Choosing The Right Aluminum Loading Ramp For Your ATV Or Motorcycle

Whether you have a dirt bike, a street bike or an ATV, there have probably been times when you've had to move it from one place to another before riding. Chances are you've loaded it onto the back of your pickup truck or into a trailer and used a ramp. An aluminum loading ramp is perfect for doing the job easily and safely, even if you are on your own when loading or unloading.

Aluminum loading ramps are the ramp used most by sportsmen. A big reason is that they are easy to maneuver as well as being lightweight yet solid. But there's much more to these ramps.

You probably have thousands invested in your bike or four-wheeler, not to mention your truck. And if you hunt or ride motocross for instance, you are certainly very conscious of properly maintaining your equipment and using it safely.

Loading and unloading from your truck or trailer is where safety begins. For starters you need a ramp that is capable of holding enough weight. You need to consider the weight of the quad or bike, any accessories that are attached, as well as the weight of the person who will be doing the loading. When you add all that up, you can see why a couple of 2×4's is just not going to be a good option.

Once you have the weight capacity figured out you can choose from many different types of ramps. Choosing a folding ramp makes for easy and secure storage. When you are transporting, you can easily find a spot for a folding ramp beside your recreational vehicle without leaving the tailgate down, so the ramp fits.

After you get to the track or trail head, you probably lock up your vehicle while you ride. Folding aluminum ramps will fit in the cab of your truck so there is no danger of them disappearing while you're not around.

An arched aluminum loading ramp is a good overall choice. With this type of ramp, you avoid bottoming out when loading. It works great for ATVs or even riding lawn mowers. These are also available as a folding ramp so storage is still easy.

The best ATV loading ramps are bi-fold or tri-fold ramps. They should be wide enough for your four-wheeler to fit comfortably with you walking beside it, if necessary. Use a ramp with an extender to make the slope less steep if needed.

Many motorcycle loading ramps may be single narrow ramps. When you use a bi-fold or tri-fold aluminum loading ramp to load your motorcycle make sure the ramp can handle the load safely. This is especially important if you are loading a street bike because of the additional weight.

Ramps with a non skid surface are an important option especially if you are loading or unloading in poor weather conditions. The last thing you want is for your bike or ATV to slide off the ramp because the ramp surface is slippery. A textured surface or rubberized coating is a good choice.

Be sure to get loading ramps that come with safety straps and/or an attaching lip.

Safety straps allow you to secure your ramp to the tailgate so it won't move during loading or unloading. These straps are also useful in securing the ramp in your pickup bed while you are in transit. By doing that you can prevent damage caused by the ramp moving around freely.

Another nice feature is the attaching lip. It fits snugly up against the tailgate to keep the ramp securely in place. It comes with rubber padding so there is no worry of scratching your tailgate. This is a great feature for those who have to load or unload without help.

Choosing the right aluminum loading ramp, for your ATV or motorcycle, makes for safe and worry-free loading and unloading.

Compare before you buy. Find out more about some of the important features of folding wheelchair ramps by visiting aluminumloadingramp.org.