How To Safely Load My ATV Into My Truck?

[rkuhnjr]

ive used the stand alones and a bi fold that unfolds to just around the whole width of the truck bed between the wheel wells. and It is much easier on the bi fold ramp for sure

[MooseHenden]

I ended up buying a 12'x101" snowmobile trailer and usually put the smallest quad in our group in my pickup bed and 3 full size on the trailer. I use the ramps for the one in the bed and the last quad to go on the trailer. Works good and now I even get help with gas costs. Life is good.

[Scootergptx]

I keep saying that one of these days, I'm gonna take a picture of the in-bed ramp I made for my Ranger.

Anyway, the Rangers seem to have the wheel wells protrude more into the bed space than other small trucks. I do ride mine in, and getting over the wheel well was a little tricky, and even worse if the bed or tires on the quad were wet. Once, the grass was wet, and so was the bed of the truck. Got the front wheels to the wheel wells, and as usual gassed it to get them over. Did I mention the brake handle was wet too? You can see where this is heading. I know I sure did. Anyway, I did manage to get the brake on the second grab, and it didn't break the back window. But there are still grooves in the plastic middle window where it hit. That led me to make my own bed ramp.

Don't have the exact measurements since I'm at work, but I would recommend measuring your particular truck to anyone who makes one of these.

Using treated 2x8's (2 - 12' if I remember correctly) I measured from the front bed wall to where the wheel well started it's downward slope on the back side. Cut a piece that length, and put a 45º on the end at the back (tailgate) of the truck. Then measured the height of the wheel well, and cut three pieces for the front, 3 for the back that were screwed together, then screwed to the underside of the first piece as support and to make it the same height as the top of the wheel well. Did the same thing for the other side. Had some 2x4's laying around and used those to tie the two pieces together on the underside of the long ramp you just made. By doing so, it left a space underneath the I could still slide my bifold ramps back in. Then on the end near the tailgate, made two 45º triangles that attached to the two ramps. You could use a less steep angle, just easier to throw the skill saw at a 45 and get both sides the same. Anyway, I screwed those to support pieces on the end.

Now it's still a little tricky getting up the ramp, but not as bad as before, and I don't have to worry about the drop back down when you clear the wheel wells like before.

Long winded post.

I really need to get a picture of the ramp.

[rkuhnjr]

I would like to see a pic of that bed ramp system you built sounds interesting.

[Deputy_Swan]

back the pickup truck up to a step ditch and just drive it on.

[trinityquad]

I have a set of bi-fold ramps and strap them to my ford pickup when I need to load up my Honda Rincon. The ramp seems very stable and is rated for far more weight than my Rincon but it is only about 2 inches wider than the track of the ATV. I too asked here at the forum about loading and unloading and recieved pretty much the same good advise that you have. However, even after loading and unloading a dozen time the process just plain makes me nervous. My wife says that I didn't get a quad to put my self into danger and that the process of loading and unloading is probably the most dangerous thing that I do with the quad. I agree. At home I use a natural hillside terrace to load and unload and only use the ramp if neccessary when away from home. I used a friends trailer the other day and the process was soooooo easy. Now in the market for a trailer

[Fourtrax300]

Drive it up the ramp...

into the bed...

drive to your favorite riding place...


unloading....reverse order...

have fun!!!