Utility ramp Portable Wheeled Trolley Ramp

 

If you have an elevated shed, you've probably found that you need a shed ramp. If you have a riding lawn mower, this is a definite necessity. However, the ones at the store can be expensive. Plus, the metal ones can be slippery when wet. Making your own is much cheaper, as well as a lot easier than you might think!

For building a shed ramp, you first need to figure out how much wood you need. To calculate how long the ramp should be, measure how high off the ground your shed is. You want the ramp to incline upwards at a rate of no more than three inches per foot. So if your shed is six inches off the ground, you need a two foot long ramp.

A ramp any steeper than this will cause you a lot of problems. First, the ramp will become slippery when wet or icy. If your ramp is too steep, your lawn mower is just going to slide back down it. Second, a steeper ramp will grind against the blades of your mower. This will damage both the lawn mower and your ramp.

The next step you need to take is to figure out how wide you want your ramp to be. It needs to be about 1 foot wider than your mower to give you a little room on each side. Once you know how wide and long of a ramp you need, you can get the wood for the frame.

For the frame, you'll want at least 4" x 4" pressure treated lumber. Set these at most 12 inches apart, so the ramp can support your weight and a 400 pound lawn mower. Over the frame, you'll place ¾" pressure treated plywood for the surface. It's helpful to stick a layer of nonslip rubber matting over this to prevent accidents.

Building a shed ramp is simple. Lay out the 4" X 4"s 12 inches apart in the length you need the ramp to be. You may need to cut the ends off in order to match the level of the ground. Attach the plywood securely, making sure the screws are level with the plywood. Cover the surface of the ramp with the nonslip rubber. Secure the ramp to the shed and check the level to make sure it's not too steep.

To calculate how long Ramp should be, measure how high off the ground your shed is. You want the ramp to incline upwards at a rate of no more than three inches per foot. So if your shed is six inches off the ground, you need a two foot long ramp.

A ramp any steeper than this will cause you a lot of problems. First, the ramp will become slippery when wet or icy. If your ramp is too steep, your lawn mower is just going to slide back down it. Second, a steeper ramp will grind against the blades of your mower. Secure the ramp to the shed and check the level to make sure it's not too steep.