Has anyone replaced their own lorry ramp?

Pie's mum

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I noticed the wood of the ramp on my lorry is starting to rot so it's going to need replacing. Hubby is a very handy type so was wondering if anyone has done this themselves - it looks as though it's just a case of removing the batons, unscrewing some brackets and taking the old wood out of the frame. However it would be good to hear how other people have done it - or if anyone has had it done professionally what it's cost them.

Also what is the wood i need to replace it - it's not marine ply is it, i'm sure I've read somewhere it's something different but can't for the life of me remember what it is!

The lorry is a 3.5 ton with an ifor williams olde box on it.

Many thanks!
 

curio

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weve just built a new ramp for ours and youre right it just unscrews we have used ply and then will treat and paint it well, previous ramps have always been a type of ply and lasted years just need a bit of paint now and again
 

Pie's mum

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Great thanks. The metal bits, springs etc are all fine so hopefully the hubby will feel it's something he can do!
 

lachlanandmarcus

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I noticed the wood of the ramp on my lorry is starting to rot so it's going to need replacing. Hubby is a very handy type so was wondering if anyone has done this themselves - it looks as though it's just a case of removing the batons, unscrewing some brackets and taking the old wood out of the frame. However it would be good to hear how other people have done it - or if anyone has had it done professionally what it's cost them.

Also what is the wood i need to replace it - it's not marine ply is it, i'm sure I've read somewhere it's something different but can't for the life of me remember what it is!

The lorry is a 3.5 ton with an ifor williams olde box on it.

Many thanks!

I would use marine ply with rubber over it and wooden battens for grip strips on top. Marine ply is water and pee resistant but it could be slippery hence the covering. If there isn't enough depth for thin rubber matting you can get carpet like stuff, with either the wooden battens (which should be hardwood not pine or any softwood) can be nailed/screwed through into the Ply board.

Do check weight again once the work is finished ESP if the new materials are beefier than the old.
 

9tails

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I used Gorillaboard to replace my trailer floor. I've just removed the batons (had to angle grind all the bolts off) from the ramp and replaced them with hardwood and 3mm rubbermat underneath. I'm really pleased with the finish and it cost me less than £200 for both the floor and the ramp revamp in raw materials. Plus 4 days hard work.
 

MrsMozart

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When we refub'd Hugh the Huge Trailer, we were told not to use marine ply as the ammonia in the wee destroyed it.

Instead we used two layers of 3/4" plywood. Used a wood preserver, which protects it from the water and rubbish that comes up from the road. It's re-soaked in the preserver every six months.

I'd wanted the liquid rubber on top, but our adviser man (who does them for a living) said not to. Any small hole will allow moisture in to be trapped, which would cause the wood to rot.

We have rubber strips (the width of each partition), which are taken up every six months when the floor is checked then soaked with preserver.

I know this is all trailer floor info, but I can see most of it being applicable to a ramp :)
 

Carlosmum

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Most of the way through replacing an Equitrek trailer ramp
12mm marine ply from local merchant £45
3mm rubber matting £22.50 from ebay
plus red oxide paint for rust on frame £8
plus rubber bonding glue £10
New screws £5 ish

and so far about 6 hrs my labour & 1 of OH & son, I think probably another 2-3 hrs to go to place /stick the rubber & fiinish
 

9tails

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Thanks! What thickness of board have you used?

I used 21mm thick Gorillaboard which is 3mm thicker than the original floor. As an extra belt-n-braces measure, I also added two strips of 3mm aluminium chequerplate where the front and rear hooves go. They're 2ft wide and are fitted widthways across the floor. The trailer floor rubber is just laid and is removed regularly to make sure moisture isn't trapped.
 

catembi

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We replaced our lorry ramp. The lorry was an old wooden one with a 'plank' finish, so we did a layer of planks so it would match, then ply on top.

Check that what you're using to replace is the same weight as what's there already. Our new stuff was lighter, so afterwards my ramp tended to dangle & needed a lump of concrete on the corner to keep it down! (You many be able to adjust your springs.)

T x
 

Carlosmum

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Just revisiting this one and now trying to source rubber matting for the ramp.... Was wondering what kind of matting people would suggest (there are so many types out there!)

What about this one? Any thoughts on whether this would be suitable?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ark-Rubbe...oods_StableAccessories_SM&hash=item35c94c3bb3

Thanks again :)

It looks similar to the rubber I used ( see my post above) but its not the same company so I don't know if its the same quality which sadly I have found with mine to be rather poor It may be partly my fault.... I had a devil of a job sticking it all down and there were some 'bubbles'. Now after only a few months there are already splits appearing. Having blamed myself for poor workmanship I noticed the other day the bits of rubber I had left over have also split so my advise would be to be very careful about the quality of rubber you use and very generous with the adhesive! I will try & find the link to my supplier so you can compare.:)
 

kevd

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I wouldn't use that sort of rubber on a ramp as you may find it splits as its quite soft. I would use 18mm marine ply on the ramp. Just remember that when you take the boards off the ramp it will lose weight which holds it down...depending on which type of ramp you have.
 
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Pie's mum

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I wouldn't use that sort of rubber on a ramp as you may find it splits as its quite soft. I would use 18mm marine ply on the ramp. Just remember that when you take the boards off the ramp it will lose weight which holds it down...depending on which type of ramp you have.

What sort of rubber would you use over the ply? I need something thin to go under the rails - and not too heavy because I have to hoist it on my own (with the help of springs!!). Or what about ramp carpet? This stuff:
http://www.fairfieldsales.co.uk/ramp-carpet.php
 

Toby_Zaphod

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I've not had to replace the boards on my lorry ramp but I did a trailer ramp. It is easy to do. Use either ply or gorilla board, I used marine ply, I think 18mm or22mm, I can't remember exactly. For a lorry I would use the same thickness as the stuff you're stripping off so the balance of the ramp remains the same & it will easily close. If you use heavier it may not go up easily & if you go lighter then the ramp may not drop nicely & just be hanging in mid air.It's all held in with screws & nuts & bolts. Just unscrew everything & it'll all come out. When you cut your board to size make sure you cut to the right size so it fits nicely into the ramp frame. If it fits in too tightly is can distort the ramp frame.

Rot treat the board before covering with rubber matting, matting is available on the internet & ebay. I used car underseal on the ramp & then fitted the matting over it, this helps keep the water out. I then sealed around the edge with a tube of gutter sealing mastic. I then cut lengths of hardwood for the slats on the ramp & fixed them with countersunk No10 screws & put a coat of preserver on them as well.

It's not a difficult job to do, if your husband does a bit of diy then this will be easy for him. It gets much more difficult if you have to replace the entire ramp but just the wood is easy.
 

Pie's mum

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Really really helpful thank you! Could you point me at some suitable rubber on eBay if you get a chance? So many different ones - and as Carlosmum said they might not all be suitable!
 

kevd

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What toby said is spot on you need to replace like for like or it will unbalance the ramp. Carpet is one of the lightest ways to cover a ramp and can be stuck down with spray gun or a spreadable glue. The carpet you put a link to is fine to use, people have personal preferences about what to use some like rubber others carpet. Ive fitted that type of carpet on many horseboxes without problem.
 
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