DIY plywood trailer ramp…?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

I am trying to make a 2′ x 4′ ramp for my utility trailer out of plywood. Weight is a concern for me but I think this piece will be fine.

2′ will be wide enough to push my bike or for the use of a dolly for other stuff. 4′ will be long enough for a comfortable angle of ascent.

This ramp will also act as the back gate to the trailer when turned over.

I just need to know if a 3/4 inch plywood (maybe birch) will be strong enough to handle driving up my motorcycle weighting approximately 400-450 lbs.

thanks

Doubt it, but Home Depot or Lowes will have 48" long pieces of 1" angle iron that you can drill and screw on the 48" edges of your plywood that should suffice. The 400 pounds of the motorcycle will be on one edge and your walking up the motorcycle on the other edge will be about 600 pounds up the ramp. If you ride instead of walk, the bike+you will be on the center of the ramp and I would add another piece of iron up the center.

This entry was posted in birch plywood. Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to DIY plywood trailer ramp…?

  1. roughboy68oh says:
    January 6, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Not if you don’t support it with something from underneath.
    References :

  2. Max says:
    January 6, 2012 at 10:51 am

    Support it with two 2x4s running long ways. There is no way one sheet of ply wood will hold a bike.
    References :

  3. Dimo J says:
    January 6, 2012 at 11:39 am

    Doubt it, but Home Depot or Lowes will have 48" long pieces of 1" angle iron that you can drill and screw on the 48" edges of your plywood that should suffice. The 400 pounds of the motorcycle will be on one edge and your walking up the motorcycle on the other edge will be about 600 pounds up the ramp. If you ride instead of walk, the bike+you will be on the center of the ramp and I would add another piece of iron up the center.
    References :

  4. Dan B says:
    January 6, 2012 at 11:55 am

    If that’s all you’re going to load, I would use 2×4 framing spaced 16" apart under the plywood to make a sturdy support. But I think your bigger concern would be the solid plywood acting as a tailgate – the wind load would be tremendous and would significantly reduce your car’s mileage. It could also create a lot of wind turbulence and may make the trailer sway. I would really consider using a bi-fold or tri-fold open air ramp that can be folded and stowed when not in use.
    References :