Trailer rear wheel ramp

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ken smith

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Nov 1, 2024, 11:19:38 AM11/1/24
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Trying to make a rear wheel ramp for my trailer.
Does anyone, in the US, know where to get aluminum
extrusions in this shape?
Thanks
IMG_0520.jpg

Dave Nadler

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Nov 1, 2024, 11:50:41 AM11/1/24
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Your Cobra dealer?

marc schneider

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Nov 1, 2024, 12:07:08 PM11/1/24
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I've used an inverted concrete (aluminum) expansion joint as the middle rail on my homemade trailer, 15yrs. never had a problem, mine came in 10' sections

Expansion-Joint-Covers-for-Concrete.png



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ken smith

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Nov 1, 2024, 12:10:00 PM11/1/24
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This is for a Avionics trailer that has the mounts for a 3" wide track.

Mark Mocho

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Nov 1, 2024, 1:33:05 PM11/1/24
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As far as I know, the extrusion shown in the first post is a custom profile exclusive to Cobra. Sections are available from Wings & Wheels, along with the plastic end caps.

Tom Seim

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Nov 1, 2024, 2:13:32 PM11/1/24
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I once had a sheet metal shop bend steel in a U shape for this purpose.

Tom 2G

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Henry Retting

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Nov 1, 2024, 5:46:14 PM11/1/24
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What model glider?
R

ken smith

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Nov 1, 2024, 8:22:09 PM11/1/24
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SZD 59

Soartech

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Nov 2, 2024, 9:50:16 AM11/2/24
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For my 2004 Avionic trailer I just made a ramp board 6" wide and fiberglassed the underside for strength.

RC Gibbons

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Nov 2, 2024, 10:08:32 AM11/2/24
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Chip Bearden

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Nov 2, 2024, 5:05:03 PM11/2/24
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My tailwheel ramp is an extruded aluminum C channel, 3" wide and slightly less than 1 1/2" high. The thickness of the sides tapers from 3/16" at the top of the channel to roughly 3/8" near the bottom. Not sure what is the thickness of the center track of the "C" but the sides are much more important for strength. Mine is very stiff and supports my admittedly light ASW 24 tailwheel just fine. I've been using it for at least 10 years. I suspect it's heavier than the factory's ramps but the weight helps offset all the gear I carry in the front of the trailer that adds to the tongue load.

Mine is 6 feet long (about the same length as the fuselage tracks) and is supported at the fuselage jack end by a bracket with a hole in it, into which drops a small bolt threaded into the end of the channel. I store mine in the right fuselage ramp track and fold the center track over it and secure it with shock cords. The factory trailers have brackets to store them along the trailer wall, and that works fine, too. 

I can't recall what I paid for it but I a quick search led to what appears to be (no guarantees) the same thing at Online Metals for $90 for 6 feet. I cut the ends of the vertical sides off at 45 degrees so it's less likely to puncture the tailwheel, though I'm still careful to line it up before rolling the tailwheel into it. Obviously your requirements may be different (esp. track length, but also strength for heavier motorgliders). 

Chip Bearden
Photo 3.jpg
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Joe Gieseke

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Nov 3, 2024, 7:51:07 AM11/3/24
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All the ramps on a LAK T5 trailer are fiberglass.
One could be made easily. 

Mark Mocho

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Nov 3, 2024, 9:30:04 AM11/3/24
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Yeah, easily if you have the tools, materials, shop, cleanup supplies, etc. Oh, and if you value your time at about two bucks an hour. Buy a section of aluminum channel.

Tom Seim

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Nov 3, 2024, 12:26:54 PM11/3/24
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Henry, this was for a DG400 and a trailer made in Utah. I forgot the name of the guy who built these trailers.

Tom 2G

Jonathan Audy

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Nov 5, 2024, 4:26:22 AM11/5/24
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For $150 could just order one from wings & wheels.
- Jonathan.

On Nov 1, 2024, at 8:19 AM, ken smith <mdm...@gmail.com> wrote:

Trying to make a rear wheel ramp for my trailer.
Does anyone, in the US, know where to get aluminum
extrusions in this shape?
Thanks
<IMG_0520.jpg>

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Nicholas Kennedy

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Nov 5, 2024, 9:36:42 AM11/5/24
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the above is a extension of a center ramp


Here is the center ramp above
 Pricey at $366 + shipping, but its got the fittings to easily install it and fold it out of the way when you push the cradle mechanism back into the trailer and keeps it secured during travel, and its a Factory Cobra part.

IMHO you could make one if you are handy;  it would help alot if you had a working one to copy/look at and measure from.

But as Mark Mocho has stated "what is your time worth?" thats the question

If your retired and looking for something to do this  might be a fun useful little project/ upgrade

Nick
A2

Charles Mampe

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Nov 5, 2024, 10:03:07 AM11/5/24
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I will hazard a guess you could use 2 lengths of 1.5" x 1.5" x 1/8" steel angle, weld an edge on 1 to an edge on the other to make a channel 1.5" x 3" wide.
You could do a butt weld or lap (stronger but narrower than 3"), your choice.
This would be a drop in, hinging would be more work.
A second one could be made to get to the ground.

ken smith

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Nov 6, 2024, 8:02:42 PM11/6/24
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Thanks everyone; i used some 3x1" aluminum U shape channel and beefed up the sides a bit

Jim M

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Nov 7, 2024, 4:50:22 PM11/7/24
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Maybe someone can benefit from how I'm getting the glider out of the trailer so that it can sit in the hangar on the dolly.  

Steel Bar Channel 2 x 1 x 1/8 (Grade A36)

They flex a good bit, but I've got a heavy fuselage.
IMG_0381 Large.jpeg
IMG_0382 Large.jpeg
IMG_0383 Large.jpeg


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John DeRosa

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Nov 7, 2024, 5:07:12 PM11/7/24
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Here is what I came up with for a smaller set of ramps.   


Capture.JPG
 

Charles Mampe

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Nov 8, 2024, 1:33:47 AM11/8/24
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We are similar, a 4x4 across the ground at the end of the ramp with 2 2x8x4' ramps to get to the ground and a couple small ramps dropped into the aluminum ramp to get over the end, similar to yours.

Cheap and easy. A single person can move the fuselage in or out with not too much work.

This is with various vintages of Cobra trailers.

Chip Bearden

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Nov 9, 2024, 1:03:35 AM11/9/24
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The first time (of many) I brought my ASW 24 to UH's shop, I was dreading the effort and drama of getting the fuselage out of the trailer and settled safely in the cradle in the shop with only three people. But as Charlie says, it's so easy with a few non-techy wooden ramps.   

Chip Bearden
JB

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Charles Mampe

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Nov 9, 2024, 8:51:59 AM11/9/24
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To add to this, it's not hard solo, but old backs like 2 people.
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