cost to build a ramp

[shirefmx]

ok somebody's comments about me trying to rip them off with a rough price guess at what a ramp would cost them has ticked me off a bit so i've decided to post approximately what it costs me to build a 6ft- 8ft sized ramp.

ok this is what you need

RHS metal approx 80 metres = $400 - $500
17mm Plywood, 2 sheets for 6 ft ramp, 3 for 8ft = $110- $165
Welding rods, grinding disks etc. $50 (trust me you go through a lot)
screws and bolts for putting ply on and for joining seperating parts in ramp = $30
metal primer, spray paint, and outdoor wood paint = $30

ok so far we're up to $620- $775 if you can bend the tranny rail yourself, which i do with some plans, however if you want a ramp with a constant radius such as an aussie comp ramp then you need to get5 the steel rolled to the radius which will cost another $200 but we won't add that seeing as i can bend it myself just as good for free.

so say at the minimum cost price to me of $620, if i sell a 6ft ramp, that takes over 40 hours build time from scratch, for $1200 i am left with $580 for labour. Divide that $580 by 40 hours and i am left with $14.50 an hour, and thats not considering that some parts of the building process need two people to do the work and the money i've invested in tools needed for the job.

if you don't think my price is fair go to someone else and pay $2500 or start looking for a 2nd hand ramp

thankyou

p.s. these are the prices i have sussed out, if anyone think's they can get cheaper materials consistently good for you but these are the most reasonable prices close to my home.

[Mungoman45]

I applaud you man, and so should anyone else that has or is planning on buying a ramp from this man. He (as far as i know, is not part of a proper Ramp building company, such as ARD) is building ramps for people who ask nicely, and come up with the more than reaosnable prices supplied. He does not HAVE to do this, waste his own time and energy building something he is not going to use himself, therefor, show him some gratitude and thank yourself that there is an individual out there willing to do it, for a rather cheap rate.

Well done bro, if ya ever want me to do up any of your plans on CAD, (makes em a lot neater than scribbled paper) I'm more than happy to do so. :)

[shirefmx]

thanx mungo .... as i've mentioned before sure my welds won't be as neat as an ARD or showtime ramp or whatever but the ramp will be smooth, a good tranny, strong and less than half the price of the big boys.

[The Snitz]

yeah mate, i don't think many ppl out there are gonna make a ramp and sell it for under 1500!!! specially like u said the price of the materials ur gonna use, most places ur gonna expect to pay even more than what u are... i should know lol.
i know i'd be on the borderline of 1500 myself (then again i'm to lazy to make one for anyone else unless they asked me very very nicely!) lol cheers dude

[yamaha_freak]

yeah shire fmx that is actually really cheap of people to say that your trying to rip them off....
if you offered to make it they should be nice and pay what ever you offer
like 14-15 bucks an hour is soooooo cheap dude that is the best price i could ever see an offer on

[Shifty]

Danm right Todd dude.

But for all people. Learn to weld. It is the bestest skill to have.
That price can also go higher depeding on what you want. Ie. 3 Split sections. Expanded Mesh for the top.

[yamaha_freak]

whos todd?

[shirefmx]

yes shifty it can go much much much higher ... i'd love to have $3000 to spend on a ramp ... i'd go to town big time! ohh the possibilities!

oh and i make all of my ramps so they can split in two sections.

[yamaha_freak]

yeah dude if anyones getting ripped off in your deals its you
you are charging so little

[The Snitz]

ur doin all ramps to split in 2 and chargin 1500?? nice!
how do u go about doin the split on a ramp mate? not that i'm gonna give it a go, i'll just stick to one piece at moment lol
and yeah, when u can weld, u'll be sittin pretty

[Shifty]

Yeah danm right. Trailer ramp heh heh. Eddie brights ramp he told me was 3000$$. But that was with labour.

His had like 50x50 RHS. Expanded mesh with sheet under it.

Split into 3. With Hinges

[yamaha_freak]

but who here agrees he is ripping himself off?

[The Snitz]

very nicEe!

[yamaha_freak]

nnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccceeeeeeeee

[shirefmx]

yeah its nopt hard at all splitting the ramp into sections ... justbuild it as one piece but where you want the joins put two vertical supports next to each other and cut the top and bottom rails... then drill two hols in each side and bolt em together

i could do a 3 section if anyone wanted it but i reackon 2 is more functional

[shirefmx]

so you's all reckon i should charge more eh??????

haha lol ... nah i'm staying cheap and true ... i'd rather people have safe ramps they can afford than ride unsafe ones

[yamaha_freak]

yeah you have a good point there
there rules are "RIDE HARD BUT RIDE SAFE"
how many ramps have you made dude?

[shirefmx]

only two ... my first was just learning how to do it and the second was for me and turned out perfect

i haven't actually sold one yet ... i just offered a few people what i can do for what price and now i've had lots of people asking bout them...

[yamaha_freak]

yeah you'll be a rich man

[shirefmx]

ohh i forgot to mention that i've made about 8 wooden ramps experimenting with angles and curves and stuff and have also built uncountable skate ramps as a kid ... so i've been playing with wodden ramps all my life and have turned what i knew and so much more (thanx to rick distler, ramp king) into building metal ramps.

[The Snitz]

good stuff man
how do wooden ramps fair compared to metal? not as strong obviously...u'd have to make them heaps different wouldn't ya?

[CIMO#163]

I can build a full size ramp like the one's used in most comps around Australia for $1200 with a bit of help from my Dads metal factory in Deer park. We don’t sell them with the wood on top cause I don’t want my dads business to be liable for any reason, so we just sell them as a frame. I’ve already sold a few here and there.....if any ones interested my emails David_Cim@hotmail.com. Also ill be riding at the freeride pro am in Pro class so keep an eye out for me! L8R

[The Snitz]

that's a bloody good point mate (by selling it as just a frame) no sueing...no mess

[yamaha_freak]

yeah smart man your dad is

[shirefmx]

hmm wooden ramps are ok if you make em right but it's hard to get them as strong as metal and the screws vibrate loose over time and the wood rots as well ... metal is much better

[kyle]

Shire fmx is right i have a few ramps and the cheapest you can go for a full size ramp is about $800 minium, freeride technologys in America sells full size comp ramps for $2500 US, thats a shit load of money, that $3500-$4000 australian.

[shirefmx]

all the american companys charge that much at least for their ramps. australian ramps are cheaper but still expensive (at $2500 at least for a trevor brooks or ARD ramp)

[fmx to the max]

hey shire looking good about buying a ramp but im still discussing with dad trying to get him to say yes he will soonr or l8r lol can't wait if he says yes cuase i know certain people who r friends wit other people in magazines and stuff yeh and i got a sweet as tabletop now but all i gotta do is remove all the rocks lol yeh but im still talking with my dad soonr or l8r hill say yes hopefully

[kyle]

Hay dude your right it costin you that muchh and dont get me wrong your right in each instance, but when i get my steel i get whole sale price same as the expanded metal and plywood, thats why my ramps are cheaper

[M.r Mulisha]

y doesnt the crustys jump 3to4 meter ramps and bigger downies that would be sick and stronger suspension

[I_Bleed_blue]

mate, this thread is a year and a half old