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

It’s important that any wheelchair ramp you install has sufficient weigh capacity for your needs, and there are many different types of wheelchairs to consider. Manual wheelchairs weigh far less than motorized wheelchairs—just 35 lbs., as compared to powerchairs that start at 150 lbs. and go as high as 350 lbs.! Before buying a ramp, check the specifications for weight capacity and compare that to the weight of the wheelchair, plus any accessories, plus an occupant.

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

Proper Knife Cut Foot Setup

Improper Knife Cut Foot Setup

Improper Knife Cut Foot Setup