How to Build a Heavy Duty Wooden Ramp

Skateboarding ramps and obstacles have their roots in the beginnings of the sport and include: launch ramps, banks, fun boxes, quarterpipes, halfpipes and pool ramps. They make skateboarding possible in rural environments and add excitement and depth to the sport. One of the most durable and least expensive ramps to build is a bank ramp. Building a bank ramp can be a daunting task, especially for someone with no carpentry or construction experience. With the right tools and materials, the endeavor of building a bank ramp will pale in comparison to the fun, exercise and memories you can have on the finished ramp.

Things You'll Need

  • 15 2"x4"s, 8 feet long
  • 4'x8' sheet of 3/4-inch plywood
  • 2 4'x8' sheets of 3/8-inch plywood
  • 4'x8' sheet of Masonite or Skatelite (optional)
  • 7 to 10 lbs. of 2-1/2-inch wood screws
  • Radial saw
  • Power drill with screwdriver bit
  • Pencil or chalk
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the sides on the thicker sheet of plywood, the 3/4-inch sheet, using pencil or chalk. One of the 4-foot sides of the sheet will be the back of the side of the ramp. Make a line from the bottom front corner to a spot 6 inches from the top back and cut the side with your radial saw. Repeat this step for the other side.

    • 2

      Use two wood screws per side to attach the 2"x4"s to the plywood sides as joists--horizontal supporting members that run from side to side, placing them every 8 inches on center up the front of the ramp. Attach a joist at the top of the bank ramp and another at the rear, bottom corner. The joist at the front of the bank ramp should be flush with the ground.

    • 3

      Surface the ramp by attaching the thinner sheet of plywood, the 3/8-inch sheet, to the 2"x4" skeletal structure with wood screws. Screw the sheet down from the top, placing the screws about a foot apart. Add a second layer of plywood for strength, making sure the grain of the wood runs opposite of the first layer. If desired, add a finish layer of Masonite or Skatelite to smooth out the ramp.