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If you’ve ever cruised the backcountry on an ATV, you already know that off-roading is one of the most exciting of all the extreme sports. However, what isn’t extremely thrilling is trying to transport your ATV from the suburban garage to the back roads without the use of proper ATV ramps.
Some people are absolutely lost when it comes to choosing and utilizing ATV ramps. There’s really no trick to operating ramps, but it does take a little practice to get the procedure just right.
The following guidelines will help prepare you for the ramping experience, and walk you through the steps. By following these processes, you should have a fairly uneventful experience:
How to Select ATV Ramps
The most common rule of thumb is truly common sense. The ramp must be broader than the ATV. Take exact measurements BEFORE you place your order. Having said that, on a wide-runner ramp, the width of your ATV’s wheelbase should be used as the indication of the ramp’s width. On the other hand, if you prefer a single-runner ramp, the width distance should be at least as broad as your tire.
Regular ATV ramp sizes are used on smaller pickup vehicles. Longer ramps are proposed for larger trucks. Before paying for the ramp, be sure to check the load of your ATV and the capacity of the ramp. If you think that your ATV is heavier than the load capacity of the ATV ramp, consider the pairing of two ramps to augment the overall load capability.
Ramping Your ATV
Step One: Park your pickup truck on a firm and flat surface. Clear the trailer bed or truck of all materials, and secure the vehicle before beginning the ramping procedure. Use your vehicle’s parking brake, and be sure that the trailer is protected.
Step Two: With the ramp located on hard-packed ground, position it to a trailer bed or the truck at the lowest possible angle. Link the ramp to the bed. If using runners, make sure that the individual ramps are appropriately spaced to match the wheelbase of your ATV. The ramp should fit snugly and be safe.
Step Three: Install the safety cables with the ramps firmly supported against the trailer bed.
Step Four: Double-check the load capacity of the ramp and the existing weight of your ATV. Remove any additional heavy gear from your ATV to prevent overloading (and destruction to your ramp and ATV).
Step Five: If you have a winch, make use of it! This is the best way to draw your ATV up the ramp and on to the trailer bed or the truck. If you don’t have a winch, you can carry your ATV up the ramp. This must be done carefully and slowly with smooth, slow acceleration. This is when the worst accident can take place; so don’t rush it. Accelerating abruptly or going too quickly could cause you to fall off of the ramp or crash into the truck’s cab. Again, using a winch is the safest way to ramp your ATV, particularly if you have no prior ramping experience.
Step Six: Protect your ATV. Once the ATV is loaded, carefully secure it to the trailer or truck bed.
Utilizing ATV ramps is quite simple once you get the hang of it, but it does require a little practice. Follow each process carefully, and employ the help of another person whenever possible. Accidents can happen quickly and without warning, so it’s important to have assistance available should you need it.
Tagged with: ATV • ATV ramps • truck accessories
Filed under: ATV Parts