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Ramp Up Your Atv Safety Smarts
If you've ever crossed the backcountry on an ATV, you know that off-roading is one of the most thrilling of all the extreme sports. You may also know that there's no thrill to moving your ATV from your suburban garage to the back roads without the use of proper ATV ramps.
If you’ve ever crossed the backcountry on an ATV, you know that off-roading is one of the most thrilling of all the extreme sports. You may also know that there’s no thrill to moving your ATV from your suburban garage to the back roads without the use of proper ATV ramps.
You may be completely lost when it comes to choosing and using ATV ramps. While there’s no trick to using ramps, it can take some practice before you get the procedure just right.
Here are some guidelines to prepare you and help you through the ATV ramping process. If you can follow these steps carefully, you should enjoy a fairly uneventful experience.
Choosing ATV Ramps
The most common rule of thumb is really common sense. The ramp must be wider than the ATV. Take careful measurements BEFORE you place your order. Having said that, on a wide-runner ramp, the width of your ATV’s wheelbase should be used as the reference of the ramp’s width. On the other hand, if you prefer a single-runner ramp, the width distance should be at least as wide as your tire.
A standard ATV ramp size is used for smaller pickup vehicles, and longer ramps are used with larger trucks. Before you pay for the ramp, check the capacity of the ramp and the load of your ATV. If you think that your ATV is heavier than the load capacity of the ATV ramp, try pairing two ramps to enhance the overall load capability.
Using Your ATV Ramps
Step One: Park your pickup truck on a flat and firm surface. Clear the truck or trailer bed of all materials, and secure the vehicle before beginning the ramping procedure. Use your vehicle’s parking brake, and be sure that the trailer is secure.
Second Step: Secure the ramp on hard-packed ground, position it at the lowest possible angle, and then connect the ramp to your truck or trailer bed. When using runners, make sure that each ramp is properly spaced to match your ATV’s wheelbase. Double-check that the ramp is secure and has a snug fit.
Step Three: Use safety cables to keep the ramp tightly supported against the trailer bed.
Fourth Step: Once again, check the current weight of your ATV, and compare it to the ramp’s load capacity. You can remove any heavy, excess gear from your ATV to prevent overloading. This will prevent possible damage to your ramp and ATV.
Fifth Step: Use a winch if you have one. There is no better way to bring your ATV safely up the ramp and on to the trailer or truck bed. Riding your ATV up the ramp is an option if you don’t have a winch, but you must ride slowly and cautiously with smooth acceleration.
This is the point when the worst accidents can happen, so don’t rush it. If you go too quickly or accelerate abruptly, you can fall off of the ramp or crash into the truck’s cab. Again, a winch is the safest means of ramping your ATV, particularly if you have no previous ramping experience.
Step Six: Secure your ATV. Once the ATV is loaded, carefully secure it to the truck bed or trailer.
Using ATV ramps is quite simple once you get the hang of it, but it does require a little practice. Follow each step carefully, and utilize the help of another person whenever possible. Accidents can happen quickly and without warning, so it’s important to have help available should you need it.