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Working Safe
Just finished building front ramps and painted all, Just put coach up on ramps and chalked tires so it will stay up there for a while to change brake relays andair dryer, Much better rear ramps 7 inches high and front ramps 7.25 high, I rolled around under coach and amazing what a difference raising coach 7 inches makes, and I know it won’t squish me, I always use jacks when I’m under but this should be much better.
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11 Replies
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I have a pit under my bus, which is the equivalent of tall ramps. But………I will never ever go in the pit without supporting the bus under the chassis support points, unless the coach has been lowered all the way down.
Whether it is a pit or ramps you are in danger unless the coach is fully supported or lowered all the way down. Anyone that does work on these coaches needs to understand that if the coach has the potential to drop, if you are in a space whose clearance will be reduced to the point where you can become injured or killed you are at risk.
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Art: Please share dimensions. What material did you use? What is length of the steps? Thanks!!
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Dick
I believe made from 2 x 8’s as note held together with threaded rods. Tommy’s buddy made them as quite heavy hence the wheels and handles for ease of handling and storage when not used. Use mainly for oil changes and suspension service…
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Nice. Really nice.
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Brady, how can you do suspension service on ramps? ANYTIME the suspension is worked on in particular the coach chassis must be supported.
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Jon
I stand corrected and use these for access under the coach for oil changes, grease jobs and checking for minor issues. Without the necessary skills, most of my suspension related work is saved for those professionals better equipped than I…
Several years ago I had the chance to buy a set of hydraulic lifts like Prevost and most truck repair shops use. I realized then, I had no business trying to lift a coach and left that to someone that knows a lot more than I do. You have to know your limitations and it has taken me years to realize this fact as confirmed by how complex these coaches are.
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Even with ramps, if you are going under the coach for any reason you have to either support the chassis, lower the chassis all the way down, or be 100% sure that if the bus is not supported, or all the way down that if it drops you will not be pinched or crushed.
The worst risk takers are professionals and I am in awe of how they tend to think nothing of getting beneath a coach when it is not safely supported.
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I have the coach up on ramps and with 20 ton jacks! Rear ramps are made with 1/18 plywood rear 9 feet long at bottom and 6 layers total 7 inches high and 6 inch steps top is 6/12 long so it catches tag also and they are 1 foot wide so 4×8 plywood rips 4 pices out. Front 5 ft long at bottom and they did not have 1/18 so I used 3/4 thick 10 layers 3 inch steps, then I primed and painted to protect. John has a pit I would love to have a pit. Ramps are kind of heavy so I keep them on roll carts roll them over to coach slide them off.
I can tell Brad is a lot better craftsmen then me his look awesome.
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If the jacks are extended at all to support the chassis there remains some risk, but admittedly significantly less than an unsupported coach.
I also use air over hydraulic 20 ton jacks to support the coach, but I lower the jack completely and use the center screw post to reach up to the chassis support.
It may appear I am overly concerned and I am. We had a fellow bus owner killed because he got under the bus to do a simple repair or adjustment. The chassis support stands which would have saved his life were in the bay of the bus.
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Nice ramps like that will make it easier to get you jacks/stands under the bus… especially in the front.
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