Motorcycle Loading Ramps – What To Look For In A Ramp

If you plan to safely transport your motorcycle in the back of a pickup to go for a trail ride, to a race, or to even show your bike, motorcycle loading ramps are a must. You've probably spend a lot of time and money on your bike. Now is not the time to cheap out.

It's important to use the right ramp. For instance, you need to take into consideration the distance from ground to truck bed, as well as the size and overall weight of the bike. Of course, the more weight you are dealing with, the more challenging loading and unloading becomes. It's possible to minimize the risk of damaging your motorcycle by using the right ramp.

Motorcycle loading ramps are made with metal, often aluminum. In order to get better traction, ramps may be designed with a textured surface. Some come with holes drilled out at equal intervals.

If you load or unload your motorcycle by riding it on or off, a good feature to have is the safety strap. The strap is attached to one end of the ramp and can be connected to the back of the vehicle to prevent the ramp from moving while in use.

Better ramps may have rubber padding that can be leaned against the truck to stabilize the ramp during loading or unloading.

Motorcycle loading ramps generally come in one of three main styles.

First there is the non folding kind of ramp. This kind of ramp is made as a single long straight span. It is often made using aluminum. An aluminum loading ramp can handle loads of 500 pounds or more. Aluminum is an ideal material for a ramp. It's strong yet lightweight enough to be easily maneuvered when you are by yourself. Spans are frequently perforated so you can get better traction when loading your motorcycle.

A second type is a folding ramp. Folding ramps are designed to be folded into two or three sections. Because of that they are easy to set up and just as easy to store. Folding motorcycle ramps often are rated for a much greater weight capacity than comparable non folding ramps. Because of that they are just right for loading larger motorcycles as well as ATVs, where extra width is appreciated.

Again, aluminum is the preferred material because it is lighter than other metals. Aluminum also resists rusting.

You can also get a ramp extender. With a ramp extender, you get an inclined type ramp as well as a bed extender. This comes in handy when your motorcycle is too long for the bed of your truck.

Motorcycle loading ramps come in a wide variety of designs and different styles, complete with lots of extra features to make loading or unloading your bike safe and easy to do.

Although motorcycle loading ramps are made using many kinds of metals, an aluminum loading ramp is a practical choice. These ramps are solid and made to hold lots of weight while being relatively lightweight to maneuver.