As snowmobilers, we have always enjoyed the convenience of throwing our sled in the back of our truck when there’s no need to pull a trailer. And for the most part, this convenience requires a good snow bank to facilitate loading.
But in recent years we have found a scarcity of snow banks both at lower elevations where we live and higher elevations at the trailheads. Rather than trying to get creative with our loading techniques, it has made much more sense to have a good snowmobile ramp that we can slide into the bed of our pickup.
Over the years we have tried multiple ramp designs—most either being bulky and cumbersome, or not very compatible with the carbide runners on skis. And if you ever do YouTube searches, you can find plenty of gruesome videos of the hazards of misusing a loading ramp.
This past winter the editors of SnoWest have come across the most effective snowmobile loading ramp to date—the RevArc, manufactured by Bosski Inc.
Actually, we first noticed the ramp in one of our own e-mail blasts that we send out for clients. We had been making an older ramp do but were constantly modifying or repairing it. When we saw the RevArc, we knew immediately that its design was something we needed to take a closer look at.
We contacted Ryan Zelinsky, owner of Bosski, and he had a ramp delivered immediately for our product testing.
RevArc Specs
The RevArc is the first tri-fold arched snowmobile ramp that we’ve come across. It is a one-piece system that is not only lightweight (44 lbs.) but also features an arc design for easier loading without such a severe angle at the tailgate.
The RevArc is 90 inches long and 49.5 inches wide (which folds down to about 22 inches wide when not in use). It is designed to handle ski stances from 32 inches up to 47 inches. It can handle a 1,500-pound load.
There are two parts of the RevArc—where the skis go and where the track goes. Each of the two skis sections are eight inches wide and feature HDPE glides that allow the carbides to slip up the ramps without digging into the aluminum cross bars. RevArc offers four designs to choose from so your ramp can match your skis. The middle section designed to provide loading traction for your track is 16 inches wide.
Whether it be the length of the snowmobiles or the shortness of the pickup beds, it’s very common to have the track extend beyond the end of the tailgate. And for anyone who has used ramps, you know the headache of trying to either get the lip of the ramp out from under the track … or place the lip under the track. RevArc offers a Sled Riser that solves these problems and actually facilitates the loading process of the ramp.
Likes, Dislikes
The first day we needed to use the RevArc was one of those sub-zero mornings where we didn’t want to spend too much time outside. It was nice to have a ramp design that was simple and straightforward. First, place the Sled Riser on the back of the tailgate. Second, place the ramp on the Sled Riser. Third, unfold the ramp and secure it to the truck. Forth, load the sled.
One, two, three, four. It was that simple … except for maybe the second part of three. Our RevArc came with three ratchet ties designed to secure the ramp in three places. It was those ratchet ties that created a little frustration.
First, the dangling straps kept getting hooked up. Second, the ratchet design is somewhat cumbersome … particularly in cold weather where even with gloves the bite of cold metal burned our fingers. Complicate that process by trying to work with ratchets and we felt we were spending way too much time trying to do something that should only take seconds.
Our quick solution was to replace the three ratchet ties with two tie-downs that could be quickly attached to the receiver in mere seconds. Although the ratchets may represent more secure attachment, the tie-downs do the trick and are easier to handle … especially in freezing temperatures.
We loved how the sled loaded above the lip of the ramp on the Sled Riser. Not only does it eliminate the fight of having the ramp lip pinched under the track, but it also provides secure traction when it’s time to back the ramp off the truck.
The ramp glides worked perfectly and the traction control extension allows you to crawl up the ramp. (Remember in the past when you didn’t hit the ramp at 30 mph, your skis would push into the ramp and your track would spin out on the ice or pavement? Well, with the traction control extension, your track hooks up just fine and you can literally stop at any point and then continue up the ramp.)
Finally, the advantage of the arch allows you to keep the snowmobile in contact with the ramp and then truck bed so you don’t have that “tipping moment” when your sled crests the severe angle change at the tip of the tailgate.
Although there are a lot of moving parts with the RevArc, once you figure out the system on how to fold and unfold the ramp, it makes for easy use.
Contact Bossksi www.bosskibuilt.com.