#1 Ramping Module 58" long by 42" wide
(for ramp with 39" clear width)
Components:
4 2x6 by 55" Joists (Order two 2x6x10 and cut 4 joists)
2 2x6 by 42" End Pieces (Order one 2x6x8 and cut 2 end pieces)
10 5/4" x 6" by 428 Decking (Order 14' decking and cut 4 pieces from each. Two and one-half 14' decking equal ten 42" pieces.)
80 2 1/2" Deck Screws (8 per Decking Plank)
16 3" Deck Screws (To attach end pieces to joists)
8 2x6 Joist Hangers
64 Joist Hanger Nails (8 per Hanger)
Construction Notes:
Cut joists and end pieces to length and assemble on flat surface. Space joists 14" apart on center.
Screw end pieces to the ends of joists with 3" screws.
Insure module is square and nail on joist hangers.
Bend outside flange of four corner joist hangers flat against end pieces of module.
Decking may be attached at this point or after module frame is placed in a ramp. Decking adds significant weight to module. If decking added, you will need to remove decking end pieces when assembling ramp.
Drill a 3/8" hole centered on the end pieces and drill two 3/8" holes 6" from each side. All three holes to be centered vertically on the end piece.
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#2 Ramping Module 116' by 42"
Can be used to replace two 58" modules
Components:
4 2x6 by 113" Joists (Order four 2x6x10 and cut 4 joists)
2 2x6 by 42" End Pieces (Order one 2x6x8 and cut 2 end pieces)
20 5/4" x 6" by 42" Decking (Order 14' decking and cut 4 pieces from each. Five 14' decking equals twenty 42" pieces.)
160 2 1/2" Deck Screws (8 per Decking Plank)
6 3" Deck Screws (To attach end pieces to joists)
8 2x6 Joist Hangers
64 Joist Hanger Nails (8 per hanger)
3 2x6 Blocking at mid-point of module (To maintain width and add stability)
12 3" Deck Screws for blocking
Construction Notes:
Cut joists and end pieces to length and assemble on flat surface. Space joists 14" apart on center.
Screw end pieces to the ends of joists with 3" screws.
Insure module is square and nail on joist hangers.
Bend outside flange of four corner joist hangers flat against end pieces of module.
Screw blocking in place. Blocking maintains 42"-width of module and adds stability to module.
Decking may be attached at this point or after module frame is placed in a ramp. Decking adds significant weight to module. If decking added, you will need to remove decking end pieces when assembling ramp.
Drill a 3/8" hole centered on the end pieces and drill two 3/8" holes 6" from each side. All three holes to be centered vertically on the end piece.
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#3 Choosing the width of your ramp
Proper width of the ramp is important for the person using the ramp. A minimum of 36'' of clearance is needed and sometimes wider widths are advisable. The ramp modules can be made to the width that best meet the users needs. 39" and 42" wide modules have been described. If a wider ramp is desired, such as 48" wide, you need to adjust the materials ordered.
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#4 Landing Module 58"-long x 60"-wide Landing
Used for level landings in right-angle ramps and sometimes at doorway.
Components:
5 2x6 by 55" Joists (Order three 2x6x10 and cut five joists)
2 2x6 by 60" End Pieces (Order one 2x6x10 and cut two end pieces)
10 5/4x6 by 60" Decking (Order five 5/4x6 by 10 and cut ten pieces)
100 2 1/2" Deck Screws (10 per decking plank)
20 2 1/2" Deck Screws (to attach end pieces to joists)
10 2x6 Joist Hangers
80 Joist Hanger Nails
Construction Notes:
Cut joists and end pieces to length and assemble on flat surface. Space joists 15" apart on center. Screw end pieces to the ends of joists with 3" screws.
Insure landing is square and nail on joist hangers.
Bend outside flange of four corner joist hangers flat against end pieces of landing.
Decking may be attached at this point or after landing frame is placed in a ramp. Decking adds significant weight to landing. If decking added, you will need to remove decking end pieces when assembling ramp.
3/8" holes to allow connection to ramp modules will be drilled at time of ramp construction.
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#5 Landing Module 58"-long x 98 1/2"-wide
(for 42" modules)
(use 92 1/2" wide module if using 39" ramping modules)
Used for level landings in l80-degree switchback ramps and sometimes at doorway.
Components:
7 2x6 by 55" Joists (Order four 2x6x10 and cut seven joists)
2 2x6 by 98" End Pieces (Order two 2x6x10 and cut two endpieces)
10 5/4x6 by 98" Decking (Order ten 5/4x6 by 10 and cut ten pieces)
140 2 1/2" Deck Screws (10 per decking plank)
28 2 1/2" Deck Screws (to attach end pieces to joists)
14 2x6 Joist Hangers
112 Joist Hanger Nails
Construction Notes:
Cut joists and end pieces to length and assemble on flat surface. Space joists 16" apart on center. Screw end pieces to the ends of joists with 3" screws.
Insure landing is square and nail on joist hangers.
Bend outside flange of four corner joist hangers flat against end pieces of landing.
Decking may be attached at this point or after landing frame is placed in a ramp. Decking adds significant weight to landing. If decking added, you will need to remove decking end pieces when assembling ramp.
3/8" holes to allow connection to ramp modules will be drilled at time of ramp construction.
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#6 Tall Support Structure
(for 42" modules)
Used when distance between top of cross support and plywood pad exceeds 21"
Components:
2 4x4 Support Posts (Length determined by height requirements of ramp
2 1'x 1' by 3/4" Treated Plywood Pads (Will be screwed to bottom of 4x4 with three 3" deck screws)
2 2x6 by 491/2" Cross Supports (Beveled to match slope of ramp) use 46 1/2" cross supports for 39" module
4 2x4 Trimmers (Length equals distance between bottom of cross support and plywood pad.) (Trimmers will be screwed to 4x4.)
2 2x4 Diagonal Braces (Length will be determined by height of cross support)
4 1/2" x 10" Carriage Bolts with nuts and washers (9/16" holes will be drilled in support structures for these bolts)
Construction Notes:
During construction, determine the length of the 4x4s by measuring from a string line that equals the height and slope of the ramp you are building.
A standard guardrail height of 36" can be obtained by having 34" of 4x4 extend above the: ramp surface. Compute the length of each 4x4 upright by measuring down from ramp surface to plywood pad on the ground and add 34" to that number.
The two legs are often not the same length due to uneven terrain.
The cross supports are an extra 1/2" long to allow space to easily set modules in place.
During construction, be sure that 4x4s are plumb and cross supports are horizontal before installing carriage bolts, trimmers, gussets and bracing.
Temporarily attach cross supports with screws to allow for adjustments and place bolts, bracing and gussets after all modules are in place.
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#7 Shorter Support Structure
(for 42" modules)
Used when distance between top of cross support and 1'x1'x3/4" pad is 12" to 21"
Components:
2 4x4 Support Posts (Length determined by height requirements of ramp
2 1'x 1' by 3/4" Treated Plywood Pads (Will be screwed to bottom of 4x4 with three 3" deck screws)
2 2x6 by 49 1/2" Cross Supports (Beveled to match slope of ramp) use 46 1/2" cross supports for 39" module
4 2x4 Trimmers (Length equals distance between bottom of cross support and plywood pad.) (Trimmers will be screwed to 4x4.)
4 3/4"-thick Treated Plywood Gussets (see drawing for dimensions) (Gussets will be screwed to trimmer and cross supports with seven screws per gusset.)
2 1/2" x 8" Carriage Bolts with nuts and washers (9/16" holes will be drilled in support structures for these bolts)
Construction Notes:
During construction, determine the length of the 4x4s by measuring from a string line that equals the height and slope of the ramp you are building.
A standard guardrail height of 36" can be obtained by having 34" of 4x4 extend above the: ramp surface. Compute the length of each 4x4 upright by measuring down from ramp surface to plywood pad on the ground and add 34" to that number.
The two legs are often not the same length due to uneven terrain.
The cross supports are an extra 1/2" long to allow space to easily set modules in place.
During construction, be sure that 4x4s are plumb and cross supports are horizontal before installing carriage bolts, trimmers, gussets and bracing. Temporarily attach cross supports with screws to allow for adjustments and place bolts, bracing and gussets after all modules are in place.
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#8 Onsite construction assembly procedures
Ramp layouts may be straight, right-angle, switch-back, or a combination. A right-angle layout is shown for illustrative purposes. First, a 58" x 7'11" level landing is shown at the doorway. The ramp will have twenty-nine feet of sloped surface and could be made with 58" length modules or combinations of 116" and 58" modules.
The design of the level landing at the doorway is critical to the functional use and construction of the ramp. Because of the wide variety of existing stoops and entry-way configurations, it is not possible to design a modular component that will meet the needs of all entry ways.
Usually construction of the level landing requires customization on-site. Keep in mind the space requirements for use of the doorway and the requirements of the other users of the doorway.
Steps will often need to be built to the new landing to replace the old steps covered. Steps are probably the hardest component to build. Experienced builders should handle that task.
Before beginning construction, be sure to review the design principles listed in the Minnesota Ramp Manual as a final check. It is easier to change the design before construction than after construction.
Place landing module so that 2x6 joists are 1 3/4" below bottom of door (when decking is added you will have 1/2" door clearance). Insure that the landing is level (temporary support with bumper jacks is helpful in leveling landing).
Place pads as shown in drawing then measure from top of landing including decking to each pad. Add 34" to this measurement and cut 4x4's to this length.
Attach pads to 4x4's with screws and place in position, insure they are plumb. Attach cross supports with screws temporarily. Be sure cross supports fit snuggly under landing and that landing is level.
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#9
RIGHT ANGLE TURN
Attach 58"x 60" platform to bottom of Module #3 with 3/8" x 4" carriage bolts. Support platform temporarily with jacks. Make sure the plafform is level. Take measurements for length of 4x4's, cut 4x4's to length, attach pads and place 4x4's as in diagram.
Attach 58"-long cross support with screws on landing side of 4x4's at bottom of Module #3 (side A in diagram).
Attach cross support to 4x4's with screws on opposite side of landing (side B in diagram).
Attach cross support to side C.
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#10 Transition to Ground
Attach string line from top of level landing to point where ramp will end and attach Module #4 in the same manner as described for the top level landing.
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