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Sunday, March 20, 2011

What's The Best Aluminum Loading Ramp For A Motorcycle Or An ATV

By Chris Station


Whether your recreational vehicle of choice is an ATV, dirt bike, or street bike, chances are good that you've had to transport it from where you live to a different location at some time. It probably meant loading it into the back of a pickup truck or into a trailer. If so, you've used a ramp of some kind. An aluminum loading ramp can be depended upon to do the job safely and problem-free, even if you're loading on your own.

Aluminum loading ramps are the ramp that is used most often by sportsmen. One big reason is that they're so easy to maneuver as well as being lightweight and solid. But when you check them out you'll see that there's much more to these ramps.

You've probably got literally thousands of dollars invested between your pick-up truck and your quad or your bike. If you're a hunter or you race motocross competitively, just for example, you know just how important it is to maintain your equipment properly and use it safely,

Safety starts with how you load and unload your recreational vehicle from your trailer or truck. The ramp that you use should be capable of holding enough weight. What that means is that it must support the weight of the machine, all accessories that are mounted on it, and the weight of whoever is loading it up. When you add it all up, it should be pretty evident that using a couple of two by fours is definitely not the best way to go.

When you've done the figuring out of the weight capacity needed, then you can go ahead and look for the right ramp from the wide variety available. Folding ramps are great for easy and secure storage. While you are en route to a destination, you can easily to find a place to store the ramp since it can be folded to fit alongside your bike or quad. And the best thing is you won't have to drive around with your tailgate down like you would if the ramp was longer than your truck bed.

After you've gotten to your destination, are you in the habit of locking up your truck while you're off for a ride? Folding aluminum ramps are compact enough to lock up inside your truck so they don't disappear while you're gone.

An arched aluminum loading ramp is largely a very good overall choice. One reason is that with this type of ramp, you won't bottom out when loading. This is particularly useful when you're loading a larger ATV, a snowmobile, or a lawn tractor. Since this kind of ramp can also be folded, it's really easy to store.

The best ATV loading ramps are referred to as bi-fold or tri-fold ramps. These ramps need to be wide enough for a quad to fit with room to spare for a person to walk beside it, if necessary. You can use a ramp that comes with an extender if you need to make the slope less steep.

Many motorcycle loading ramps come as single narrow ramps. When you're using a bi-fold or tri-fold aluminum loading ramp for loading your motorcycle, it's important to check that the ramp can handle the load safely. This is particularly important if you find yourself loading a heavier street bike.

If you're going to be loading or unloading in poor weather, it's a good idea to choose a ramp that has a non skid surface. That way you won't have to be concerned that your quad might slide off the edge of the ramp because of a slippery surface. A good choice are ramps that come with a textured surface or rubberized coating.

The best idea to get a ramp that has safety straps and/or an attaching lip.

The straps let you secure the ramp to the tailgate so it doesn't move while you're loading up. They also allow you to tie the ramp down so it doesn't move around while you're on the move. That way you can prevent damage to your load or your pickup.

Another neat feature is the attaching lip. The lip fits snugly against your truck's tailgate to keep the ramp securely in the right spot. It has rubber padding so there's no concern about possibly scratching your tailgate. This is a good feature for anyone who has to load or unload without help.

By picking the right aluminum loading ramp for your motorcycle or ATV, you can be assured that loading and unloading will be safe and worry free.




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