Portable Shed Ramp

This simple, sturdy ramp makes moving heavy equipment a breeze

- BY SAMUEL ROSENMAYER

A 4-in. rise from my shed to the ground may not seem significant, but it made maneuvering my lawn mower and snowblower in and out a serious hassle. So I decided to build a portable ramp that tucks away neatly when it's not in use. Your shed and ramp may have different dimensions than mine, but the basic process will be the same.

1 MEASURE AND PLAN

Start by measuring the rise— the vertical distance from the ground to the shed floor. This determines your ramp’s height and helps you calculate its length.

To find the length, multiply the rise (in inches) by your chosen slope. For slip-resistant ramps, OSHA recommends a maximum slope of 1:3 (1 in. of rise per every 3 in. of run), but a gentler 1:8 or 1:12 slope is often more practical. Using a 1:12 slope, my length calculation looked like this: 4 x 12 = 48 in.

Finally, measure the width of your shed door (mine is 32 in.), and you'll be ready to build.

2 CUT THE 2x4 COMPONENTS