Ram Plans
These pictures links and blueprints are for you to use for building ramps or whatever,give them to your town council so they can build them for you! Or even better, build them yourself!


Materials And Tools Needed For Building Ramps:

3/8" X 4' X 8' sheets of plywood, 8' 2-by-4s,
electric, hand-held or bench saws, handsaw, hammer & nails, electric sander/sandpaper, drafting compass, string & chalk, sawhorses, nail punch, ink pen, wood screws, 3/8" PVC pipe, push-pin

Guidelines For Building Ramps:

1. Decide on the type of ramp(s) you want to build, sketch out the design and dimensions on paper.

2. Acquire the tools listed below and as much wood as you can get your grubby little hands on

3. Find a work space to use (garage, backyard, etc.) and lay out your supplies. If you're planning to build a fairly large structure (permanent) try to build it on site.

4. For ramps with curved transitions, you will need to use the string-and-compass method shown below.

5. Once you've drawn and cut your templates, next comes the bracing. Shown below are two methods. Both are effective, but the cut-out version, while more work, is a stronger design.

6. Once you've done the framework, you'll most likely need to prep the top piece(s) of the plywood (which must bend to fit the transition without breaking). Do this by propping up the sheet(s)--already cut to size--at a sloping angle and soak with a hose at low pressure for an hour or so. As the wood becomes soaked, apply an increasing amount of weight to the center of the board(s)--using bricks or something similar--until the wood attains the desired curve. Now nail the wood onto the framework's 2-by-4s. If your ramp is to have coping, make sure to leave enough space for it to fit snugly. Always go WITH the grain of the wood while bending and apply the ply!

7. For a smoother transition, sand the bottom edge of the top sheet at an angle flush with the ground. Check for jagged splinters. Sand or paint if desired. Paint will make your ramp faster!

8. Duct tape, airplane or electrical tape or aluminum strips may be added to smooth the transition's bottom edge.

9. Congratulate yourselves on a job well done (?) and start shredding!


Making A Transition Ramp:
String And Compass Method
Picture on how to use compass and strings to make transitions

1. Figure how much transition curve you want (in feet & inches) and how much vert, if any.

2. Tie one end of the string around the push-pin and stick it in the sheet as shown.

3. Holding the string taught, measure out exactly the amount of transition (see step one) and mark this on the string with an ink pen.

4. Tie the drafting compass to the other end of the string and tighten it so the slipknot is right on top of the mark you made.

5. Holding the string taut, swing the compass from the sheet's edge in a quarter-circle, marking the template with the chalk. You may need to move the contraption around to get the desired curve and best use of space!

6. Place sheet on sawhorses and cut out templates carefully.

NEW ADDITION ON DECREASING TRANSITIONS:
7. If you want to make a ramp with a decreasing transition, you need to modify the above steps and instead of using a push-pin, use a round object that is 6 inches to 3 feet in diameter, such as a paint can or a round garbage can. Attach the string to the round object and somehow secure it to the wood in place of the push-pin in step 2. As the string winds around the round object, it will get shorter and your transition will become tighter. This is called a decreasing radius transition and it is very cool when making launch ramps and quarter pipes. Experiment and eyeball in a cool tranny.


Bracing A Transition
Click Here for a picture on how to brace a ramp

Number One: Cut Out

1. You need 3 identical templates. Using a 2-by-4 as a model, trace cut marks holding it flush with curve's edge.

2. Distribute brace/cut marks as evenly as possible.

3. With a jigsaw, cut out all marked spaces just outside of lines.

4. Nail in some bracing 2-by-4s to hold up structure.

5. Cut 2-by-4s to width of ramp.

6. Slide 2-by-4s into cut slats (they should fit snugly).

7. Connect platforms, top platforms, additional bracing or coping.

8. Apply to sheet(s) (see string and compass)--use nail punch to drive nails flush.

Number Two: Side Nail

This method is quicker to build and much less work.

1. After cutting the templates, simply nail in 2-by-4s through the sides at the same angle as the first method, using 3"-4" Flathead nails per side per stud (this woks much better if you have help to hold the 2-by-4s in place).

2. Follow steps 7 and 8 of method one.




How To Build A Halfpipe
Use the tips on building transitions above for building halfpipes, Make The Ribs Strong!
I HAVE SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR THOSE WISHING TO BUILD HALFPIPES THAT ARE 4 TO 5 TIMES STRONGER THAN YOUR RIB METHOD. THE METHOD EMPLOYS THE RIB METHOD BUT EXPANDS THE METHOD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY LITTLE BIT OF POWER. CUT OUT NOTCHES WHERE THE RIBS GO. THIS WILL ALLOW THE RIB TO DISTRIBUTE THE PRESSURE THROUGHT THE STRUCTURE. IN ADDITION, USE VERTICAL BRACES ON THE BOTTOM 3 FT OF TRANSITION, THIS WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THOSE RIBS BY THREE FOLD. LASTLY, USE PACK DIRT UNDER THE FLAT BOTTOM AND THE FIRST 2 FT OF TRANSITIONS. THAT TRICK WILL DEAD SOUND AND ALSO MAKE THE RAMP 5 TIMES STRONGER. IF THE RAMP IS TO BE A LIFELONG STRUCTURE, THEN REPLACE THE DIRT WITH CEMENT. from-

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