Cedric -

Much of my life I've worked on automobiles.

I knew personally 2 guys killed by improvised ramps.

I've had a jack collapse while I was fortuitously not underneath...

Spend the money to do it right.

best regards,  Jack



On 2/24/08, Cedric Chang <cc@nope9.com> wrote:
> I have bought a pair of Harbor Freight steel ramps ( item #
> 55424-5VGA ) that will support 1000 pounds ( say the specs ).    They
> are 6 feet by 228.6 mm.  ( Ever since Russell showed me how, I now
> mix measurement units )    Anyway, I want to attach a beam to the
> bottom of each ramp that lays flat in storage and swings down in use
> to give each ramp more ability to support mid-span weight.
>
> I can think of two questions.......
> Q1 :  What would be a low cost material that is strong and
> lightweight ?  easy to cut ?
> Q2 :  What is the optimal shape for such a beam ?  a triangle ? some
> kind of hyperbolic thing-a-ma-jig ?
>
> Update:  I wrote up a concept paper on this idea.  It is located at
> http://oh-dog.com/ramp/concept.pdf
> Take a look and tell me if I have I fluffed the math or structural
> concepts.
>
> Thanks
> CC
>
> If I make a zillion money units off this idea, proceeds will go to
> the old - age - engineers fund.
>
>
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