Our modern-day workhorses have evolved quite a bit since their inception back in the early 1930s. However, the goal has always been the same, to get over that hill, load up the back with tools and equipment and to safely tow your camper, no matter the terrain.
While utes don’t excel at any of the above, they are quite versatile and thus able to perform well in almost any scenario. With their high ground clearance, long enough cab and capable powertrains, you can bring the kids to school and then go about your workday. However, a ute isn’t the same without a loading ramp and be it for dirt bikes or ATVs, such an accessory makes any utility vehicle more practical.
What Matters in a Loading Ramp
Material
The three main materials used to make loading ramps are aluminium, steel and composite.
Aluminium loading ramps are the most sought-after solution as it’s a material that’s both lightweight and strong enough for most vehicles. An aluminium ramp on a truck is also resistant to rust and quite portable, making it both long-lasting and versatile.
Steel loading ramps are much heavier than aluminium ones, but they are also much stronger. This level of strength makes them usable with heavier equipment, but remember that it also makes them less portable and increases their price. Steel ramps are also not as rust-resistant as aluminium ones.
Composite ramps are made of either plastic or resin composite, which makes them nearly as strong as steel and nearly as light as aluminium ones. When it comes to medium-duty loading tasks, composite ramps are the most fitting option.
Length
The length of the ramp determines how easy it is to load up vehicles and equipment in the back of your ute. The longer the ramps are, the more subtle the incline is going to be up to your ute’s bed and vice versa. However, longer ramps are also not as easy to move around and store, therefore, striking a balance is key here.
Capacity
The weight capacity of the ramps is directly affected by the material they’re made of, but this doesn’t give you an exact number on how much weight you can have on them. Make sure to get ramps that have a somewhat higher weight capacity than the heaviest piece of machinery or equipment you plan to load on your ute.
Surface
There are two ways you can make sure to keep whatever’s going to roll up and down your ramps, stay that way, and that’s either with a serrated rung or a punch plate surface. The former has wider haps so that debris can fall through rather than on the ramps, while the latter has a smaller opening, which provides better traction in wet conditions.
Stability
The position of the ramps on the ground is secured by one of three solutions:
- Stub feet are made to support larger and heavier loads while being suitable for utes with higher ground clearances.
- Knife ends make ramps that have a smooth transition into the ground, helping prevent damage to utes with low ground clearance.
- Roller feet make for ramps that can be easily slid into the storage pockets or trailers.
Connection
The other end of a ramp that sits on the bed of your ute can be a plate end, pin-on end or a hook/plate hybrid end.
Plate end ramps can be used on any trailer and ute bed, but you need to strap them down to make the loading secure.
Pin-on ends make ramps that are able to provide the most secure connection, but they need special brackets to be welded to the bed of your ute in order to work.
Hook/plate hybrid ends have both a plate and a hook, which makes the ramps they’re found on quite versatile without requiring strapping in or special hardware.
Added Features
You can get ramps that can fold, which makes them a lot easier to store, but know that these are costlier and the folding doesn’t mean you can store them anywhere. Rubber ends or surfaces are also part of some ramps, which make them even safer when loading on a rainy day.
Benefits of Loading Ramps
Safety
One of the biggest reasons to use a proper ramp on a truck is to keep things safe. You just can’t get the same level of reliable safety with wooden planks or any other similarly shaped objects.
Convenience
With truck loading ramps, you can load and unload gear and equipment more easily. You don’t have to put as much effort and you also get your equipment on or off your ute much quicker because of it.
Efficiency
This leads me to the efficiency factor, which is amplified with the use of truck ramps, as they are meant exactly for the task at hand. There is no other way of loading or unloading your ute’s bed that is as efficient.
Versatility
The simplicity and tried-and-true design of a ramp for truck loading is what makes it the most versatile solution in this case. You can use ramps on any flat service that coincides with their length.