Loading Ramps

Need a loading ramp? You're not alone! Generally speaking, shed building doesn't require a lot of fine finish carpentry. But that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of details. And when it comes to overlooked details, loading ramps top the chart. How many times has that backyard builder finished building their pride and joy, only to realize that the floor is nearly a foot off the ground. You'll have no problem getting the light stuff through the doorway. But it's not like the lawn tractor, tiller, and chipper can climb that cliff. That's where a solid loading ramp comes into play.

Loading ramps come in all shapes and sizes. You can buy a ready-built loading ramp ... just plunk down your cash and you're done ... or you can build a basic loading ramp from scratch.

Scratch-built loading ramps are most commonly made from either wood or masonry materials.

Wood ramps are generally fastest and economical to build. Case in point: I've been using a remarkably simple wood loading ramp with my shed since day one. It's a piece of leftover T-111 plywood siding, cut to fit the width of the doorway. It's not reinforced or finished in any way, shape, or form. Crude, but effective.

Truth be told, I've always meant to build a stone ramp along with a bit of landscaping. Alas, that fancy loading ramp has always been pretty far down the wish list of things to do here at ranchero indebto.

If you buy a finished storage shed off a lot or from a big box store, the salesperson may pressure you to buy a loading ramp to go along with it. Consider the purchase carefully. A finished loading ramp might tack a couple of hundred bucks to the price.