Hi all.
I am just after buying a caravan and before we go away for the first time we are now getting together all the equipment we need.
I know a lot of you out their are excellent DIYer's and have made your Leveling ramps and chocks. I want to do the same thing. So just wondering what wood did you use and if you could let me know the sizes and dimensions and pictures if you want it would be greatly appreciated.
What michael is trying to say is that each section of plywood is 3/4" x 5" and there are 4 lengths. The lowest one is 43" long, the next one up 39" long, the third up 26" long and the top one 13" long. When you have cut all the pieces to length you have one end as a datum (same fixed point) then you lay down the longest first (43") then lay the second on top of that (39") then the third (26") on top of that and finally the top one (13") and glue and screw them all together. Basically you then have a ramp that is not actually a constant angle like a plastic ramp but built in steps to create an incline at several steps. A good solution for a DIY job but the plastic ramps that you buy have a section along the middle to fix the corresponding wheel chock behind the tyre which you can't don't using this DIY method. How do you chock the wheel michael?
Bits of old roof joists work for me, 6"x2". cut one length about 18" with one end cut off at an angle to help wheel up on it & for a higher lift use another shorter piece placed on top. glue a strip of emery paper onto one of the pieces to prevent them sliding apart if using both together.
I had problems using two plastic type ramps for my twin axle, so made up boards similar to Michael. I bought two decking boards about £5 each (already pre-treated), and cut them down to make 4 ramps, each one shorter than the other and angled at each end to allow for easy run / off. Most times I only need to use one or two of the boads, but always have up to four available and works perfectly.
For my twin axle I have three lengths of decking 150x1200 mm and a plastic levelling ramp to run the wheels on to the decking.I use separate lengths of decking as not all sites are the same slope.
Mines pretty much the same as tentz, but I just drilled a hole through the middle of mine that I can drop a rock peg (minus the plastic bit) into to keep them together.
I can stack mine 3 high, giving a 6" height not needed more than that (yet)
I had problems using two plastic type ramps for my twin axle, so made up boards similar to Michael. I bought two decking boards about £5 each (already pre-treated), and cut them down to make 4 ramps, each one shorter than the other and angled at each end to allow for easy run / off. Most times I only need to use one or two of the boads, but always have up to four available and works perfectly.
Hi Dave.
Pick my new twin axle up next week so I want to make some ramps this weekend. Can you tell me how you go on when say you need two or 3 of the ramp section in terms of holding them in place as you back/pull the van on, do you secure them together in some way?
I inherited mine in 1981 when I bought the first van from a colleague. It was 3 levels and now it is 4. No planning permission required for the extension. Built the same way as above - but from real wood planks about 8 ins wide 3/4 thick and each level is about 10 ins long so the wheel just rests before climbing onto the next level. The plank ends are angled for an easier rise. It lives in the front locker. Wonderful piece of kit. Friend of mine copied it and even varnished it!
Anyone wanting to make levelling ramps from timber are best using plywood the same way that michael has done. Ordinary lengths of plank will actually do the job but the grain goes all one way which in time can weather and warp but plywood is constructed differently because each thin sheet layer of timber is bonded and compressed together with the grain in opposite directions which provides extra strength and less chance of warping over time. Also if you finally give the ramp a few coats of exterior (not interior) varnish this will help to seal the surface thus avoiding absorbing any wet moisture you get on the ground. Some may consider that's it's a lot of work just for a ramp but if you want it to last for many years to come then the more you put into it the more you get out. For a long term solution you could also make a pair (if space permits for storage) and use them alternately so you have a twin life span plus it's also handy to carry a spare. They are also useful if you have a puncture on your caravan too as you can pull the caravan up the ramp with the towcar which then gives a greater clearance underneath for accessing the lifting jack so the ramps can a purpose than just using them to level the caravan on uneven ground.
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Topic: Home made Leveling Ramps
