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DISCUSSION FORUMS : Forkliftaction.communicate
Forum: Warehouse storage and handling
Discussion:  How long does my ramp need to be?
Number of messages: 16
START MESSAGE:
Solutions
California, United States

 		I had a customer ask me, based on his existing fleet of forklifts, how long his ramp would need to be at his new (yet to be built) warehouse.

He wanted to know at what point the underside of his forklift would catch at the peak of the ramp and get hung up.

Could he build a shorter ramp to save space and money?  How much longer would it have to be if he wanted to move his reach trucks outside for maintenance?

So I put together an online calculator to help him figure out how much clearance each forklift would have.

The link is: RaymondHandlingSolutions.com/rampcalculator.html

Let me know if this is helpful to anyone.

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http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com

Modified 17 Feb 2008 03:29 PM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
REPLIES: Sort replies by
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		Hi

Excellent start. You also need to allow for tyre deflection with cushion or pneumatic tyres. I haven't got actual data on typical deflection versus load for these forklift tyres but would suggest it is of the order of 10 mm per tonne.

The net effect on clearance with the drive tyres compressing and the steer tyres expanding  is probably a reduction of 10 - 15 mm.

You might add a field on tyre type fitted and then at a minimum have a statement that when loaded the clearance may be reduced by 10-15 mm.

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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 26 Feb 2008 09:38 AM Reply  Report this message
Solutions
California, United States

 		Great input, thanks.  I will try to put together a note on the subject.  Any suggestions the verbiage would be greatly appreciated and will be credited.

Swalker at raymondhs.net

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http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com

Posted 26 Feb 2008 04:00 PM Reply  Report this message
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		Would suggest something along the following lines:

This calculator assumes the forklift is empty, or if loaded it is fitted with hard rubber tyres.

For a loaded forklift fitted with cushion or pneumatic tyres the measured clearance on the level may be reduced by 0.4 - 0.6 inches. It is suggested that for these forklifts you reduce the clearance by 0.6 in before inputting it into the calculator. For example if the clearance when empty is 4 inches input 3.4 inches

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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 26 Feb 2008 04:39 PM Reply  Report this message
Solutions
California, United States

 		Great suggestion.  I will make the changes!  Thanks again.

Simon

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http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com

Posted 27 Feb 2008 02:23 AM Reply  Report this message
Solutions
California, United States

 		Thanks again for your input.  Updated at:

raymondhandlingsolutions.com/rampcalculator.html


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http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com

Posted 1 Mar 2008 03:42 AM Reply  Report this message
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		Thanks for referencing me at the calculator

Suggest you need to put a reference "See note Below" at the clearance box and increase the type size of the note font for us older guys

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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 1 Mar 2008 08:48 AM Reply  Report this message
carl_v
Pennsylvania, United States 		Better check the Gradability Specs for the trucks that would be operated on the incline.

Posted 4 Mar 2008 03:39 AM Reply  Report this message
jamesr_w
New York, United States 		usually the fork lift manufacture will recommend a maximum ramp angle

Posted 3 Dec 2010 01:56 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		From the what it is worth dept.  Most ramps are built on a 10% grade or the vertical height from ground level to the top of the entryway (dock floor) x 10 will give you the horizontal length of the ramp required.  
Using the maximum gradeability from a spec sheet can be dangerous, as most of these specs are measured in ideal situation in a testing lab (controlled conditions)  - new truck with less than 100 hours, new tires, rough brushed concrete surface, truck travel speed at 1 mph or even at the point of stall (to get a bigger numbers for the buying public); the engine and transmission in perfect running condition (new plugs, etc etc.   Also, gradeability #s will vary widely from brand to brand, except Mistubishi - Cat & Yale-Hyster (same units different decals & paint color).
Most truck can achieve a 10% ramp either empty or loaded.  Generally speaking the empty gradeability  that is published is becasue of drive tire wheel slippage, yes there are a few exceptions.

Posted 3 Dec 2010 04:38 AM Reply  Report this message
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		Average gradeability of 208 driven forklifts I have details on is 20%.
Only one's limited to 10% are TCM brand units.
Out of the 177 forklifts I have gradeability data on, 6 TCM units have a limit of 10%, another 13 had limits of 12% - 14.3%, another 11 have limits of 15% - 19%, and all the others have capabilities of 20% or more.

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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 3 Dec 2010 11:01 AM Reply  Report this message
edward_t
South Carolina, United States

 		I take it these are all sit-down counterbalanced (class 4 or 5)

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webhome = http://forktechs.com
"it's not rocket surgery"

Modified 3 Dec 2010 11:31 AM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		They are all sit down counterbalance or container handling reach trucks

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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 3 Dec 2010 12:23 AM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		I understand what you stat about what manufactuers publish.  But these results are demonstrated under ideal  conditions with new or near new conditions.  5 years from now how much has the performance  been reduced and what type of tires are installed - high or low durometer, smooth or traction treads.  A 1 in 10 grade or 10% is quite steep but is the most common ramp grade in the US & Canada.

Posted 3 Dec 2010 12:52 AM Reply  Report this message
John_Lambert
Victoria, Australia

 		Hi again John an others
The worst situation with a counterbalanced forklift is when it is very lightly loaded and hence is to be driven up a ramp with the forks facing up the ramp. As the ramp gets steeper more and more weight is transferred off the drive. As an indication for the normal range of counterbalance forklifts, and assuming a low friction factor between the forklift tires of 0.4 (normally will be as high as 0.6) then the limits are:
Empty forklift, forks facing down the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 24% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 18%;
10% loaded forklift, forks facing up the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 15% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 12%;
100% loaded forklift, forks facing up the ramp - on average can traverse a slope up to 28% and worst weight distribution forklifts would be limited to 25%;





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Better to strive and experience all life’s colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

Posted 3 Dec 2010 07:57 PM Reply  Report this message
johnr_j
Georgia, United States 		JohnL I understand  what you say & have no issue with your "on average" analysis.  An issue that must be understood that the steeper the incline the greater the risk of having a safety issue.  Like I stated before a 1/10 (10%) is a steep grade a 1 in 4 (25%)  is very steep (like mountain climping).
I realize operators are taught  to negotiate a ramp with a load to travel w/forks up hill. ( I have developed & presented operator training prgrams during my 41 year career).  In "the real" world  I have personally witnessed many operators just believe this  this as just a mere suggestions (kinda' like the Max. Speed Limit signs along the roadside) and travel in the opposite direction with a load.  With steeper grades the greater the chance of a "ya ha" should the operator brake on the ramp as the load can be only tilsted back 8 to 10 degrees.
I understand ther are many situations that ramps are much steeper than 10%, in the States.   "Most" of these situations arise in the older cities & buildings  - like around NYC, Chicago, etc

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"Have An Exceptional Day!"

Modified 3 Dec 2010 10:43 PM
by poster. 		Reply  Report this message


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