How to Build a Car Hauler Ramp Truck
Building a car hauler ramp truck involves converting a semi or heavy-duty truck into one that can load and carry cars. A semi already has the towing capacity for a large trailer, but it will need its own extensive flatbed if it doesn't have one. This will require someone skilled in building and modifying extra large vehicles who knows how to build a flatbed strong enough to hold multiple small vehicles.
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Things You'll Need
- Semi truck
- Flatbed extensions
- Welding and cutting equipment
- Axles
- Truck wheels and tires
- Chains
Instructions
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Get a cab from a large truck, like a semi-tractor trailer. You want something that is strong enough to carry multiple cars, especially if it has a long enough flatbed already installed. A super-duty pickup truck may work if you plan on only towing one or two cars. You may need to cut off the sides of the bed and tailgate.
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2
Extend the truck's flatbed if necessary. Remember that you need a bed that will support at least one vehicle of 3,000 lbs. or more. You can purchase truck bed extensions, but you'll probably need several connected together and on top of each other for more strength. This should include welding them together.
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3
Support the bed with at least one extra wheel and axle. The axle should be at least as strong as the ones on the main truck cab and will need two wheels and tires on each end. These axles don't need to be connected to the steering column but must be connected to the bed.
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Attach a ramp to the end of the bed. This ramp must extend to the ground so cars can be loaded onto the bed and be retractable so as not to drag while driving. The ramp can be pushed upward on hinges or pushed onto the main bed on a slide. Use another section of truck bed extension for the ramp.
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Connect steel chains or ropes to the truck bed. These must be looped through the underside and back onto the top and will be used to tie and secure the cars loaded onto the truck by their wheels. You may need to cut holes in the bed to slip the chains through.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are adding a second deck hauler bed, it should be as high as the cab roof to allow clearance for the first level. It must be on scaffolding-style beams strong enough to support both the bed and the cars it will carry.
