Home overpass for a car. Assembling a mini-overpass with your own hands: wooden and metal. Full-size car repair overpass

Design features many cars and their specifications involve regular preventive inspection and repair of various components and systems. What can you do, it's just a machine and like any equipment, it requires care and attention. However, if in some cases it is possible to carry out repair work from above by lifting the hood, then any inspection of the suspension and chassis becomes a real pain if there is no inspection hole or overpass. It’s quite expensive to constantly take your four-wheeled friend to a car service center, and it’s not necessary, because many of the jobs can be done with your own hands. Therefore, installing an overpass for cars is a top priority for any car owner who cares about uninterrupted operation your car.

Requirements for the overpass

In order to ensure safety and ease of operation, it is better to make the overpass taking into account the following requirements:

  • The height of the overpass for car repairs must be at least 1 meter. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for you to get under it, there will not be enough light to inspect the chassis, and there will be no free space for manipulating parts and keys.
  • The width depends on the type of vehicle (truck, passenger car), but should not be minimal, centimeter per centimeter. It is necessary to make allowances in the calculations so that the car can drive onto such a platform without problems.
  • For greater reliability, it is necessary to provide a safety margin when constructing an overpass. This will help not only to avoid deformation of the structure, but also, if necessary, to roll heavier vehicles onto it.

Types of inspection platforms for cars

In principle, there are only two options for arranging an overpass on your site. Each of them has its own pros and cons and manufacturing features.

Mini overpass, is a portable design for partial collision. Consists of two separate parts that are not welded together. The car can drive onto such a platform with its front or rear wheels, allowing the owner to carry out repair work.

Plus - this overpass can be used even in conditions of severe shortages free space and after repairs, put it aside. Minus - to drive onto the structure, jeweler's precision is required and the elements need to be installed only in places where they will not move apart different sides from the push of the wheels.

Full size overpass much more convenient and reliable, but its construction will require free space. But it will last for decades, saving its owner a lot of money, because many repairs can be done at home. The advantage of this design is reliability, strength and durability. The downside is the need to allocate free space and slightly higher costs for materials.

DIY mini overpass for a car

In order to make a mini overpass with your own hands you will need:

  1. Steel corner with a thickness of at least 10 mm;
  2. Metal rod;
  3. Electrodes for welding;
  4. Welding machine;
  5. Finished protection paint metal structure from corrosion.

The load-bearing elements, the “heels” on which the access ladder will be attached, should have a width of about 40-45 cm. The supports are welded in the form of a trapezoid, where the bottom, the base, is 10-15 cm wider than the top. This is necessary to give stability to the structure. The access ladder is made of two pieces of angle with a transversely welded rod, which allows the wheels not to slip when climbing onto the structure.

To fix the car in the desired position, it is necessary to make special gaskets, which are used to prevent the car from spontaneously sliding off the overpass. After completion of the work, the entire structure is painted.

Full-size car repair overpass

Even at the stage of choosing a site for construction, it is necessary to determine the size of the overpass for passenger cars. Since the width of the car and the required length of the platform are not constant values, there is not and cannot be a single size. Today you may have a small subcompact car, tomorrow a huge jeep or a small truck. Therefore, the overpass must be made with a good margin of safety and allowances.


At the first stage of construction, the overpass is dug in steel pipes(6 pieces) with a diameter of at least 80-100 mm to a depth below soil freezing. If you go deeper, there is too great a risk that the structure will move to the side during the first spring thaw. The hole under the post is not filled with soil, but filled with cement.

The inclined part (drive) is made from metal corner with transverse welding of steel rod. The distance between the rods is about 10 cm.

The horizontal plane is performed in the same way, only at the end of the overpass it is necessary to make a limiter that will protect the car from uncontrolled sliding forward.

As a rule, the length of the inclined part is up to 4 meters, and the horizontal plane is up to 3 meters. This is quite enough to repair a passenger car of any make and design.

As you can see, the question of how to make an overpass for a car with your own hands is solved quite simply.

To do this, you need basic skills in working with a welding machine and some free time. But the result will surpass all expectations and you can not only repair your car to your heart’s content, but also wash it from all sides.

Every car owner knows that the main “sores” of a car are hidden in two places: in the engine compartment and under the bottom. You can get to the engine by opening the hood. But you won’t be able to fix the suspension or remove the transmission without getting under the body.

To perform work under the bottom of the car, you can use a pit, a lift or an overpass. The pit can only be installed in dry soil, so it is not available in all garages.

A lift is an expensive pleasure that a repair shop can afford. As a result, for the average car enthusiast there remains homemade overpass for a machine that does not require large costs and time for assembly.

In this article we will look at the most popular and affordable structures, and also describe step by step the process of their design and installation.

Main types of road overpasses

Depending on the budget and complexity of the repair, there are two types of overpass structures:

  • Allows you to raise only one axle of the car (front or rear).
  • Full-size (designed to accommodate the entire car).

The first option is economical and convenient. The mini-overpass for partial entry has small dimensions and weight. It is easily installed on a level surface and removed after the repair is completed. The main disadvantage is that it is not as convenient to use as a full-size design, since the lift of the car here does not exceed 50-60 centimeters.

The full-format option is more expensive and more difficult to implement, but gives the car owner simultaneous access to all body components. Let us note in passing that, regardless of the type of overpass, for its high quality workmanship you need to make a drawing, and when assembling it, you need to accurately maintain the dimensions of the structure.

Three groups of sizes are especially important:

  • height and width of the supporting pedestals of the “chairs”;
  • length of the ladder (entrance and horizontal);
  • ladder width.

In addition, attention should be paid to the junction points of the ladders with the pedestals. They must support the weight of the car without deformation.

Popular options for overpasses for car repairs

The simplest type of mini-overpass is two pairs of scraps knocked together wooden beam with a cross-section of 20x20 cm. By cutting the edge of such an improvised support at an oblique angle, we will get a solid platform onto which you can drive the front end or back the car (photo No. 1).

The disadvantages of such a support are obvious: there are no sides on the beam to protect against lateral sliding of the wheels, which requires the driver to be extremely careful when entering. There is also no rear bumper to prevent an accidental slide. The height of the stand is not sufficient for easy access to the bottom.

There is a more advanced version of the wooden support for performing simple repair work. Such a flyover at the dacha is made from scraps of boards, sequentially knocked down into a wide board. One side of it forms a stepped slope for entry (photo No. 2).

This design has a bumper bar and two carrying straps. Its width can be chosen so that you can drive in to inspect the car without the risk of the wheels falling off. The cost and complexity of manufacturing such a stand are minimal.

Most often, mini-overpasses are made from profile metal(pipes, angles and fittings). They are more durable and stronger than wood. You can see an example of such a design in photo No. 3.

Instead of a corner for the supporting part of the ladder, you can use fittings or a pipe. By extending the horizontal ladder by 1 meter, we will get a mini-overpass that is more convenient for work. Using it, you can get to most of the units located under the bottom of the body (photo No. 4).

Photo No. 4 Extended version of the overpass-stand

The review of compact designs is completed by a mini-overpass for a collapsible car. It occupies an intermediate position between figurative and stationary options(photo No. 5, 6, 7).

Photo No. 5 Portable overpass assembled

An important feature of this design is the ability to dismantle the horizontal ramps after the vehicle enters for convenient access to the wheel arches and sills.

It is possible to work while lying or sitting under a car, but it is not very convenient. Therefore, for regular repairs, you need a stationary high overpass, assembled at columnar foundation(photo No. 8).

This design, if necessary, will accept not only a passenger car, but also a small truck or bus.

How to make a collapsible car overpass yourself?

The manufacturing of the structure begins with the preparation of a detailed drawing. When doing it, you will be able to take into account and think through all the stages of assembly, avoiding the mistakes inherent in hastily completed work.

The collapsible overpass must have the following dimensions:

  • The length of the entrance and horizontal ramp is equal to the length of the car + 1 meter.
  • The width of the ladder is at least 40 cm.
  • The height of the supporting pedestals is 70-80 cm.
  • The width of the upper part of the support pedestals is equal to the width of the ladders.

In order to make the overpass durable, you should not skimp on metal. For drains you need to buy a 63 mm equal angle angle. Supporting pedestals “chairs” can be welded from a corner with a shelf width of 50 mm. The filling of the drains is done with corrugated reinforcement with a cross-section of at least 14 mm.

Without welding machine, grinders and drills, it’s better not to start working. In addition to the assembly tool, you need to prepare 12 pairs of bolts and nuts for attaching the ladders to the “chairs”.

Stages of work

The first step is making the support pedestals. They need to be given a trapezoidal shape to increase stability. For accurate assembly of the base and upper part of the “chair”, the corners cut to size need to be laid out on OSB board, fixing them together using clamps or welder magnets.

First, the lower bases of all four supports are welded. Then the frames of the upper platforms are assembled and the legs from the corner are attached to them. The final stage– installation of the upper frames with legs into the lower supports and fixing them by welding.

Please note that in the assembly diagram one of the corners of the upper frame is turned upside down and forms a bumper to protect the wheels from falling off the overpass. One more fender corner needs to be welded on the end supports. They will not allow the car to move off the ramp.

In order to make the overpass with your own hands as stable as possible, you can install transverse links on it from steel profile. It is bolted to the pedestals. This measure will not be superfluous, since it will increase the rigidity of the entire structure.

The horizontal and entrance ramps are made from a 63 mm angle and reinforcing bars that act as a “ladder”. Length of inclined ladder for passenger car must be at least 3 meters. The size of the horizontal section is selected by adding 1 meter to the length of the car. The width of the ladders is at least 40 cm.

Before installing the reinforcing bars, the corners are turned over so that their flanges face up and serve as outer side edges. The “ladder” will be level if the profile is laid on a solid horizontal platform. It is difficult to attach it to concrete or asphalt. Therefore, you can use two transverse angles as a mounting base. The guide “ladders” are attached to them with clamps. Having completed this operation, you can begin the welding process. It will be more convenient to align sections of profiled reinforcement using a 63 mm corner piece as a template.

Making an inclined ramp for an overpass for car repairs is slightly different from assembling a horizontal one. You need to leave a free end 10 cm long on it (without reinforcing bars), which will serve as a connecting point. The vertical edge of the profile is cut with a grinder to the horizontal shelf. After this, it is necessary to bend the connecting ends.

If you don’t have a bending machine, but have a couple of friends of considerable weight, then ask them to climb onto the pedestal to counterbalance the bending force. Before this operation, you need to lay the entrance ramp horizontally, supporting its free end. Two holes are drilled locally in the supporting part of the profile and the corner of the “chair”. Fixing the ends of the “ladder” bolted connections, it is forcefully tilted down to the ground. In the place where the profile was cut, you need to weld a piece of steel plate to strengthen the support unit.

The horizontal ladder is mounted by laying it on pedestals. After this, holes are drilled for the bolts in the supporting corners and the upper support profile of the cabinet. To more securely attach the overpass to the site, eyes can be welded to the “chairs”. By fixing them with dowels to the concrete or steel pins to the ground, you will protect yourself from the displacement of parts of the overpass when a car enters it.

When making a test drive, pay attention to the behavior of the inclined “ladder”. If it bends, you will have to make two intermediate support frames and bolt them to the corners.

If you own your own car and garage, but prefer to at least occasionally look under your car yourself, then the following is for you. Typically, inexperienced drivers prefer to carry out inspections only at a service station and give their hard-earned money to “specialists”, but even carrying out minor work on changing oil, consumables, monitoring the condition of the units and mechanisms of your car can save your budget. A do-it-yourself overpass made in a garage is the best way out of this situation.

Let's look at the statistics of the survey on the topic, is it difficult? 66% of respondents answered that it is quite simple; 14% believe that it is simple, but with minor problems; 16% said it is not easy and will require skills in this area; for 4% this is a very difficult task.

Depending on the size of the garage and the model of the car, you can choose an overpass option that will meet your needs.

Overpasses can be divided into 2 types:

  • for full vehicle entry;
  • for partial lifting of the vehicle.

The first type will provide more comfortable working conditions for car maintenance than the second.

Overpass options for full vehicle entry

Such a statement will be correct from the point of view of the meaning of this word. But the function of the pit is the same as that of the overpass - to provide access to the bottom of the car.

The advantage of the pit is that it will not take up useful space in the garage.

If the groundwater level in the area where your garage is located is high, then it is not advisable to consider the issue of an inspection hole.

Otherwise you will have to do extra drainage system(which is very troublesome and expensive), and the bottom of your car will be subject to constant corrosion due to moisture that will collect in the hole.

As a result, you will have to fill it up and consider other options.

Brick overpass

This option is suitable for those who have a garage located in rural areas or at the dacha. This design is made by conventional brick laying on cement mortar– along the width of the distance between the wheels of the car in the form of a trapezoid.

The disadvantages of this type of overpass are obvious: a site is required for its construction; brick may deteriorate over time; If you need to vacate the site, dismantling the structure will require significant effort and time from you.

Overpass made of railway sleepers

This overpass is assembled from several railway sleepers, like a children's construction set.

You can lay out 2 bases by stacking sleepers one on top of the other in the form of a slide. Lay tracks across for driving.

To prevent the structure from moving apart during the repair of your car, it must be secured with staples. The disadvantages of this overpass are obvious.

Firstly, not everyone has sleepers in stock. Secondly, sleepers are very heavy; one person will not be able to assemble and disassemble such a structure. Thirdly, after completing automotive repair work, you need a lot of space to store sleepers.

Of course, if you are building this design on garden plot, you can leave them under open air. Sleepers are usually impregnated with creosote, which protects the wood from rotting.

Metal version

If the previous options are possible subject to availability land plot, then the metal overpass can be considered as universal - it can also be used in urban environments.

To make it you will need the following tools and materials:

  • rolled metal;
  • welding machine;
  • fittings;
  • grinder with cutting wheels;
  • bolts with nuts;
  • metal paint.

If desired, you can make the overpass collapsible. This will save space by quickly assembling it when necessary.

Its design is quite simple. It is necessary to assemble 4 base posts with a height of approximately 50 cm. To ensure stability, it is better to assemble the sides in the shape of a trapezoid and connect them with crossbars of the same length.

A 63 corner (5 mm thick) is suitable for this. To make bridges, you can use 40 angles (4 mm thick) and reinforcement (12 mm is suitable).

The bridges are a metal ladder. It will be necessary to make 2 bridges for driving in and 2 bridges on which the car will stand during repairs. You can calculate the minimum length of the latter yourself by measuring the distance between the centers of the wheels of your car and adding a small allowance.

After individual elements When ready, you need to bolt them together. In order to provide additional rigidity to the entire structure, you can combine the racks with each other. The bolted connection will allow short time assemble or disassemble the entire structure.

Construction of an overpass for a garage

If there is a complete shortage of space, a way out of the situation can be found in the manufacture of mini-overpasses. They refer to overpasses for partial lifting of a car. Of course, working in this case will be less comfortable than with the options discussed above, but much more convenient than under a jacked-up car.

Several options for mini-overpasses

The most basic version of a mini-overpass can be made of wood.

To do this, you will need a board (you can take 50 mm thick), which is wider than the wheels, and wooden slats square section(for example, 100x100 mm). From height cross section will depend on how high the car can rise. With the parameters recommended above wooden products the lifting height will be 150 mm.

The structure is assembled as follows.

  1. A block is attached to the top of the back of the board, which will serve as a limiting wheel travel. 2 square-section slats are attached to the bottom: one is slightly further from the middle, the second is on the edge of the board. The structure is ready.
  2. You need at least 2 such devices (or 4 if you need to lift the entire car off the ground). This mini-overpass works very simply. When you place the structure under the wheel of your car, it rests on the ground at 2 points: the front edge of the board and a block that is secured near the middle.
  3. Once the car's wheels hit the board and the center of gravity moves closer to the rear edge of the board, the front edge will rise and the rear will lower. Since the supports were made of a block with the same cross-section, the board will take a horizontal position.
  4. In this case, the length of the board should be such as to prevent it from hitting the bottom of your car. All that remains is to secure the wheels that remain on the ground with stops and blocks. As you can see, such a flyover is very easy to make with your own hands. You can make a mini-overpass from metal. Its design will resemble the metal overpass discussed above, only in a smaller version. It also consists of supports on which bridges are attached.
  5. It is advisable to weld limiters along the edges of the bridges. This will protect your car from slipping.
  6. One bridge is located at an angle from the ground for entry, the other is horizontal (if you look at the structure from the side, the outline will be a trapezoid). You can focus on the following dimensions: base length – 80 cm; the length for the drive is approximately 45 cm, the width of the bridges is about 40 cm. The entire structure can be assembled from a 25 mm corner (less than that is not recommended). The approximate weight of the structure will be 20-30 kg. A travel limiter for the wheel must be welded at the rear.

More complex, but effective option mini-overpasses can be made according to the swing-rocking principle. To assemble it you will need welding work. It will be necessary to make 2 frames in the shape of an isosceles triangle. The width of the frames is selected depending on the width of the wheels of your car, and the length of the bridge is selected depending on the length of the car.

To ensure structural rigidity, the frames must be fastened together. To ensure stability of the structure, it is necessary to use spacer stands under the side that will be above the ground. It should be taken into account that for greater stability the center of gravity of the car should be closer to the apex of the isosceles triangle.

When working on overpasses, you should always remember to follow safety measures. The car must be put on the hand brake and the wheels must be secured with chocks.

Let's summarize. Have you considered various options and approaches to how you can make an overpass with your own hands. Depending on the available space, materials, finances and desires, you can choose any option for your garage.

This can be either a solid structure or a collapsible version of a metal overpass. Perhaps it will be enough for you to make a wooden mini-overpass. In any case, the choice will be yours.

The landscaping of a personal plot can be considered complete if, for the “full set”, an overpass for car repairs is independently constructed. The dizzying designs of overpasses amaze with their brevity and the ability to use the simplest metal products. Do you dream of making a flyover with your own hands? What could be more exciting!

“Personal car service” services

Almost every homeowner dreams of having their own personal plot attractive, practical and functional. And if the homeowner is also a passionate car enthusiast, then you simply cannot do without an overpass designed for on-site car repairs.

Even if you do not plan to service the car yourself, periodic inspection will help you identify problems in a timely manner and contact a professional workshop. To access the car, use special lifts, an inspection pit and an overpass. However, expensive special equipment and equipped according to all the rules inspection hole this is purely a prerogative service centers, which requires significant material costs.

An overpass for a car, on the contrary, can be installed anywhere on the site, almost next to the potato beds, and mind you, with your own hands. You can make a car overpass for cars and trucks. The scope of use and application of such an overpass can be expanded and it will be possible to use the services of a “personal car service” at any time of the day or year.

Overpass structures

Structurally, the following types of overpasses are distinguished:
for partial car check-in
full-size overpass.

Naturally, depending on the size of the overpass structure and bearing capacity to withstand the load, these types of overpasses are used for a certain weight of cars. The only condition will be to limit the size of the overpass for your existing passenger car or two.
The classic design of an overpass (practically from the words of a driving instructor) has a certain height, width and length of the working part, limited by a bevel, as well as on the sides of the walkway.

overpass designed for partial entry of cars

The overpass for partial entry of cars (portable and mini) is a lightweight portable structure consisting of separate parts that are not welded together. Portable and mini overpasses are installed without a foundation. Access to this overpass for subsequent vehicle inspection is possible with front or rear wheels.

This type of overpass for cars is easy to install and also easy to remove, allowing you to save space on the site. However, for a successful ride on the structure, the driver’s dexterity and dexterity will be required.
Main parameters of the overpass:
height – at least 1 m.
width – 2.5 m.
bevel length – 4.2 m.
Structurally, a portable or mini overpass consists of four parts.

The overpass is easily assembled and disassembled, and also transported to the required place, so for the sudden diagnosis of a capricious car, such a overpass is indispensable, especially in “ field conditions" In practice, sometimes it is necessary to make two overpasses in order to raise the front or rear of the car to the required height (clearance plus the height of the overpass).

This is what a self-made overpass used for a partial drive looks like.

full-size overpass

Of course, a full-size overpass is more convenient and reliable construction, for the construction of which it is necessary working space. But a full-size overpass will more than recoup the costs of its construction in the future.

The main parameters of a full-size overpass are similar to the parameters of portable and mini overpasses:
height – 1 m or more
width up to 2.5 m.
length of the working part – 4-6 m.
the length of the bevels on both sides is 4.2 m.
Let us make a reservation right away that the dimensions of a full-size overpass for passenger cars are not a constant value.

Therefore, a full-size overpass is made taking into account the safety margin and additional allowances, which will serve well in the future. In addition, a full-size overpass can be successfully used as an inspection overpass for a car by equipping an inspection hole.

How to make a car overpass with your own hands

Theoretically, you can make an overpass for a car from any available material. The materials used are boards, bricks and used tires. But such temporary measures can only be justified in extreme cases.

Therefore, for the main load-bearing elements and tracks of overpasses, rolled metal is used that can withstand significant daily loads. This is a metal channel, corners and a profile pipe. These types of rolled metal can withstand significant bending loads.

how to make a mini overpass

To make a mini overpass you will need following materials:
steel corner, thickness not less than 10 mm
metal rod.
as well as electrodes for welding and a welding machine. We choose the shape of the mini overpass supports as a “trapezoid”, with the base 15-20 cm larger than the top. The access ladder is made of steel corners, onto which pieces of rod are evenly welded on both sides.

It is preferable to choose a corrugated surface of the rod so that the car wheels do not slip when going up and down the overpass.

The load-bearing elements of the overpass on which the ladder is attached must have a width of 45-50 cm. The car is secured with special gaskets that prevent the car from unintentionally moving out. After welding, the overpass structure is painted with anti-corrosion paint.

A mini overpass for car repairs is presented in this video.

how to make a full-size overpass

Initially, a site is selected on the site where there is no swelling of the soil, groundwater and the soils do not have a water-saturated layer. Prepare holes for the base of the overpass - pillars or steel pipes with a diameter of up to 10 cm.

The number of pipes for the base of a full-size overpass is calculated based on a preliminary working sketch. Pits with installed pipes are cemented. TO installed pipes or a channel is welded to the pillars to enhance the load-bearing capacity.
It is also recommended to use rolled metal (channels, angles and profile pipe). Then the rolling plane is made: reinforcement and cut rods are welded across the load-bearing elements on both sides.

The width of the rolling plane path must be at least 0.5 m. The resulting welded structure is placed on special supports of the required height (1 meter). To make the drive-in platform and stairs, use an L 50 corner welded with reinforcement. It is preferable to protect the edges of the paths with a corner, preventing the car from slipping.

Every car owner knows that the main “sores” of a car are hidden in two places: in the engine compartment and under the bottom. You can get to the engine by opening the hood. But you won’t be able to fix the suspension or remove the transmission without getting under the body.

To perform work under the bottom of the car, you can use a pit, a lift or an overpass. The pit can only be installed in dry soil, so it is not available in all garages.

A lift is an expensive pleasure that a repair shop can afford. As a result, the average car enthusiast is left with a homemade overpass for the car, which does not require large costs and time to assemble.

In this article we will look at the most popular and affordable structures, and also describe step by step the process of their design and installation.

Main types of road overpasses

Depending on the budget and complexity of the repair, there are two types of overpass structures:

  • Allows you to raise only one axle of the car (front or rear).
  • Full-size (designed to accommodate the entire car).

The first option is economical and convenient. The mini-overpass for partial entry has small dimensions and weight. It is easily installed on a level surface and removed after the repair is completed. The main disadvantage is that it is not as convenient to use as a full-size design, since the lift of the car here does not exceed 50-60 centimeters.

The full-format option is more expensive and more difficult to implement, but gives the car owner simultaneous access to all body components. Let us note in passing that, regardless of the type of overpass, for its high-quality production you need to make a drawing, and during assembly, accurately maintain the dimensions of the structure.

Three groups of sizes are especially important:

  • height and width of the supporting pedestals of the “chairs”;
  • length of the ladder (entrance and horizontal);
  • ladder width.

In addition, attention should be paid to the junction points of the ladders with the pedestals. They must support the weight of the car without deformation.

Popular options for overpasses for car repairs

The simplest type of mini-overpass is two pairs of scraps of wooden beams with a cross-section of 20x20 cm knocked together. By cutting the edge of such an impromptu support at an oblique angle, we get a strong platform onto which you can drive the front end or back the car (photo No. 1).

Photo 1. Two pieces of timber - the simplest lifting device for repairs

The disadvantages of such a support are obvious: there are no sides on the beam to protect against lateral sliding of the wheels, which requires the driver to be extremely careful when entering. There is also no rear bumper to prevent an accidental slide. The height of the stand is not sufficient for easy access to the bottom.

There is a more advanced version of a wooden support for simple repair work. Such a flyover at the dacha is made from scraps of boards, sequentially knocked down into a wide board. One side of it forms a stepped slope for entry (photo No. 2).

Photo No. 2 Mini-overpass made from scrap boards

This design has a bumper bar and two carrying straps. Its width can be chosen so that you can drive in to inspect the car without the risk of the wheels falling off. The cost and complexity of manufacturing such a stand are minimal.

Most often, mini-overpasses are made of profile metal (pipes, angles and fittings). They are more durable and stronger than wood. You can see an example of such a design in photo No. 3.

Photo No. 3 Stand-overpass from a corner

Instead of a corner for the supporting part of the ladder, you can use fittings or a pipe. By extending the horizontal ladder by 1 meter, we will get a mini-overpass that is more convenient for work. Using it, you can get to most of the units located under the bottom of the body (photo No. 4).

Photo No. 4 Extended version of the overpass-stand

The review of compact designs is completed by a mini-overpass for a collapsible car. It occupies an intermediate position between portable and stationary options (photo No. 5, 6, 7).

Photo No. 5 Portable overpass assembled

An important feature of this design is the ability to dismantle the horizontal ramps after the vehicle enters for convenient access to the wheel arches and sills.

Photo No. 6 Option for partial assembly of an overpass for lifting one part of the body

Photo No. 7 When disassembled, the universal overpass fits completely into the garage

It is possible to work while lying or sitting under a car, but it is not very convenient. Therefore, for regular repairs, you need a stationary high overpass assembled on a columnar foundation (photo No. 8).

Photo No. 8 Stationary metal overpass on a concrete base

This design, if necessary, will accept not only a passenger car, but also a small truck or bus.

How to make a collapsible car overpass yourself?

The manufacturing of the structure begins with the preparation of a detailed drawing. When doing it, you will be able to take into account and think through all the stages of assembly, avoiding the mistakes inherent in hastily completed work.

The collapsible overpass must have the following dimensions:

  • The length of the entrance and horizontal ramp is equal to the length of the car + 1 meter.
  • The width of the ladder is at least 40 cm.
  • The height of the supporting pedestals is 70-80 cm.
  • The width of the upper part of the support pedestals is equal to the width of the ladders.

In order to make the overpass durable, you should not skimp on metal. For drains you need to buy a 63 mm equal angle angle. Supporting pedestals “chairs” can be welded from a corner with a shelf width of 50 mm. The filling of the drains is done with corrugated reinforcement with a cross-section of at least 14 mm.

It is better not to start work without a welding machine, grinder and drill. In addition to the assembly tool, you need to prepare 12 pairs of bolts and nuts for attaching the ladders to the “chairs”.

Stages of work

The first step is making the support pedestals. They need to be given a trapezoidal shape to increase stability. To accurately assemble the base and upper part of the “chair,” the corners cut to size must be laid out on an OSB board, secured together using clamps or welder magnets.

First, the lower bases of all four supports are welded. Then the frames of the upper platforms are assembled and the legs from the corner are attached to them. The final stage is the installation of the upper frames with legs into the lower supports and fixing them by welding.

Please note that in the assembly diagram one of the corners of the upper frame is turned upside down and forms a bumper to protect the wheels from falling off the overpass. One more fender corner needs to be welded on the end supports. They will not allow the car to move off the ramp.

In order to make the overpass with your own hands as stable as possible, you can install cross braces on it from a steel profile. It is bolted to the pedestals. This measure will not be superfluous, since it will increase the rigidity of the entire structure.

The horizontal and entrance ramps are made from a 63 mm angle and reinforcing bars that act as a “ladder”. The length of the inclined ramp for a passenger car must be at least 3 meters. The size of the horizontal section is selected by adding 1 meter to the length of the car. The width of the ladders is at least 40 cm.

Before installing the reinforcing bars, the corners are turned over so that their flanges face up and serve as outer side edges. The “ladder” will be level if the profile is laid on a solid horizontal platform. It is difficult to attach it to concrete or asphalt. Therefore, you can use two transverse angles as a mounting base. The guide “ladders” are attached to them with clamps. Having completed this operation, you can begin the welding process. It will be more convenient to align sections of profiled reinforcement using a 63 mm corner piece as a template.

Making an inclined ramp for an overpass for car repairs is slightly different from assembling a horizontal one. You need to leave a free end 10 cm long on it (without reinforcing bars), which will serve as a connecting point. The vertical edge of the profile is cut with a grinder to the horizontal shelf. After this, it is necessary to bend the connecting ends.

If you don’t have a bending machine, but have a couple of friends of considerable weight, then ask them to climb onto the pedestal to counterbalance the bending force. Before this operation, you need to lay the entrance ramp horizontally, supporting its free end. Two holes are drilled locally in the supporting part of the profile and the corner of the “chair”. Having fixed the ends of the “ladder” with bolted connections, it is tilted with force down to the ground. In the place where the profile was cut, you need to weld a piece of steel plate to strengthen the support unit.

The horizontal ladder is mounted by laying it on pedestals. After this, holes are drilled for the bolts in the supporting corners and the upper support profile of the cabinet. To more securely attach the overpass to the site, eyes can be welded to the “chairs”. By fixing them with dowels to the concrete or steel pins to the ground, you will protect yourself from the displacement of parts of the overpass when a car enters it.

When making a test drive, pay attention to the behavior of the inclined “ladder”. If it bends, you will have to make two intermediate support frames and bolt them to the corners.

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