Steel questions about ramps for mill.

[Daburner87]

Hi everyone.  I need ramps for my mill(Woodland Mills HM130 Max), but Woodland mills are too expensive.  $499 with $200 shipping.  I can't afford $700 on the kit right now, but I always thought I could achieve the same goal for less money.


These ramps are what I want, check 3 minutes into the video.

Modified Harbor Freight Saw Mill - YouTube


My question is what size steel should I be looking at?  And what do you think it will cost?  I have some pretty big logs 20-30" in diameter.   I also don't want to get ripped off by local shops, I know one decent shop I used to go to when I was a landscaper, but they are a bit of a drive, and I can't bring the mill as it's not plated/registered/insured etc.. yet.  

I'm guessing these ramps are about 6-7 ft long?  Any build advice that I should mention to the shop?

[Hilltop366]

Just a guess, they look like 2" square tubing with a notch cut out to hook on the angle iron and a angle cut on the end. Maybe a foot on the ground end?

I had made some brackets to hold wooden ramps that were spruce 5" square, they seem to hold everything I put on them but your logs are bigger than anything I was cutting so perhaps a hardwood would be in order for extra strength if going that route.

[welderskelter]

You wouldnt need such long ramps if you cut the posts off and set that mill down where mine is. Actually you could pull the axle set it down farther. Not to criticize but if any thing breaks it will happen with the biggest log. And one 30 inches in diameter would kill someone quickly. Mine is only about 20 inches to the top of the bunks  and my neighbor is always saying I should raise the logs I use for a skidway.

[Daburner87]

Yea that mill sits a bit high.  What length do you think would work for me? I believe my mill is about 30" when set properly on jack stands.  I finally got the mill started for the first time today, so now I'm hoping to have ramps Wednesday, and wood soon after!