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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    You could go to a lighter mesh by placing angle or RHS where the wheels go. The reason I suggested different length pins, was to assist with putting the ramp on. If the ramp was placed on a couple of blocks, it could then be slid onto the pins, or you could use your front end loader, to assist in putting it on.
    If you find it's too heavy to lift up, look at using a gas strut or 2, have seen them being used on horse floats, if you need to get dimensions, ideas?
    How did you get on with your mulch spreader???
    I am hoping to position the RHS/angle under the wheel path, and I think I'll visit my steel supplier to get a handle on expanded metal mesh. While I've got plenty of machines about the place with buckets and forks that could be pressed into service, for the modest scale of a 2t trailer, I kind of like the idea of being able to wrangle it by hand, within reason.

    The mulch trailer is functional, I want to move the side-feeder back a little bit, and given the time, I'll get a load or two of mulch delivered and try it out. There's some incentive to do this as the winter rain has been pretty sparse, which means the aquifer that feeds the bore hasn't been fully recharged, which could limit how much we can pump come summer, so mulch could become pretty important.

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default Testing Time

    I decided to do a simple test to find out what kind of deflection I'd actually get. I used 2 pieces of 50x50x1.6 RHS set up on 35mm blocks spaced 1200mm apart, then applied the rear wheels of a Dingo to the approximate midpoint:
    IMG_2819.jpg

    I then compared the deflection at the mid point to a 35mm block:
    IMG_2823.jpg

    Which I'm going to call 3mm.

    The test isn't perfect - the front wheels are resting on the same section, but past the blocks that define the 1200 span, however it was pretty clear that with a Dingo that weighs about 250kg at each tyre, it was coping just fine.

    I should note the other side:
    IMG_2822.jpg

    Deflected a similar amount, and there's a join that was done many moons ago using the much-maligned gassless MIG process (you can see the spatter marks radiating past the paint). Holding up just fine.

    So I think I'll redesign my ramp to use all 50mm RHS and angle and see how it behaves. If there's a problem with excessive deflection, I can easily add extra stiffening elements to the underside.

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Anyone know what spec expanded metal is typically used for a ramp? I've been looking at FM14 - it has a 135 x 45 eye with a 5x8mm strand and weighs 14kg per m2. Without looking at it in the flesh, can't work out if that is the right kind of thing to use...

  4. #19
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    FM14 should be perfect for the job, particularly if you run bracing where the wheels will run.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Just went and had a look at the mesh in the steel shop - also called WK4514 it seems. Looks the part, the holes look pretty big, so shouldn't catch too much wind. I was going to use 1.6 wall RHS under the wheels, as I've got heaps in my steel rack, and I want to keep things light, but I might go a bit thicker, as the 5mm thick strands might be a bit challenging to weld to thin wall tube.

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