Are you thinking of investing in a new ramp, but you need to know how much weight aluminium ramps can hold? It’s an important question and something that we will address in this article, for your safety and convenience.
You see, when choosing a ramp, knowing exactly how much weight it can handle is vital information. In fact, many people fail to do this when buying a cheap assembly ramp, only to discover that it may not actually be safe enough to support the weight of somebody in a wheelchair, for example. Here’s everything you need to know:
How much weight can portable aluminium ramps hold?
If you are thinking about buying a portable aluminium ramp, then you need to understand the weight specifications fully. Many portable ramps don’t actually have the weight-bearing axles that are required for an occupied wheelchair, let alone a quad-bike. Most typical portable ramps only tend to accommodate up to 25 lbs of weight.
Thus, you’ll need a portable ramp that has a weight-bearing axle, some support bars, and steel pins. Ramps that are designed with such elements can hold up to 300 lbs easily.
Of course, the type of aluminium ramp that you choose will depend on the function that you are going to use it for. You see, aluminium ramps can be used to accommodate more than just a person in a wheelchair. But they can also be used for loading mini-diggers onto aluminium trailers, and other ‘lightweight’, transportable machinery.
How much weight can solid aluminium ramps hold?
Solid aluminium ramps should be manufactured with weight-bearing axles. Generally speaking, the majority of pre-assembled aluminium ramps are designed to bear at least 300 lbs per axle.
Again, a wheelchair will be quite bulky. But motorized wheelchairs and other speciality disabled chairs can weigh up to and over 300 lbs. To avoid any accidents, you’ll need to double-check the weight requirements before going ahead and making your purchasing decision.
A utility trailer ramp of standard size can hold up to about 1000 lbs in weight. This is standard on most trailers. A 6×12 utility trailer ramp has a max loading capacity of around 2,600 lbs (with more than 70 square feet of space).
A single utility axel on a utility trailer can hold some 850 lbs per axel.
Again, consult with your supplier or manufacturer of the aluminium ramps before finalising. A reputable company like SureWeld will be delighted to assist you. These ramps however are typically geared more towards heavy machinery and trailers.
What happens if an aluminium ramp is overloaded with weight?
Overloading a ramp of any material with excessive weight is incredibly dangerous. Not only are you putting yourself at risk of serious injury, but you are also putting the load itself at risk of being damaged as well.
Aluminium itself is a rather durable material. Unlike steel, aluminium has much more flex in it. That being said, with too much weight, the ramp will crumple under the weight. It might even cave in entirely depending on the amount of excessive weight applied to the ramp.
Immediately, the load will become unstable and whatever you are trying to move will tip to one side and capsize. If you are loading a vehicle, this makes the outcome even more dangerous and potentially fatal.
We cannot stress to you enough, the importance of fully understanding the weight and specifications of a ramp before you use it.
Trailer loading ramp reinforcement
Another alternative is investing in trailer ramp reinforcement. So, let’s say for example that you purchased an aluminium ramp for loading one thing, and now you need to be able to accommodate extra weight for the requirement of something else. Whatever the case, rather than replace your ramp entirely, you can have them reinforced to accommodate the extra weight.
That being said, you may also want to shop around. You might even find that there are aluminium loading ramps for sale for less than the cost of reinforcing your existing one. A little extra research could end up saving you lots of unnecessary hassle.
How can I secure my aluminium loading ramp?
One of the most effective ways of securing an aluminium loading ramp is by using safety straps. Safety straps can easily be used to fasten your loading ramp to the trailer. Strengthening the connection will make the attached loading ramp far more stable, thus reducing any wobbling. This is a highly recommended safety step that you should take.
Even if the ramp connection feels secure, adding additional safety straps can act as a second layer of defence, should anything go wrong. Certainly, you may have to spend another couple of minutes on applying your straps, but it’s an investment of time that we consider to be irrefutably worth it.
Conclusion
As a rule of thumb, most typical pre-assembled aluminium ramps are designed to accommodate up to 300 lbs. per axle. In any case, these aluminium ramps typically require an additional support structure built underneath the ramp itself in order to handle the extra heavyweight.
With some time and research, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the ideal aluminium loading ramp for you.
In any case, we hope that you have found this article helpful. All the best with your new loading ramp!
