Forum Discussion

Sandy___Shirley's avatar
Jun 12, 2015

Building Driveway Ramps

We just traded our 37’ Fifth Wheel which weighed about 13,000 lbs. in on a 37’ Motor Home which weighs almost 26,000 lbs. We are keeping it in our driveway which is black top and not totally level, so we are building ramps to drive up on to have it level when next to our home. The Fifth Wheel required tow 2 x 10’s under one side and we know from experience that even pressure treated lumber will rot when placed directly on black top for long periods. The top board was generally OK while the bottom board began to rot.

So, the question we have is relatively simple. For those who have built these ramps, what material do you use between the bottom board and the driveway?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

PS: Our boards are: nothing on the right front, 3.5 inches on the left front, 3 inches on the right rear, and 5.5 inches on the left rear!
  • Actually. Just plain ole pine boards will last a lot longer than you will ever need them. It ain't rocket science.
  • Well , I am 71 , fishing and chasing wild women are both ' catch
    and release '.
  • Boards are cheap and easy ! Buy boards and use the extra time ya save fishing or chasing wild women !
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Sounds like you keep things a long time. I'd make them out of high strength concrete with fiber in it from HD. Include a handle so you can move. I would put a couple pieces of 1/2' rebar in the two for the dual tires. I would not go less than one inch thick on the tapered ramp. I would put tar paper on top of them.

  • Thanks, that is a great idea. I can also run a saw down the top of each one several time maybe 1/8 inch deep to be sure that the wood on top has a way to drain properly.
  • Use polyethylene deck boards (known by several brand names but the material is essentially the same - polyethylene). You won't be able to get them 10-inch wide so probably have to use two side by side.

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