How to Make a Wood Car Racing Ramp
Racing ramps are used by amateur and professional car enthusiasts who want to show off, transport or maintain their vehicles. They raise the car just enough to access the mechanics and equipment stored beneath a car's chassis. Professional race ramps look good but cost a lot of money. However, for a similar effect with home materials, you can really easily make a set of ramps out of leftover lumber.
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Things You'll Need
- 28 feet of 2- by 10-inch lumber
- Tape measure
- Marker or pencil
- Saw
- Wood glue
- Drill
- 3 inch wood screws
- Rail tie
- Chainsaw
- Paint
- 2 handles
Instructions
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Stepped Design
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1
Measure the lumber into pieces for your ramps. You need two each of: 30-inch planks; 48-inch planks; 54-inch pieces of wood; and 70-inch planks. You also need two pieces about 2 to 3 inches long to act as stoppers at the tip of each ramp. Cut out all of the pieces.
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2
Stack a 54-inch piece on top of a 70-inch piece so three of the sides line up along the back. The front of the ramp is where the car approaches; the back is the opposite end. Screw and glue this piece into place.
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3
Align a 48-inch piece with the flat edge at the back of your ramp, then glue and screw this piece into place.
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4
Glue the 30-inch piece of wood into place, lining up with the straight back of the ramp. Screw this plank down.
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5
Paste the stoppers down along the back edge of the ramp, lining up with the sides. Screw this into place.
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6
Repeat with the remaining pieces of wood. Leave the ramps to dry overnight.
Rail Tie Design
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7
Cut two 2 1/2-foot sections out of a piece of rail tie, using a chainsaw. Mark the top, front and back of each piece. The front is where the car will approach the ramp.
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8
Mark 18 inches from the front of one piece, along the top. Draw a diagonal line from that mark to the bottom-front corner of the piece.
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9
Cut that triangular mark out of the piece of wood, forming a ramp.
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10
Cut a 2- to 3-inch wedge out of the cut-off triangle of wood. This will become the stopper.
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11
Screw and glue that stopper into place along the back edge of the ramp, leaving about a 16-inch platform for the car tire to rest on.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Feel free to paint the car ramps black, so they detract less from the color of the car--almost blending in with the tires.
Adding a handle to the back edge of the car ramps will make them easier to store and transport.
Never use your ramps on uneven or slippery surfaces. Sweep any sand out from under the ramp before placing them.
Don't climb under the car unless the ramps are sturdily in place.
