Discussion:
How long does my ramp need to be?

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.
  • Posted 17 Feb 2008 15:28
  • Modified 17 Feb 2008 15:29 by poster
  • Discussion started by Solutions
  • California, United States
http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com
Showing items 16 - 21 of 21 results.
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
  • Posted 1 Mar 2008 08:48
  • Reply by John_Lambert
  • Victoria, Australia
Better to strive and experience all life's colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life
Thanks again for your input. Updated at:

raymondhandlingsolutions.com/rampcalculator.html
  • Posted 1 Mar 2008 03:42
  • Reply by Solutions
  • California, United States
http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com
Great suggestion. I will make the changes! Thanks again.

Simon
  • Posted 27 Feb 2008 02:23
  • Reply by Solutions
  • California, United States
http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com
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
  • Posted 26 Feb 2008 16:39
  • Reply by John_Lambert
  • Victoria, Australia
Better to strive and experience all life's colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life
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
  • Posted 26 Feb 2008 16:00
  • Reply by Solutions
  • California, United States
http://www.raymondhandlingsolutions.com
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.
  • Posted 26 Feb 2008 09:38
  • Reply by John_Lambert
  • Victoria, Australia
Better to strive and experience all life's colours from pain to ecstasy than to exist in a grey life

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