When you’re getting ready for a fun day of riding the trails on your ATV, you want to load your ATV and get there as quickly as possible. But when it comes to loading your ATV, ATV ramp safety should be the number one concern. There are plenty of examples of how not to load your ATV, so don’t let yourself become another “fail video” on the internet. You will want to be sure you are using the right kind of ATV ramp and taking the proper precautions to avoid damaging your ATV, your vehicle, or yourself.
Find the Right ATV Ramp
There are many different kinds of ATV ramps out there. When using a traditional ATV ramp, there are a few things to consider, especially when it comes to ATV ramp safety.
Ramp Size
The average weight of an ATV is anywhere from 300 to 850 pounds, so depending on what kind of ATV you have, not just any ramp will do. If the ramp is the wrong size, you could get hurt or cause damage to the ramp and your ATV. What length ramp will you need? To determine this you will need to know the height of your truck bed and how much slope that will give you. The higher up your truck bed is, the steeper the incline of your ATV ramp. Too steep of a slope can make it dangerous to drive on. You will also need to consider the width of the ramp. Most traditional ATV ramps come as two separate ramps that will need to be placed the correct distance apart and secured to the truck properly. Otherwise, you risk an ATV disaster.
Weight Capacity
If you purchase a traditional ATV ramp, it should have the weight capacity listed somewhere. Some ramps may list the weight capacity per each separate ramp, so be sure to be clear on how to calculate the actual weight capacity. If the description says the ramp can support 600 pounds, that might not sound like much; however, if that is for each ramp, then the two ramps together can hold 1,200 pounds.
Take Proper Precautions
Every ATV owner should be familiar with all ATV ramp safety aspects to avoid accidents. Here are the things you will need to consider when using traditional ATV ramps:
Are the Ramps Secure?
Traditional ATV ramps may or may not come with instructions on how to properly secure the ramp before you use it, so you may need to do some research. Securing the ramps is very important because otherwise, the ramps are likely to fall out from under your ATV as you pull it in or out of the truck bed.
Are The Ramps Aligned?
When you have traditional ATV ramps, they are likely two separate ramps that you will need to get aligned perfectly before driving onto them. The ramps should be aligned evenly in relation to the truck and spaced out at the right distance so that the ATV wheels can drive onto it without slipping off one side.
Is Your Truck in Park?
Not only should you make sure your truck is in park, but applying the parking brake is an important step as well. This will add some additional stability as you drive into the truck bed, adding a lot of extra weight that could cause the truck to move if the parking brake isn’t engaged.
Don’t Forget to Bring the Ramp With You!
Once you load up your ATV, don’t forget to remove the ramps from the truck and store them in the truck bed with the ATV. It is essential to plan ahead to make sure your truck bed is big enough (or your ATV is small enough) to allow room to transport your ramps to your destination, otherwise you won’t be unloading it once you get to where you’re going.
Is the ATV Secure?
Before you get too excited and take off for your fun day of trail riding, be sure to secure your ATV by strapping it down. You can use ratchet straps across the cargo racks to compress the ATV’s suspension to keep it in place. This job is best done with two people to make sure you can compress it enough. You will also want to be sure the ramps are secured as well, so nothing falls out during transportation.
What is the Safest ATV Ramp?
If you read through this list and thought to yourself, “wow, that is a lot to be worried about with regular ATV ramps,” you’re not wrong. Traditional ATV ramps are not the safest option when it comes to ATV ramp safety. But don’t worry; there is a better, safer way to transport your ATV. MAD-RAMPS is an innovative product that utilizes a pivoting ramp system and allows the ramps to stay connected to your truck, so loading and unloading your ATV is simple, easy, and safe. MAD-RAMPS inserts into the hitch of your truck and stays there securely. Simply make adjustments to fit your truck and ATV and take the guesswork out of loading and unloading. No more worrying if your ramps were perfectly aligned and at the right amount of incline. MAD-RAMPS is rated for ATVs from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds. Best of all, these ramps automatically pivot up as you drive your ATV into the truck bed, so there is no need to remove and stow them once you’re loaded up. Just make sure you strap your ATV down, and you are good to go! Visit the MAD-RAMPS website to learn more or to order yours today!
