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Wooden kicker ramp....
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Posted by: DareDevilQracer

I've been reading and studying the pictures of steel ramps I have seen on several sites. I've been building dirt jumps with a john deere for a while and im starting to wonder about an ajustable ramp. Something that I could move further back from the landing ramp when I desired without the hassle of re-shaping the dirt launch ramp. I dont have a welder and I know having a welding shop build a ramp could be very expensive. I was wondering if I could build a SAFE kicker ramp about 7 ft tall out of wood. I was thinking 2x4 for the frame and sheetmetal with some sort of extra grip like expanded metal for the surface. Mabye I could use 1x4 for the curved rails? If I used the same basic geometry with 2x4 as I have seen with steel do you think it would hold up and how long would it last if i kept a tarp over it to protect it from the elements. I know nails wouldnt hold the 2x4's together, is there a special screw that would do the job? How about screws with a framing brace ( Im not sure if thats the correct name)? I understand a wood ramp would be alot heavier so It wouldnt be moved out of the same general area. If 7ft is too tall for a safe wood ramp would 5'6'' be better? Thanks for the help!

Posted by: hondafox440

I really don't suggest building your ramp out of wood. I have heard too many stories about them collapsing when jumping them on bikes, so imagine what a quad would do. It may work for a little while but it will eventually snap and I would hate to be on it when it does.

Posted by: Juggalo

woods a big no no

Posted by: bignorm

yah woods no good man in our early days of riding we built one and it sucked

Posted by: flyin#5

i wouldnt do it. unless you get some really nice thick wood. like use 4x4's for all of it. and even then you would have to screw the heck outta it so it would stay.... id say find yourself a welder, or go to a local school and ask the shop teacher if some of the students would weld one up. you may be able to get it done for free, you would just have to buy the metal. or if you are in school join a welding class and just go to town in there, get a bunch of friends and weld the crap out of it. you will be done in no time.

Posted by: Glow Plug

big no no on the wodden ramp as juggs said

Posted by: DareDevilQracer

Thanks for the input. I dont think I will be buiulding a wood ramp. I'll just stick to dirt until I can get my hands on a welder. Do you guys know where I can get some big pipes to put dirt on top of to make a nice tabletop landing?

Posted by: Glow Plug

quote:
Originally posted by DareDevilQracer
Thanks for the input. I dont think I will be buiulding a wood ramp. I'll just stick to dirt until I can get my hands on a welder. Do you guys know where I can get some big pipes to put dirt on top of to make a nice tabletop landing?

look into concreate pipes to use a filler

Posted by: hessianmx111

a good wooden ramp can be made go to www.fmxschool.com for plans on a reliable wooden ramp

Posted by: hondarider27

you could just build one and see what happens. if you think it is sturdy enough than hit it. if not you can always build a fire.

Posted by: 250ex3

yea big no on wooden ramps i was board so i made a little 2ft kicker for my quad jus to mess around on and we thought it was really sturdy and it collapsed after like 10 jumps lucky it was only 2ft and i got no nails in any tires and that nothing happened to m quad

Posted by: hessianmx111

i have a lil 3 ft tall wooden ramp that has over atleast 600 hits on it it sits outside through rain snow and ice and hasnt cracked
you can make a good ramp out of wood you just have to know what your doing.

Posted by: DareDevilQracer

Do you guys think it would work if I put 2x4 braces down the middle as well as the outside? That should make it less likely to collapse right?

Posted by: Oxbow Jimmah

I personally made a wooden one about 2 yrs ago now. It held up mint the whole time. It probably had about 600 hits on it also. If you don't know how to work with wood and build structures then wood is not for you, but if you still don't know how to build a structure then a ramp is pretty much out of the question as you should know your ramp inside and out it shouldn't just be something someone made for you. Anyways, everyone here shoots down wood ramps so quickly that it's probably just for a safety factor. When my ramp was all said and done it would hold a front end loader on it. Only reason I don't have it anymore is because I moved. It was 4hx8lx5w.

Posted by: DangerousDean

quote:
Originally posted by Oxbow Jimmah
. It was 4hx8lx5w.

thats what mine is

except mines for bikes and only about 3 1/2 feet wide

quad JUST fits on it..

Posted by: E-ATV-Racing

I think you can make a good ramp out of wood. Heck they used to make bridges and rollor coaters out of wood. BUT, you really need to know what you are doing. If you do not have a good knowlege of wooden structures I would not do it.

2X4 are just not strong enough. I would use only 4x4 or larger for the frame. Better yet use engineered lumber (ply wood beams). Also I would forget the screws and only use bolts to hold it together.

The best way to get the ramp right is to make a dirt jump that works well for your quad and jumping style. Then copy the shape and height of the jump to the ramp you want to bulid.

Posted by: Sick0

wood kinda a was of time. a ood ramp would proby heavy than a metal ramp. wouldn't thats lone. i built alot of wooden ramps for bmx and thay only seam to last about one season outside. the start to loosen up, fall apart. plus i think you get a way with a making a smaller ramp. but when you get into making a bigger ramp over 3 ft. your are asking for trouble.

metal all the way. the first metal ramp i made in 1996 is still around in about the same condition when i first built it. we used it as a lake jump. some kids throw it into the lake. its sat there all winter under the ice in the lake. we found it the \next summer and are still using it.

Posted by: 250rider

do u think i could build one since i have the knowledge of building bike ramps, i have made 4ft. 6ft and 8ft quarters, and i have also built spines in all different sizes. Do u think they would be strong enough if i modified them enough??

Posted by: hunda400ex

we built 1. 4x8x5. 3rd gear almost pinned we would clear 40 feet. got about 100 hits with my 400 and 100 hits with a yz 125. then i hit it and felt it fall apaRT Lucky i didnt get hurt. 2x4 wooden kick ramps are fun for 1 day bc that about how long they last!

Posted by: Oxbow Jimmah

I will still stand by wood as long as it is done right..... I didn't build mine in one night I spent a full week working on it. I also checked it over evertime we used it. It would regularly be hit by 2 400EXs, a raptor, and a yz125. To stress test it we drove a front end loader up it and it didn't budge. It sat out in the rain and snow and still was fine for the next yr.