With such a variety of ATV loading ramps currently available, it can be downright tough to choose the right one. The good thing though is because there are so many ramps available; you can find a ramp system that is going to be best for your set-up and situation.
The first thing you need to do is think about how and where you will be using an ATV loading ramp. Are you loading your four- wheeler onto a trailer or a pickup? What are the weather and ground conditions like? Will you be loading your ATV by yourself or with help?
Once you have answered these questions, you can then decide on the ramp style that will best suit your needs. There are four basic types of ATV loading ramps. Each has some advantages and disadvantages.
* A bi-fold ramp folds in half along its width. This type of ramp is compact which is good but it can be more difficult to fit under the ATV and store it during travel.
* The tri-fold ramp folds in thirds widthwise. Some of these come with open center tracks. These ramps are easy to fit under your ATV when you want to store it for travel.
* A dual runner ramp is essentially two separate ramps. They come in both a folding and a non folding style. This kind of ramp needs an ATV with higher ground clearance if you plan to store it under the ATV.
* Finally, there are hitch mounted ramps that attach to a trailer hitch. These can be folded for storage during travel.
No matter which ramp style you go with, straight ramps will need extra length in order to avoid bottoming out the four-wheeler while loading it. One way to avoid this problem is to choose an arched ramp instead of a straight ramp.
When choosing a ramp, you also need to take into consideration the total overall weight that the ramp needs to support. Overall weight includes the actual weight of the ATV, any accessories attached to it, fuel, weight of the operator, and the weight of any cargo. It's a good idea to buy a ramp system with a weight capacity that exceeds what you need.
One more thing to consider is the width of the ramp. Although you can probably get by using a ramp that is just wide enough for your ATV, it's going to be a lot easier, not to mention safer, if you are using a ramp with more than enough width.
For example, if you've been out playing in the mud with your four-wheeler, your tires may be so gummed up that they don't get as much traction as usual and might slide around while you are loading. If your ramp has extra width this won't be a problem.
There are so many ATV loading ramps on the market today, be sure to take your time looking at the various styles. Get one that will be useful even if you upgrade your ATV in the future. After all, you don't want to have to get another ramp if you get a different four wheeler.
To get your ATV to the trail, you'll probably need to load it up in the back of your pickup. It just makes sense to use a good solid aluminum loading ramp. Why trust your four wheeler to just any old ramp? Check out the huge variety of specialty ATV loading ramps at aluminumloadingramp.org.
