I don't want to buy fancy ramps or anything this is just a 1 time in and 1 time out thing... but what is the best way to make sure a wood ramp won't slide out fromunderneath me while im loading/unloading? Thanks.

 

try backing up to the crest of a small hill, then place the wood for the ramps. this way theres less of an angle on the ramps making them less likely to slip off. has worked for me many times.

good luck
jeff

 

I have aluminum ramps for mine and they have a small safety chain that I can hook onto the rear tie downs in the box. For a one time simple idea do the same thing with a small piece of rope or chain eye bolted into the wood. Better safe than sorry. Also make sure you tie the ATV down well in the box. You don't want it in the cab if you have to hit the brakes hard.

 

PLEASE be very careful with the temp ramps. Several years ago, I had a temp wooden ramp kick out from under me. Result was permanent damage to 4 disks and painful pinched nerves. Docs say that a few years from now will most likely have to get cut and a rod or something placed in my neck.

Make sure that you do it carefully.

Now that is not to say I still do things right, but I do think about it a little more before I do them.

Ed

 

Build a ramp and jump it in!

 

Back up to a small hill. This will decrease your approach angle and make it much safer.

 

If you wanting a temp ramp make sure you use good solid peice of wood and make a cross secion and if you have a reciver hitch tie it off there

 

For one time use, renting a landscape trailer with a rear ramp would be about as cheap as buying the lumber.


CR

 

I agree with crobtex, if it's a one time move rent a trailer with a ramp on the back. It's a lot safer.

MikeyB

 

Same as MikeyB and crobtex, rent a small utility trailer with the ramp tailgate. I take my ATV to deer camp several times a year, so I bought such a trailer for that purpose; now wouldn't do it any other way. I have seen too many mishaps and near mishaps trying to load/unload into the pickup bed using ramps, and the only safe way I've seen is either backing up to a ditch (rear wheels in the ditch) to get a low load/unload angle, or having a dirt hill ramp as high as the tailgate to back up to. If you choose to do the pick-up bed transport, be extremely careful and think out what you're going to do before you do it. HTH.

 

Take heed to what Chester said. Several of the utility quads come with a brush guard on the front that will break out the back window if you hit the brakes hard enough and have not secured the quad well enough. Has happened to some of my friends. They now only rely on ratcheting type tiedowns, not the type that you just pull on to cinch them up.

Rob

 

Got it... I have some good 10,000 # breaking point ratchets that I use to ratchet down cars. Only problem is this is a long distance trip that'll take about 3-4 days so I don't know that I could rent a trailer for a good rate. I'll get some good boards and find a hill and I will have 2 hands to help too so I think I'll be ok. THANKS !

 

I have the aluminum ramps to load my Raptor, I like the cables that attach to the bumper to keep them from sliding out. They were about $100.
With paddle tires on it bites, slips & grabs enough to kick the ramps out if they weren't hooked.

If you must use wood ramps get the bolt on aluminum ends that rest on the tail gate, then attach a cable with a hook on it you can hook on the bumper.
Also get some anti slip stuff to put on the wood, just a little moisture can make them very slippery.

I know a lot of people that have crashed loading or unloading thier quads, most have just been embarrassed but there have been some injuries that required a trip to the emergency room.

Go ahead & bite the bullet & get the aluminum ramps, there safer, stronger, lighter & wont rot out. JMO.

 

How heavy is the ATV? grab a neighbor and have him help ya lift it.

 

If you have to use ramps, go buy a set of the brackets that bolt to a 2x10 or a 2x12 piece of treated lumber. About $20 for them and they are made for the job.
I've used these for several years and they work great. I did buy some pieces of 1x2 and nailed them across the boards to give the ATV a little more traction.
BE CAREFUL loading......I still have a dent in the bed of my 1995 Z71 behind the cab. Seems I got a little carried away and couldn't stop before I banged it.

CR