Hi,
Barbara learned the hard way that ramps are not "driver friendly". The exercise involved a Ford Mk.3. Zephyr.
Over the years I have pondered, as you do .....
1. Ramps are too steep (I'm guessing 1:2? !:3?)
2. If you are lifting the non-driven wheels, there should be some way of imposing the weight of the driven wheel onto the ramp. I visualise a 100" strip, at ground level, behind the ramp, for the rear wheels. OK, not viable!.
3. It should be nigh impossible for the elevated wheels to roll over the "stop" at the blunt end of the ramp. But just as importantly, there should be something to deter the wheels from rolling backward down the slopes.
about the nearest I've got to any of the above, was to place 9" x2" planks between the ramps and the garage wall, tp preventing either or both ramps "cherry-pipping" away from the wheels trying to climb them.
From the 602 History Book ... RAF Sharjah (think Dubai) had a ramp for heavy trucks, built out of girders. One day an AEC Matador was unable to get a grip on the steel slopes, so the driver backed off, and took a run at it. Success! As soon as all four wheels were on the elevated level, he slammed on the brakes. The 3ft high structure gently folded underneath him. Ooops!
Luckily, we also had a big brick-built ramp, filled with concrete, but I never saw either of our Coles crane lorries, nor the Leyland Hippo 3000 gallon aircraft refueling bowser, use this ramp.
Which reminds me (OT) ... an Avro Anson, piloted by an Air Vice Marshall (probably visiting for a Sunday morning G&T, while keeping his "flying hours" up to date), departed, but returned 20 minutes later, to collect the petrol filler cap, which was still lying where it had fallen. I'm guessing a poor "erk" then had a couple of miserable weeks. (Surely it is the pilot's responsibility to do the pre-flight walk-around? Eg. Count the engines and kick the tyres)
602