| Author | Message | ||
     Stevedplumber |
i was wondering what type of ramp is best for loading and unloading my scooter into a pick-up? store bought ramps or home made ramps, what is the consensus? | ||
| Kilroy |
I've done it all. The best I have found is the aluminum "ladder" style ramp. Get one that is as wide as your truck bed. Get one with a crown rather than a flat one if you can. And, the longer you can find the better. You will find more often than not, that you are going to have to "ride" the bike up the ramp into the bed. Any other type of ramp will eventually result in your bike laying next to your tailgate on top of you. Don't ask me how I know. The M2 holds up well from a vertical drop of 3 feet by the way, especially whe you are under it to cushion the blow. | ||
| Slaughter |
My take is get 2 ramps unless you can easily step into the bed of the truck while on a run. I can step on the top of my toolbox placed in the right place but a wide ramp or a second ramp makes it easy to do by yourself. | ||
| Cowtown |
I have an ext-cab, short-bed, 1/2 ton chevy and I use an 8' 2x12 with an angle iron bolted to the end. A 6" length on angle iron is plenty. I remove the tailgate and hook the angle iron between the bumper and bed. Start the bike, put it in 1st and walk beside the bike as it pulls itself up the board. You'll have to use the front break to stop the bike when the front wheel reaches the bed, then step one foot on the bumper and continue. I started using a car ramp placed beside the bike ramp and stopping was no longer necessary. A sturdy step about 12" high that won't tip over would also work. Build a wheel box to hold the bike while you strap it down and you'll have it down to a few minutes. You can also use it to hold the bike while you work on it. You'll need an 8' 2x6, 44" 2x12, carpet, glue, 2 eye bolts and screws.   | ||
| Leftcoastal |
I use the folding aluminum 'ladder' type - usually 2 of them if available. One for the bike, one for walking up beside the bike. If I don't have 2 ramps, I use a step or toolbox to step up onto the tailgate - strategically placed -Like Steve said above. If you can back the truck into a place where the rear wheels drop a bit, such as a low spot next to the end of a sloped driveway, it will help. Anything to get that tailgate lower so there's less slope on the ramp(s). That front wheel holder Paul made is a wonderous thing! Gonna make me one like that! AL | ||
| Seanp |
I have a folding aluminum ladder type as well, and it's as wide as my tailgate. It works great. I ride the bike into the truck, which feels safer to me. Make sure that if you do that, you at least wear a helmet though. I like that wooden wheel chock, Cowtown. I may make something like that. I'm sure it can easily be adapted to two chocks, right? | ||
| Cowtown |
Seanp, yes the cross 2x6 is one piece about 64" long (I cut it to just fit inside the bed) then I centered the chock and screwed it from the bottom of the cross 2x6. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
What not to do, ply wood with a bucket under neath and forget to tie it to the truck. front wheel will make it to truck and then back wheel will spin the ply wood out from under you... | ||
| Slaughter |
Ooohhh gawwwd - ^that^ sounded like a "Don't Ask Me How I Know" moment!!! | ||
| Ratyson |
When I had my truck, I bought a ramp from Lowes that worked REALLY well. It was high density plastic (sounds cheaply made, but was VERY sturdy). It accordioned(sp?) out from about 6' to about 10'. Had a good lip to set on the bumper. IIRC it cost about $100. I just checked their web site and could not find it... it may be an "in store only" kind of thing. | ||
| Aldaytona |
My favorite ramp is a swale/ditch. Put the tailgate down, back into the swale and the bike pushes/rides right in on the tailgate that's flush with the ground. Loading dock ramps work really well also....................................... No ramp mishaps or bike damage. | ||
| Xb9ser |
Ive usesed 6ft triple width 4 wheeler ramps and road into the back of a ranger pickup. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
When I need to haul mine anywhere I use my roommate's small toyota pickup (s-10 size) and just get someone to hold the bike steady while I pick up the front, then the back. ramps? who needs ramps? | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I have a 1"x12" board the width of my pickup box that just lays at the front of the bed. It has a wheel chock bolted to it. I find a low spot for the trucks rear wheels and use a 2x12x6' as a ramp. Usually, just walk the bike right into the chock. If I can't find a low spot, I have to find help to push the bike in. | ||
| Bandm |
I use a Handy Lift to get bikes in and out of pick-ups at the shop.  Customers are on their own at the other end. (Message edited by bandm on February 13, 2009) | ||
| Limitedx1 |
10' long 1' foot wide planks with a bed lip on one end makes it easier, push the bike up one and walk up the other. my 2500hd makes atv ramps way too steep! ask me exhaust hanger how it knows (Message edited by LIMITEDX1 on February 13, 2009) | ||
| B00stzx3 |
+1 on the posts!!! My dad has an F-150, so no need for a trailer if I get a ramp. I'm too short to "walk it up" so driving it up seems like the only option. I'm head over to google and find some good ramps... | ||
| Stevedplumber |
BOOstx3 let me know what you find out with the google search. i picked up some literature at a bike show last weekend that has a website. i will post later with the info. | ||
| Gowindward |
I have a set of these and really like them. http://www.motorcycleramps.com/black_widow.htm?OVR AW=black%20widow%20ramps&OVKEY=black%20widow%20mot orcycle%20ramp&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=2754559521&OV KWID=26989240521 | ||
| Stevedplumber |
cowtown you have more pics without the bike? | ||
| Cowtown |
Steveplumber, No but I can take some this weekend and post on Monday. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Steve, also found discountramps.com, seems to have a pretty big and varied selection. Most are folding or muiltiple peice, only a few one-piecers (won't fit in an average pickup). Look for anti-slip surface, besides that they look to be anywhere from $250-400 for the average ramp. Anyone else got some input? | ||
| Court |
Tell me more about the "Discount Tramps" . . . I may be interested. | ||
| Etennuly |
My son-in-law came to pick me and my Uly up last month when my rear wheel bearings began to howl. He has a full size pu and had a set of arched aluminum lawn mower ramps. I walked up one with the bike on the other one, while carefully clutching it up. It went well and came off easy also. I will have to ask him what brand they are, but they are about 7' long 1' wide, arched, with about 6" of flat grip panel on the top end where they sit on the gate. What I liked about them other than that they worked well, is that they are light and easy to carry in the bed with the bike in there. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
If anybody is wondering why"arched"......it's so you don't hi center when the front wheel is about a foot and a half in the truck. When I bought my Glide, the dude gave me his 10' aluminum trough ramp in the deal and it still hi centered going into a 4x4 Chevy....course the Glide sits pretty damed low,(and long)compared to a Buell. | ||
| Ourdee |
http://www.goodguyspowersports.com/tkloader.php?gc lid=CJOIl4-e25gCFQ0hDQodsDwGcA http://www.overbiltlifts.com/puloader.html | ||
| Stevedplumber |
this was a vendor at the bike show i attended las weekend http://MackieEnterprises.com | ||
| Stevedplumber |
ended up going with this : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&rd=1&item=300292493980&sspagename=STRK%3AME AFB%3AIT&viewitem= | ||
| Seanp |
That looks similar to the one I have, except mine folds in half lengthwise. Nice ramp! | ||
| Zane |
Do what I did and buy a Blast. Then you and a friend can just lift it into the back of your truck...lol |
