building a ramp for a shipping container?

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NuggyBuggy

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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?
 
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.

shopping
 
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.
 
adri said:
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.
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Yes, it was overkill. You could have built a beer holder in a fraction of the time to hold your beer and eliminated needing someone to do it.

A typical YouTube moment has a guy running his bike up a ramp, not considering the ground clearance and sharp apex, and the bike falling over doing thousands in damage. He had a bunch of buddies there but they didn't try to help because some were recording and the others were holding the beers.

Seriously though, there is a satisfaction to doing it right and not endangering yourself, your friends or your stuff. Good on ya.
 
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.
Click to expand...
Backing a bike downhill has its problems. Braking and steering geometries go against the normal reactions. Up is far easier.

Is this a spring and fall deal, used twice a year, or is the container a daily garage?

Assuming everything is level and the container sitting on the ground, a sheet of plywood with a bit of reinforcing could work. Another hundred dollars makes it 50% wider and 100% safer.

If the container is elevated I might consider a lift but I tend to go overboard. Lifts don't have the inherent stability of a ramp.

If the height was minimal I'd be tempted to make two ramps 4'X8' side by side. Lots of width and easier to move and store than one huge 8X8 footer. A sheet of plywood each and five 2X4s per side.
 
nobbie48 said:
Backing a bike downhill has its problems. Braking and steering geometries go against the normal reactions. Up is far easier.

Is this a spring and fall deal, used twice a year, or is the container a daily garage?

Assuming everything is level and the container sitting on the ground, a sheet of plywood with a bit of reinforcing could work. Another hundred dollars makes it 50% wider and 100% safer.

If the container is elevated I might consider a lift but I tend to go overboard. Lifts don't have the inherent stability of a ramp.

If the height was minimal I'd be tempted to make two ramps 4'X8' side by side. Lots of width and easier to move and store than one huge 8X8 footer. A sheet of plywood each and five 2X4s per side.
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Thanks all for the replies. Usage: I expect I will usually leave the bike outside of the container during riding season. But if the solution I end up with works well enough, maybe I’d store it inside. The latter is not necessarily a requirement right now but a nice to have.

Got to the container and looked at it more carefully today. The container is not level, at least not in the horizontal aspect with respect to the ground. The right side is about 2-1/2” higher than the left side but I have not checked for actual level.

I never noticed this because I had only used the right door. The “ramp” I used had been supported on that side by a 6x6. With that in place against the front, the left doors are obstructed- the locking mechanisms hit the 6x6. While the one door is enough most of the time, it would be nice to be able to open both- if only to let in more light so I could do some work.

I could level the ground in front, or I could build something that just accounts for the difference in vertical separation.
 
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Dirty Frank said:
If you could live with the incline/decline of this short of a ramp this would be my first thought.

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Ime, those types of ramps will be slippery as $^#% if wet. I prefer wood, expanded metal or perforated aluminum.
 
GreyGhost said:
Ime, those types of ramps will be slippery as $^#% if wet. I prefer wood, expanded metal or perforated aluminum.
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A touch of nonskid or deck tape works wonders and is quite durable.
And to add to my post i would have a look through the unistrut catalogue for some stick and fittings so the ramp can be bolted to the can for security.
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