Well..here is one we have come face to face with..

I am not a fan AT ALL of load ramps or loading quads into the back of a truck. Especially now adays, with quads in excess of 800 plus pounds...

I had a incident last year at our Broken Bow ride in Oklahoma... I was loading the wifes Sportsman 700 into the back of her Dually, which the tailgate sets about 4 feet off the ground. I had the ramp set up and STRAPPED to the truck, I started up the 45 degree incline and sure enough the back wheels slipped and did a hard grab on the ramp and broke the strap... Then the ramp came off of the tailgate and the quads front end went straight up in the air...This of course put me flat on my back and a 900 pound quad about to roll backwards on top of me...just so happens Warith was standing there and held up the quads front end so I could get out of the way...

If at all possible now, I try to trailer the quads or if I have to put one in the truck.. I back the rear wheels of the truck into a ditch to lower the tailgate height..

Hope this helps

Just one month ago a buddy of mine bought a Rubicon and was backing it down too-steep ramps and in his inexperience, managed to flip the quad backward on top of himself.
He's 6'7, 325 lbs. so he's not a little wimp.
But now he's recovering from a broken pelvis both at the front bilaterally, and at the back, and back injuries besides. Oh and an injured right eye orbit.

Good ramps, properly tied off will save a guy a lot of misery. Ask him.

One of the guys I ride with forgot to unhook the front tie down. He was driving the quad forward off his trailer when the strap stopped him, he flipped the quad over forward. Luckly no one was hurt.

An aftermarket ATV accessory company I visited (manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer) had a strict rule: Failure to use ramp safety chains/straps/etc. is a firing offense.

The policy was NOT just created by an ol' meanie who doesn't want anyone to have any fun; instead, for a reason and from experience.

Under the best of conditions, ramp-loading into a pickup bed can be hazardous, as Voodoo mentions.

With steep approach angles, an aggressive tire's lug or knob can grab a ramp lattice crossbar and . . . Wham-O! You're crosswise, attacking the pickup bed sides from their rear edge, performing a crowd-pleasing wheelie, or bailing off the side or the ramps, or--all of the above.

Winching into the bed presents a safer alternative than riding up steep ramps.

Get some weather, and/or mud slickness, and further worries accrue.

Risks can be lowered with longer ramps, terraced ramp base (e.g., like backing up to a dirt mound, etc.); essentially anything that lowers the angle of approach.

Let's be careful, out there!

Why does it seem everyone is having such bad luck loading an ATV in the back of the truck on ramps?

I have had no problems to speak of, I use 6 cam style straps 2 low on the ramps that run to the saftey chain latches on my hitch and 2 up top of the ramp hookes into the back holes on the side rails of the truck then the other 2 from mid point of the ramps to the rear tie down brackets in the bed of the truck. I use low gear and turn the AWD on if the ramp or my tires are muddy or wet.

I have never had a problem loading this way. I have the bifold ramps and I think they are 5.5 or 6' long and handle my sp800 and my 280 pounds just fine.


The worst part of the process is getting my front end between the wheel wells loading or unloading because of the 3" spacers.

I would much rather load and haul this way over taking my trailer if it is just me riding.

How are you guys strapping your ramps to the truck? I have seen a few people just use one strap from mid point on the ramps to the hitch, I have done the single strap myself a couple times although I dont like the method myself but have not had any problems.

I however would like to know the saftey processes that the aftermarket ATV company puts in place for loading and unloading this way Tree Farmer as any safer method would be worth the extra time and or cost.

I also have not had any problems loading my quad into the back of my truck. Of course, the fact that it isn't a jacked up truck does help this out. I use the tri-fold Harbor Freight and I use its chains to attach it to the tailgate of my 1/2 ton Z71 Silverado and go for it. It probably is close to a 45 degree incline, but the ramp has never failed me and so far, so good!

I loaded my sport quads for years and never strapped it to the truck. I even loaded my Rincon for a year with no straps. I always hit the ramp with enough momentum to coast up and stop in the bed. One time I was a little slow and hit the throttle at the top and it spit the ramp out. Luckily I was in 4wd and the front wheels pulled the quad into the bed.
Since then I always strap it to the hitch. What scares me is guys that use split/separate ramps. Now I strap it every time and go slower into the bed.
I loaded the Rincon backwards once, that was an experience. It was right on the edge of a stoppie.
Yes my lifted F250 is a steep bed to hit. I'd rather use a trailer as they are safer to load.

I loaded a dirt bike for a few years using only a 2x6 board into my Ranger. One day in the parking lot, I was loading to go riding and the board spit out like a pig in a greased pig contest. I ended up on my back and the bike on top of me. After that, we loaded the bikes by hand. Since I got the quads, I have used a hinged ramp with straps connected to the bed. Even then, I ended up with the nose up like a stuck up little uptown girl. That was because my Popo was trying to imitate a Hondu and run in 3 wheel drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxCSJ-FHQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RuzMdTTSzo

I use two seperate ramps. they each have a strap that I just hook on the bottom of the bumper. that keeps the strap the same plane as the ramp. they are Reese ramps rated at 1500 lbs. They are 7' long and my truck is not lifted but is a Big Dodge 4x4. Never had a issue. Knock knock

quote:

Originally posted by metro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxCSJ-FHQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RuzMdTTSzo

Those two videos pretty much sum up my crappy experience with ramps and trucks... I even had the ramps strapped and they broke

That is reason I have 8 ft 18inch wide ramps, I use use my heavey duty MONTANA JACKS straps to hold them.

I've used ramps a few times, but usually use a trailer because I drive a SUV. Those videos got my attention.

Yeah that do remind me of what happened to Voodoo when he was trying to load his atv in to the back of his truck. scarry stuff people very scarry stuff.

I had the straps break on the tailgate and it dropped the tailgate down with me on the atv fortunately I wasn't hurt but the tailgate sure got messed up. I only load on the trailer now. Got 3 trailers for every occation when I need to move the atv not under its own power I use one of them.

Yeah... Warith was there in Broken Bow... Pretty tense 5 seconds for sure...

At certain times of the season especially when gathering cows I'll load and unload a dozen or more times a day. Just as long as I'm aware of concrete, or ice under the ramp, I get along okay. If a rear tire is low and it isn't noticed has surprised me a few times. Thats when things get screwed up with the machine going the direction of the low tire, and ALL that can be done is to hope it gets in the tk before it flips off the ramps.

So far--so good!!

Wow dude, I'm glad your ok!

Here's how I load and unload:

I back the truck up to something to load my machine. When I want to unload, I just get on, start it and back out with NO RAMPS. I always get a good reaction in the parking lot when they figure out what I'm about to do. Has anyone else here tried this?

I drive a 1998 GMC 4x4 and ride a 2002 700 Sportsman. I should post a vid soon.

No ramps to Unload?... What do you do..Gun it...or is your truck a low rider....

These machines can do amazing things. I just slowly back up in 4x4 holding the override button. When it drops to the skid plate I just ease up the throttle nice and smooth. Then do a reverse wheelie for about 10- 15 feet.

It's not a low rider.

I'll get a vid up when I can. I'm working 7 days a week and my rig is 40 miles away right now.

Do you wear a helmet during this unloading procedure MikeSativa?

It's not as dangerous as you may think. That's just the way I have always done it.

My quad tried to unload that way on me once. I was trying to use the ramps but it decided to unload sideways. I got my 6 year old to untie the ramps while I held the machine up with it looking at the sky. Was the only way to keep it confused long enough for me to get control of the situation. Once he got the ramps out of the way, the quad just flopped back down on all fours and we were ready for the ride after a quick visit to the outhouse.

MikeSativa~ Since you did not say whether or not you wear a helmet during this procedure I am thinking that you most likely do not. To each his own on how to load and unload a quad. It just seems that your procedure could be used as an advertisement, cannon fodder if you will, for those who think all quads are evil and should be banned either in their entirety or, at least, strictly regulated.

It will be interesting to see a video. Heres hoping work slows down for you and you will have the time to post one.

Glad you weren't hurt in that loading wreck. Now I see why my husband always makes sure the pin is in the loading ramps during loading and unloading and that's onto a trailer.

I'm also guilty of not wearing my helmet during loading and unloading. After watching the video I will be wearing mine. Thanks for bringing that up Annie.

Kaye

2-05 Honda 650 Rincons - BigHorns

So MikeSativa, you just back on out and let the rear wheels drop till the skidplate hits your tailgate, then keep backing out till the rear wheels fall to th pavement or ground, and the front clears the tailgate and falls down?

Cool looking I guess, and easy... but you are hammering the heck out of your tailgate straps and not doing the beauty of your tailgate many favours!

Not very elegant and not very safe, but if that's what you like hey, knock yourself out!