building a ramp for a shipping container?

this was the first winter I parked my motorcycle in a shipping container. I used a section of my dock boards as a ramp. It was fine getting the bike in the container, but backing it out was an adventure, because my “ramp” was not securely fastened to the container and would not have been very stable, even if it were- way too flimsy, and too slippery.

So I decided I need a properly built ramp. Has anyone built something like this? I see some specifically designed for shipping containers commercially available but are expensive – I assume because they are strong enough for fully loaded skid steers and the like.

I need something wide enough for the bike AND the person walking it up down. That was the problem with my makeshift ramp this time, too narrow and too insecure.

NuggyBuggy said:

this was the first winter I parked my motorcycle in a shipping container. I used a section of my dock boards as a ramp. It was fine getting the bike in the container, but backing it out was an adventure, because my “ramp” was not securely fastened to the container and would not have been very stable, even if it were- way too flimsy, and too slippery.

So I decided I need a properly built ramp. Has anyone built something like this? I see some specifically designed for shipping containers commercially available but are expensive – I assume because they are strong enough for fully loaded skid steers and the like.

I need something wide enough for the bike AND the person walking it up down. That was the problem with my makeshift ramp this time, too narrow and too insecure.

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How much elevation are you trying to solve? Just the 6" for the floor? Are the ground and floor of the container parallel or do you have cross-slope to deal with too? Not enough room in container to spin bike around on side stand so you can ride out forward?

If it's for light duty and worked to get the bike in, I'd just figure a way to anchor the deck board to the opening. Maybe some pics might help.

I use a pin (rope hook) on the underside of my ramp, paired with a hole at the back of my open trailer deck. Doubled-up 3/4" plywood screwed together will support any medium-sized bike and let you pick whatever width that you feel comfortable with.

What about setting a railway tie or comparable into a trough with 8-12" of packed limestone and nailing some 2X6 or what ever to it at the floor level? Add a couple rebar pins to the rwy. tie and it's not going anywhere.

You should post a pic of what your setup is and what you're currently doing.

I made a video a few years back about how I ride bikes in and out of my house. I use three different ramps:

- The first ones are some 7' long by 4' wide ramps, with a bend in them to help with clearance so you're less likely to bottom out. That gets the bikes into my gazebo. You can probably find something like this online second hand for a couple hundred bucks.

- The second ramp is a 14' long ramp, originally from out of a moving truck, maybe 2'-3' wide but I added some side 2x6 extensions in case I need to put my feet down, so now it's probably closer to 14' x 4'. Also used about $200-300.

- Third ramp is maybe 3' long and 4' wide and it's just to cover the last step into the house. I made it entirely out of 2x4.

Depending on what you're dealing with, any one of these three options would probably work for you.

PS: Was this overkill? Yes. 100%.

(My last place only had one small step to get in, so on most bikes I could just gun it over the small step up)

But I totally admit to overbuilding this one because it was my first time I would be going up and down a flight of stairs and I decided I'd rather regret being too safe, than regret not being safe enough.