How to Choose a Snowmobile Ramp

Slicing through snow on your Yamaha Viper SR snowmobile is a thrilling, fun winter pastime that shouldn’t be negated by the hassle of loading and unloading your sled. Snowmobile ramps are designed specifically to accommodate tracks and skis so that getting your ride into your trailer or truck bed is a smooth process.

Here are the key factors to consider when selecting the best snowmobile ramp for you:

The ramp incline

Although short ramps might look more appealing in terms of pricing, weight and size, they can lead to steeper inclines and potential injury or damage when used in the wrong setting. Because snowmobiles are long and have a track, the more connection they can have with the ramp, the better – otherwise you might high-center at the top, or not be able to make it on the ramp at all. When loading up a trailer, we recommend a 5-foot long trailer ramp or 6.5-long trailer ramp, depending on height of your trailer. If you prefer to load your sled into your pickup bed, use a 7.5-foot long ramp to ensure you have an appropriate incline.

Stud protectors

Studs are an incredibly useful addition to any track, especially if you ride frozen lake, rivers or icy trails. Unfortunately, the razor sharp studs can damage your aluminum loading ramp over time. By choosing a ramp option with stud protectors, or outfitting your existing ramp with a stud protector package, the studs will make contact on the plastic ramp grips instead of metal.

Ramp extension

When loading a snowmobile on asphalt or pavement, the track needs extra traction, particularly once your skis hit the ramps and starts to lose traction on the smooth ground.Snowmobile ramp extensions connect to your snowmobile ramp on the rung closest to the ground so that your track can grip something before it reaches the ramp – perfect for that little bit of extra oomph.

The stance of your carbides

Most ramps measure around 50 inches wide with ski glide protectors on the outer edges. By measuring the stance of your carbides from outside edge to outside edge, or by knowing their adjustable range, you can select a ramp option that will work with your skis. Be aware that many manufactures list the stance of their models from center of carbide to center. Additionally, if you haven’t previously measured your total outside snowmobile width to make sure it will fit in your truck or trailer, now is a good time to do so!