Strongest Sheet of Timber (or Metal?)?

cormie

Hi,
I want to fit some kind of bulkhead (divider) between the passenger/driver area and the cargo area of my Ford Transit LWB High Roof van. The thing is, I'd like it in 2 pieces and on some kind of roller mechanism so that if need be, I can roll it to one side to allow me to hop in the back from the front (for situations where I'm in a tight alley way and can't open the doors for example).

I'd then also like it to act as a ramp:o So I'd like to be able to remove preferably bigger of the two pieces of the bulkhead and use it as a 6ft (height on the inside) ramp if I need to lift pianos/cookers etc up into the back of the van. This would need to be strong enough for a piano and 2-4 guys without the risk of us all falling through it!

Here's my artists impression:D


Would appreciate any feedback on how I could go about this and what material I should use and the cost of 2 sheets about 750x1800mm each:)

Mellor

It would be very awkward to get the same piece to do both. By having the bulkhead movable it becomes less rigid. Having it detatchable its even less again. If you had it on a hinge at centre and it locked tight on the door side it might better than a sliding rail.

It the ramp was to hold a piano and two people it would have to be very strong, and reinforced. I've done piano moving while in the states and the ramps needed are bulky. A ramp of this strenght is heavy and it is unsuitable for use as a bulkhead, especially a movable one. The ramp will weigh alot, this is hard to move from the cabin of a van.
Also a plain timber sheet or a metal isn't a suitable surface for a moving ramp, you will need grip, a sand paper like surface.

I'd go for a bulkhead thats movable and a separate ramp. If you are doing pianos alot get a designated ramp, if you aren't doing them much there is no need to have a ramp at the ready.

Cookers, washing machines, sofas, wardrobes, tables, etc. All this are not even close to the weight of a piano and would be easier to get in without a ramp.

cormie

Could you explain what you mean again by having it locking tight to the door side and on a hinge? What door side? See the thing about it being hinged, is it will require the space to open out towards the back of the van and if there's something in the way, I wont be able to hop in the back, where as, with the sliding door, It can just slide to one side so nothing will be in the way. I don't think the bulkhead will have to be too rigid and I can reinforce it with something from the driver/passenger compartment anyway?

The ramp idea, yeah I'm not sure if I'll be able to kill 3 birds with the one stone here, but what if I was to get say a titanium sheet that size? I'm not sure what the cost of that would be? Could be affordable, could be ridiculous, but would titanium not be strong enough for it? And if I was to get some grip sheeting and just stick it on would that not suffice?

For cookers and the likes, I'd be putting them on a hand truck and then wheeling them up the ramp, surely this would be harder without the ramp? What way were you thinking of doing it without the ramp? I'd need a helper if I didn't have a ramp I'd say?

I was looking up ramps on ebay anyway and this seems pretty good:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-Enduro-Supermoto-Motocross-Race-Bike-Load-Ramp_W0QQitemZ120170031745QQihZ002QQcategoryZ25644QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just a pity it's not really wide enough. It can take up to 1100lbs to and a typical upright piano only weighs about 400 so it should be fine... hopefully:)

GreeBo

I would also go for 2 different pieces.
For the Ramp you could just put in some (reinforced) flooring that you can slide in and out as needed. It wont take up much height and would be easier than trying to get the divider to do both.
Also how would you get the divider from being a divider to a ramp with a piano in the way?:p

cormie

Yeah, thinking about it, it would probably cost just as much to get somebody to fit a removable sliding bulkhea that turns into a ramp, then to just fit a sliding bulkhead and get a separate ramp. I think I might get 2 ramps like the above I linked to an then just get a piano dolly and just put them side by side if I want to put a piano up, or just put one down for smaller things or just put two down, wide a gap for wider things:)

Only thing I'd be worried about is the gaps/rungs going up the ramp

CJhaughey

Corrugated aluminium will do what you want to do but I have never seen it in sheets that wide.
I have seen it in "planks" about 200mm width and various lengths usually used in the holds of trawlers for dividing areas.
Not really sure where you will get it here in Ireland.
It is a square corrugation and about 3mm thick.

cormie

I think I'm just going to get two of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-Enduro-Supermoto-Motocross-Race-Bike-Load-Ramp_W0QQitemZ120170031745QQihZ002QQcategoryZ25644QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and then line the ramp with a sheet of something or other so I can roll small castors/push piano legs up it without having to hurdle over every rung on it.

Would most thin sheets of wood do because of the small distance between rungs I wonder, or would I be best off with a sheet of metal like the corrugated aluminium? Where would supply sheets of metal anyway?

Thanks for the help thus far:)

Xennon

http://www.raalloy.co.uk/ramps/van_ramps/multi_section_van_ramps.html

Get a propper ramp. Speaking as someone who has pushed cases into vans and trucks all over the world and experienced probably every kind of home made ramp imaginable (including sheets of ply supported by pallets), get a ramp that was designed for the job.

Reasons:
1> It will be certified to carry x weight. If it breaks with Mrs Jones shiny new grand piano, you may have some cover if the weight of the piano is below the rated weight.
2> Ramps get slippery = injuries = something you don't want. Dedicated ramps usually have a grip surface to minimize slip.
4> A propper ramp will have guides up the side to prevent Mrs Jones piano bailing over the side of the ramp as you do your back in trying to prevent that from happening.
3> A decent ramp will last you forever.

Im sure there is someone in Ireland making them, I just found that from google.

cormie

That would of course be ideal, but they cost about 10 times more than the other solution and I just don't have the amount of business that warrants spending so much on a ramp at the moment.

I think if I was to get 2 of the above ramps, rated at 750lb allowance each, with a typical piano only being 400lbs I think, it should be fine if I got a sheet of metal tacked down and some grip sheeting then on top of that. As far as I can see, they also have a little lip at the side to prevent things popping off the side.

Mellor

How would you secure that ramp to your van? It looks about 250mm deep at the end, if this was sitting on the van edge, when you are push a piano up this is a bit of a bump to wheel it over, jsut like pushing in off a larg kerb. A ramp suited for the job should reduce to 10mm at the end.

Some upright pianos will come in at 400lbs, but there get heavier, I was doing piano moving a few months ago and some of the yamaha uprights are 530lbs, and remember you have to allow for the weight of two people on top of this. Two men would easily bring the total to 1000 lbs (two 15 stone men making it 950)

cormie

Just came across this ramp. The surface looks more suitable and would probably work well using this dolly too.

Should be a reliable and safe combination?

I wonder would it be worth the extra €75 or so for 500mm more for this one.

I could easily put some kind of lip on the sides to stop things rolling over too.

So I wonder is 3.0mm Seawater resistant aluminium up for the job?

cormie

Shipping is crazy on the Dolly, about $200. Has anyone seen them around locally? http://dutchdolly.com/