While some people may assume that any old set of ramps will be sufficient for loading their ATV or UTV/SXS into the bed of a truck, there are some risks and downsides to be aware of that could really put a damper on the fun.
Loading and Unloading Dangers
Getting your ATV loaded into your truck bed can be dangerous if not done properly. This can go sideways in a number of ways, sometimes quite literally. You have to take a variety of factors into consideration when using a traditional set of ramps.
Ramp Length
The length of your ramps is important for the loading process. Lengths can vary from 65 inches to 90 inches or longer. You may need to do some calculating to determine whether the height of your truck’s tailgate and the length of the ramps will give you a low enough angle to drive the ATV into the truck bed and safely back out when unloading.
Ramp Width
There are two things to consider when thinking about width here. Is the surface of ramp wide enough for each individual tire to grip? Some ramps may not be meant for wide tires. Another critical width consideration is whether or not the ramp is spaced out at the proper width to safely drive the ATV onto it. This often takes some time with trial and error after eye-balling the width of your ATV. But the last thing you want is to drive your ATV onto ramps that are set too wide or too narrow and end up losing balance and falling off.
Potential for Damage
When using ramps to load an ATV into your truck bed, there is a certain potential for damage to you, your truck, or the ATV. It is not recommended to do this on your own, so having an additional person with you will lower the risk for damage. As mentioned above, securing the ramp before driving on or off of it is important to keep the ramp from slipping. If this were to happen, it is likely that you will damage your truck and ATV. If the surface of the ramps are too slippery and the surface is wet, it may be quite difficult to get the ATV all the way up the ramp.
Storage
Storing big clunky ramps can take up a lot of space in your garage, and especially in your truck bed, once you have your ATV loaded up. You can sometimes slide them underneath the ATV, but it isn’t always an ideal fit. Not to mention, with ramps in the truck bed, it doesn’t leave much room to put any other gear in the bed.
Want a Safer Option?
MAD-RAMPS is a revolutionary way to haul your ATV, UTV/SXS. This pivoting ramp system makes it easy and safe to load, unload, and transport an ATV or UTV/SXS up to 1,400 pounds and is DOT approved in all 50 states. MAD-RAMPS goes above and beyond for safety by exceeding all Iowa and Federal DOT regulations. The wiring harnesses used are made with waterproof DEUTSCH connectors and are abrasion wrapped.
MAD-RAMPS Will Help You Go Off-Road
MAD-RAMPS takes up less room than traditional ramps. They can hang flat on the wall of your garage or storage shed so they out of the way and easily accessible. When in use, MAD-RAMPS allows for additional room in the front of the truck bed so you can bring along the other gear you need. MAD-RAMPS securely locks into your truck’s receiver hitch, so there is no ramp movement during loading and unloading, making the experience completely safe. Once attached to the truck hitch, MAD-RAMPS no longer needs to be manually handled, saving you valuable time and energy. To see MAD-RAMPS in action, view the video on our homepage, or contact us for a demo!
MAD-RAMPS Will Help You Go Off-Road
MAD-RAMPS takes up less room than traditional ramps. They can hang flat on the wall of your garage or storage shed so they out of the way and easily accessible. When in use, MAD-RAMPS allows for additional room in the front of the truck bed so you can bring along the other gear you need. MAD-RAMPS securely locks into your truck’s receiver hitch, so there is no ramp movement during loading and unloading, making the experience completely safe. Once attached to the truck hitch, MAD-RAMPS no longer needs to be manually handled, saving you valuable time and energy. To see MAD-RAMPS in action, view the video on our homepage, or contact us for a demo!
