Loading dock ramp?

92_SquareEye

92_SquareEye

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Oct 18, 2015
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So my mechanic is moving locations in Raleigh and his new facility is a 14k sq ft warehouse with loading dock entrance. He does a lot of low to the ground Euro and Ricers and needs to solve the entrance issue. Is there an easy solution to building a ramp that would allow vehicles to enter/exit the shop? Most of the pre-fabbed internet options are $10k++. Are there better solutions are does anyone here build that type of thing? It can be completely stationary/permanent. Is pouring concrete a viable alternative? Insights appreciated...
 
Concrete would be ideal IMO because anything leaking, dripping etc off the cars will make an aluminum/steel ramp slicker than shit with the quickness. I'm assuming he owns the building or has a landlord thats cool with a permanent install. Or I would go to the metal ramp route just because it can be removed and taken should he move again sometime.

Knowing the rise and run needed for the ramp will help get a better idea of cost of concrete work.
 
I'm trying to remember, but I think there is something like a 3% angle that is needed for ramps for most lowered cars. I know a friend of mine was thinking of building a tow truck for low profile vehicles and we were working on how to figure out the angle he needed.
 
10,000?!!?!

Sheesh! You can by a drive on lift for under 2500.00 and you can use it as a lift!!
 
StretchASU said:
Knowing the rise and run needed for the ramp will help get a better idea of cost of concrete work.
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48"x everything that's available. At a constant 15pct, he needs a bare minimum of 27ft, and that doesn't count transition zones. If you put a 15ft transition zone on each end with a 5pct slope, then 25ft in the middle at 10pct, that'll get you there, but it's 55ft long and 10-15ft wide, not going to be cheap.

I kinda like Scott's idea better. Buy an elevator.
 
Is this the only shop access? Only 1 door or multiple?

Any way to cut another door in at grade? Other side of the building?

If it's the only way in, and only 1 door, I'd hesitate to make it permanent because having a loading dock could come in handy...
 
LBarr2002 said:
If it's the only way in, and only 1 door, I'd hesitate to make it permanent because having a loading dock could come in handy...
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That's what I was thinking too, but having fork truck access from the outside (via a ramp) would also be handy. Fork truck access would also maybe remove the need for a loading dock.

Pros and cons to both...
 
Blaze said:
I think there is something like a 3% angle that is needed for ramps for most lowered cars
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Agreed, and I forgot to mention this earlier. Apron transitions at driveways are often 5-8%, and cars will drag on those. They might be able to get away with a short (3-4ft) 2.5% transition on each end of the ramp, then round off the transitions where it goes from 5pct to 10pct, but the ramp is only going to get longer.
 
How do these ramps get built? Solid concrete or Retaining walls + aggregate fill + concrete top?
 
build a metal ramp and cover it with Bustin metal grating. Bustin Bar Grating, Aluminum, Fiberglass or Steel we had expanded metal on the loading dock at work and it flattened out with in 6 months. We used the Bustin over lay material and 3 years later it's holding up very well.
 
Futbalfantic said:
How do these ramps get built? Solid concrete or Retaining walls + aggregate fill + concrete top?
Click to expand...
retaining wall + slab on grade. Basically they pour it on the compacted dirt and gravel.
 
Making the transitions a big radius instead of square will also help alot.
 
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