How to Secure a Loading Ramp to Your Vehicle
Updated on: July 20th, 2020
Securing your loading ramp to your vehicle is very important for safety. If an ATV’s rear tires begin to spin while the front tires are already in the pickup bed, loose ramps can potentially shoot out from underneath, flipping the ATV backwards and landing on the driver. Ramp safety straps should always be used when using a loading ramp.
Hooking Up Safety Straps to a Ramp
Feed hook end
After positioning the ramps on the lip of the tailgate or trailer, locate the point of the ramp where the second rung closest to the tailgate and the center rail meet. Feed the hook end of the safety strap though the strap’s looped end, so the strap is wrapped around the center rail below the second rung.
Pull hook end
Unfold the ramps and place the finger or plate ends on the edge of the tailgate. Then, use tie-down straps to secure the ramps to the truck via the bumper (steel bumpers only) or trailer hitch safety chain loops. This step is important! If the tie-down straps are not secured to the truck, they may slide out while you and the tractor are on the ramp.
Attach hook end of strap
Locate a secure spot underneath the vehicle, such as the inside of the bumper or the receiver hitch, and attach the hook end of the strap. Make sure to attach the strap to a metal area only, since any plastic construction, such as the bumpers on some vehicles, will not hold it securely and may cause damage to the vehicle.
Pull loose end of strap
Pull the loose end of the strap until it is tight and the ramp feels stable and secure. Make sure the ramp cannot move backward, retightening the safety strap if necessary. You are now ready to slowly load your machinery!
Hooking Up Steel Cables to a Ramp
Loosen and Adjust
Place the lip of the ramp on the tailgate or trailer. Loosen the nuts on the safety cable’s U-bolt, and adjust the length of the cable so it reaches the underside of the vehicle’s bumper or hitch.
Attach S-Hook
Attach the S-hook end of the cable to the bumper, receiver hitch, or other metal area. Do not hook the cable to the bumper if it is constructed of plastic, as it may cause damage to the vehicle.
Tighten & Load
Make sure the lip or fingers of the ramp are completely on the tailgate or trailer and then pull the cable tight to remove all slack. Tighten the nuts securely. If the lip of the ramp can be pulled away from the edge of the tailgate, go back and retighten the slack in the cable and nuts. You are now ready to slowly load your machinery!