How to Make Motor Home Ramps
- 1). Measure the door opening. Your ramp needs to be 1/2 inch smaller than the door frame. Cut your first plywood sheet to this size.
- 2). Build a 2-by-2 frame for your plywood sheet by screwing your the lumber together. Cut 2-by-2 timbers to size and screw them to each other to create a box that fits 1/2 inch in on all sides of the plywood. Add additional 2-by-2 supports every 6 to 8 inches by screwing 2-by-2 pieces that span the width of the frame. Screw through the frame into the supports to secure them in place.
- 3). Screw through the plywood and into the 2-by-2 lumber to secure the plywood to the frame.
- 4). Make additional frames and cover them with plywood. Build enough individual panels to create a slope of 1 foot for every inch of height traveled. One plywood sheet will make a 4-foot long panel, which makes a ramp suitable for a 2- to 3-inch rise. Create enough panels to account for the distance from the floor of your motor home to the ground the motor home is parked on.
- 5). Attach the individual panels together by attaching piano hinges to the ends of the plywood panels. Choose hinges that fully open in both directions so you can fold your ramp up for easier storage.
- 6). Cover the top of the plywood ramp sections with grip tape for traction. This is a good safety practice for those in wheelchairs or those walking up and down the ramp.
- 7). Place the ramp in position and measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the ramp every foot. Build a pyramid of 2-by-2 timber to the appropriate height, screwing them together. Make the pyramid blocks so they fit snugly in between the framing of your plywood ramp. Label the side of the ramp and each block so you know where each one goes.
- 8). Built a pyramid block for the top of your ramp. This block needs to be the same height as the distance from the floor of your motor home to the first stair minus the thickness of your plywood. This block prevents the ramp from dipping or bowing at the top and makes the top of the ramp even with the floor.