Tilt load snowmobile ramps are an excellent way to load and unload snowmobiles onto trucks, trailers or other vehicles with higher platforms throughout the winter season. Whenever heavy sport equipment such as a snowmobile or an ATV is required to be loaded, it is sometimes virtually impossible to lift and position them inside the truck or trailer without causing any damage to snowmobiles. It is at this point, these tilted ramps are put to use and you don’t have to struggle lifting your snow machines up trucks, trailers, or any vehicles. One end of a tilt load ramp is on the ground and the other seamlessly connects to the truck’s receiver hitch allowing an easy way of loading your snowmobile. These loading ramps are highly recommended as they ensure the safe loading of your ride without causing any harm to yourself and the snowmobile itself as well.
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Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramps – Factors to Consider
Snowmobile ramps are unique in function and design from other types of ramps. Most of them have no less than 1500 lbs. capacity and are made of durable lightweight material allowing them to be stored and transported easily. But there a few things that should be considered before picking the right loading ramp for your snowmobile:
Length and width of your snowmobile
The length and width dimensions of your snowmobile should match with that of the loading ramp. It should also leave a little extra space for keeping the snowmobile safe on the ramp’s surface to prevent it from slipping off easily when it is climbing up on it.
Weight
It is recommended that the larger the weight of the snowmobile, the stronger the loading ramp should be. Moreover, broader snowmobiles need ramps of broader size. SWL which stands for Safe Working Load is the maximum force the loading ramp can withstand without breaking. While selecting a ramp for your snowmobile, you should remember that the weight of the snowmobile should be less than the SWL of the ramp, as this is the load that is placed on the ramp.
Budget
If you search closely for a snowmobile ramp, you will get to know that most of the cheapest loading ramps for snowmobile cost $300 or above, which is certainly a large investment, considering you will only typically use it during winter. However, considering a ramp’s importance in transporting your ride easily, it is recommended to invest in a good loading ramp as there is a rare chance of facing any problems with it throughout its life and the value of preventing an accident while loading your snowmobile is priceless.
Proper Storage Space
Sometimes it can be difficult to store the ramp in the trailer along with your snowmobile after folding it. You should ensure sufficient space for the ramp to be stored after loading the snowmobile to prevent any damage to you, people driving around or the ramp itself.
Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramps vs. Trailers?
Quite a few snowmobilers are confused between a ramp and trailer. You can consider the advantages and disadvantages of each and decide the right pick for you.
A tilt load snowmobile ramp allows you to use your pickup truck for transporting the snowmobile, provided it has an adequately-sized open cargo area at the rear. You can transport one or two snowmobiles easily with a ramp depending on the space available in the truck. When using a ramp, your pickup’s cargo area will be occupied by the sled, and you won’t be able to stash gear. Riders who need to store additional cargo or want to transport sleds over long distances will find a trailer to be the better choice.
Ramps are suitable for transporting snowmobiles over short distances. If you live a small distance away from the trail and travel there by road, a ramp may be a good option. A trailer may not climb steep inclinations, but a 4X4 pickup truck can easily do the same. For such areas, a tilt load snowmobile ramp may be the ideal choice.
Ramps are significantly cheaper than a snowmobile trailer. You can purchase a tilt load snowmobile ramp for a few hundred dollars while the most inexpensive trailers cost at least a couple of thousand dollars. Even if you use a cheap open trailer, your snowmobile will still be exposed to snow and rain just like it would at the rear of your pickup truck. Therefore, ramps are an economical option.
Using a Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramp
Loading a sled with a tilt load snowmobile ramp is easy, but you need to look out for a few things. When using a ramp, you must be mindful of the speed and acceleration of the snowmobile. The distance between the ramp and you should be equal to one or two sleds. Align the sled according to the ramp so that the skis will climb the super glides. Accelerate on the snow and let the momentum carry you across the ramp and onto the truck. Make sure that the surface of the snow is smooth and free from bumps. Never accelerate on the ramp as it will become harder to control the snowmobile, and you may not be able to apply brakes in time. In case you get stuck on the ramp, slide back down and retry from the snow surface. Most crashes that occur while loading are either due to late or too much acceleration or not being in alignment with the ramp.
Avoid using a tilt load snowmobile ramp when the truck is parked on an inclination. It will increase the angle of inclination of the ramp as well. The snowmobile will require more force to climb the ramp and may be harder to control. You might crash into the rear of the truck or go flying over it. Always use a tilt load snowmobiling ramp (or any other ramp) on an even flat surface for maximizing safety.
Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramps – Products – 2023
Tilt loading ramps are nearly same for all the snowmobiles whether they are from well-known manufacturers like Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo, and Yamaha etc, or from local manufacturers. Let us take a look at a few of the best loading ramps for snowmobiles.
Rage Powersports 60” x 54” Snowmobile Loading Ramp with Center Track Extension
Rage Powersports 60” x 54” Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramp is feasibly one of the best snowmobile ramps for truck owners. It offers 1500 lbs. capacity and is specifically designed to load dual carbide sleds into 4 x 4 and full-sized pickup trucks. This loading ramp is made from heavy-duty aluminum which provides it an inherent rigidness and strength. It can fold lengthwise allowing to be stored and transported easily and also possesses a notched center along with an extension ramp to offer a firm grip to your snowmobile on the loading ramp. Altogether, this loading ramp is durable, sturdy, well-built and is worthy of your consideration.
Black Ice PRO Universal Snowmobile and ATV Loading Ramp (CBR -13526)
Black Ice Universal Ramp is a lightweight, sturdy and portable tilt load snowmobile ramp that can be used for loading snowmobile and ATV into trucks or trailers. It features 90” x 52” aluminum construction that can support snowmobiles and ATV’s with weights up to 1500 lbs. capacity. It can fold to 26” width for storage. It has LowPro Grip Glides on the sides of ramps allowing snowmobiles to move up and down with minimal resistance along with providing ease to its user as well. This loading ramp also includes self-retracting safety strap to mount it to the vehicle in order to prevent any damage resulting from slipping when the ramp is loaded. Black Ice Universal Ramp is made in the USA and provides a lifetime warranty.
Caliber Tri-Fold Snowmobile Ramp
The Caliber Tri-Fold Snowmobile Ramp is one best choice for transporting heavy sleds securely into the trailer or truck. It features raised ski glides that offer a centered path preventing any slipping off and damage to your snowmobile. This unit also has bigger gate grips that further increase the traction and stability. It also comes with the revolutionary traction control technology. Caliber snowmobile ramps are perfect for carrying heavy snowmobiles as they have 1500 lbs. capacity. It can be easily folded compact from 49.5” to 21” which makes them easy to store and transport. It includes a ratchet strap attached to it that help you in securing it in place. Lastly, it weighs just 50 lbs. which allows it to be extremely portable.
Black Ice Snowmobile Loading Ramp (SNO-9454-HDXW)
Black Ice Snowmobile Tilt Load Snowmobile Ramp is a good choices for loading your sled straight into your trailer easily. This unit comes with 2 outer ramp panels that have wider polyethylene ski slides which ensure low resistance loading and has a center ramp panel that consists of exposed rungs to provide traction in extreme weather conditions. These ramps can be securely attached to your vehicle with two included straps that rest on the truck’s tailgate along with 6 rubber-coated fingers that enhance stability. The ramps are made from highly strong and durable lightweight aluminum. It also features a center rung extension that provides additional grip when the snowmobile is loaded on ice or on to high platforms. It can fold compact easily that helps in its effortless storage and transport.
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