with five foot 
ramps while only one set of wheels is on the ramps at any one time, they 
are not dealing with the car's total weight.  Now I am using 2x12 white oak 
boards with aluminum ends.  They are dressed, or finished so they're a lot 
closer to 1 1/2x11 in actual size and 8/4" long.  They are heavy, but I can 
still manage them.  My Pace American box trailer does not have a ramp door, but 
is quite low to the ground, and with 8'4'" ramps it is easy to push cars 
in.

But I must say, those aluminum ramps look very interesting.  The five foot 
length would impact the pitch.  Do you use a winch to load?  I have one, but 
I almost never use it, as it is a piece of cake for two people to load 
without.

Bill Dentinger