Heavy-Duty Loading Ramp Foot Styles - Knife Cut vs. Stub Toe
Heavy-Duty Loading Ramps come in many different styles and varieties. This article is for those looking to understand the differences between the two available styles of foot ends, the knife cut and the stub toe. For a wider overview of heavy-duty loading ramps, please see our article on Information about Heavy-Duty Loading Ramps.
Knife Cut Foot
Advantages
Knife cut feet provide a smoother transition from the ground onto the ramp, which is especially important if you are loading low-profile vehicles with limited front and rear ground clearance. Properly sized, these ramps provide flexibility for loading most vehicles and equipment.
Disadvantages
Knife cut feet are designed to sit flat on the ground with limited flexibility for varying load heights. When used at load heights either above or below the designed range (typically ±6"), the toe of the ramp may bend.
Stub Toe Foot
Advantages
Stub toe feet provide the strongest available reinforcement to the end of the ramp. In addition, they provide the greatest flexibility in load height ranges (typically ±12"). The strength of the foot makes it more appropriate for loading heavier equipment or concentrated loads on smaller tires like skid loaders.
Disadvantages
Stub toe feet do not provide a smooth transition from the ground onto the ramp, so the type of usable loading vehicles is restricted to those with greater front and rear ground clearance.
Proper Knife Cut Foot Setup
Proper setup of a knife cut foot requires that you know the load height before purchasing the ramps. This is needed so that the tapered end of the ramp lays flat on the ground to prevent the ramp toe from supporting the weight of the loading process, which could bend the toe.
