Problems loading with aluminum ramp
- Thread starter ~Rowdy~
- Start date
one more thing to add is you can take a piece of aluminum flat iron and weld or screw it on the sides of your ramp with about 1&1/2" sticking up so that your skies can't slide off the ramp as easy. That's what i did and if you line it up a blind guy could load it, makes it real difficult to fall off the ramp. may sound dumb but i've seen it done even with plastic guides.
P.S. when i'm loading my sled i don't hook the ramp to anything, the forward momentum keeps it in place. once i get in the bed of the pickup, i burp the throttle and spin the ramp off the tailgate so i don't have to lift the sled up. works good for me.
P.S. when i'm loading my sled i don't hook the ramp to anything, the forward momentum keeps it in place. once i get in the bed of the pickup, i burp the throttle and spin the ramp off the tailgate so i don't have to lift the sled up. works good for me.
R
~Rowdy~
Active member
That's pretty much exactly what I did to my ramp! Mine is a bit smaller. I tried it out yesterday after I did that but where my ramp butts up to the truck has an over hang that was too high off my tail gate so my ski's caught and I almost ate s**t. So back to square one with a hammer and pliers trying to bend the snot out of the over hang. I haven't tried it out but this weekend I will be so I will let you know if that works. If not I have no idea what to do and I will guarantee you will see another post with another question on here!
R
~Rowdy~
Active member
Hey Polar Express!
I would say I'm exactly "new" to sledding. I used to sled but that was about 3 years ago now. I have taken 2 avalanche courses, one 6 years ago and one 3 years ago but I am booked in next weekend to take it again because I feel a refresher would be a good idea. I've used a beacon tons before, know how to use a probe and of course a shovel but I don't want to be "that guy" out sledding and think I know what I'm doing and really don't.
Riding alone would be something I just wouldn't do. Not safe whatsoever, plus being a girl, which I mean I have to face I'm not as able bodied as a man, I need someone to help me if I'm stuck.
So hopefully I will be good this season. Can't wait for my virgin ride on my sled! Man oh man I can't wait! Eeeeeeeeeee!!!
Have a great weekend! Cheers!
~Krista~
I would say I'm exactly "new" to sledding. I used to sled but that was about 3 years ago now. I have taken 2 avalanche courses, one 6 years ago and one 3 years ago but I am booked in next weekend to take it again because I feel a refresher would be a good idea. I've used a beacon tons before, know how to use a probe and of course a shovel but I don't want to be "that guy" out sledding and think I know what I'm doing and really don't.
Riding alone would be something I just wouldn't do. Not safe whatsoever, plus being a girl, which I mean I have to face I'm not as able bodied as a man, I need someone to help me if I'm stuck.
So hopefully I will be good this season. Can't wait for my virgin ride on my sled! Man oh man I can't wait! Eeeeeeeeeee!!!
Have a great weekend! Cheers!
~Krista~
That's a huge positive attitude! Good girl!!!!!
On mine, I made sure to leave an extra 4-5 inches of plastic runner past the ramp. Then I took a propane torch to heat up the plastic enough to mold it downward. This has eliminated any snags when backing up.
Last edited:
Anyone got good ideas for protecting your tailgate when using a ramp?
My carbides sliced up my bed liner pretty good on the tailgate of my last truck. I just got a new truck with fresh linex and don't wanna tear it up. I'm setting up a sheet of plywood in the bed with some bedliner runners for the carbides, but the tailgate, especially the top edge where the ramp connects will still be vulnerable.
My carbides sliced up my bed liner pretty good on the tailgate of my last truck. I just got a new truck with fresh linex and don't wanna tear it up. I'm setting up a sheet of plywood in the bed with some bedliner runners for the carbides, but the tailgate, especially the top edge where the ramp connects will still be vulnerable.
what about removing the tailgate ?
The problem with removing the tailgate would be having to try and get the ramp lip out from under the track.
not sure how that would be a problem...just pull the ramp out...ie: walk to the end of the ramp, lift it off the snow, and pull it out....works every time!
beats the possibility of bending your tailgate....
R
~Rowdy~
Active member
try putting some plywood down where your ski's run, or some pieces of aluminum! I haven't tried my ramp out yet since I bent the over hang, but if I still snag I am going to get two pieces of aluminum, about 12-15" wide and the length of my truck bed, pre drill holes in the end, and in the end of my over hang and then just screw them together each time I load and unload. that way the ski's have something to sit on and glide along in the truck bed.
It's just an idea, and I haven't tried it yet but I think it would work! It will be a bit of a pain to screw and unscrew the aluminum guides and the ramp every time but better than getting caught or beating up your truck bed!
It's just an idea, and I haven't tried it yet but I think it would work! It will be a bit of a pain to screw and unscrew the aluminum guides and the ramp every time but better than getting caught or beating up your truck bed!
R
~Rowdy~
Active member
Read my above post, I think that is what I am going to try if my bending the snot out of the over hang doesn't work. I will be offloading it tonight, so fingers crossed it works!
I just need to be able to load and unload myself just in case I can't pawn the guys I rent to into helping!
I just need to be able to load and unload myself just in case I can't pawn the guys I rent to into helping!
since you sent me ramp info
i thought about this after i wanted a ramp im just gonna get a 4x10 sheet of3/4 plywood to extend to the end of my tailgate and leave it in
i thought about this after i wanted a ramp im just gonna get a 4x10 sheet of3/4 plywood to extend to the end of my tailgate and leave it in
Puckboard worked great for me. I initially tried thin plywood but it would not go through the edges in the ramp. I ended up screwing in the puckboard and every spring I get out the cordless drill and pull out the puckboard to get the ramp ready for the quad.
I have a box liner made out of plywood to give my tailgate extra strength to resist bending and protect the bed from the carbides...works pretty well so far....Also have a big rubber mat in the bed (they are used for cattle stalls) which also gives it a bit of protection.....
I have a box liner made out of plywood to give my tailgate extra strength to resist bending and protect the bed from the carbides...works pretty well so far....Also have a big rubber mat in the bed (they are used for cattle stalls) which also gives it a bit of protection.....
When I haul my sled in the truck I save my liner and aluminum tailgate cover with a pair of bedliner pieces about 2 feet long, eight inches wide. I lay them on the tailgate and when the skis hit and bite they stick and push the pieces in with them. Unloading they stay put until ski pressure is released, then I stash them in my toolbox when not in use.
I did bevel both ends of the liner towards the center so they slide over obstacles rather than catching. I have yet to have anything in the truck overpower the ski pressure.
I did bevel both ends of the liner towards the center so they slide over obstacles rather than catching. I have yet to have anything in the truck overpower the ski pressure.
Sounds like a quick fix would be to buy a trailer
Good suggestion there captain obvious. Problem is, not everyone has a place to put a nice trailer.
Personally, my garage is full of toys, can't squeeze a trailer around on either side of the house to the backyard, three cars in the driveway already, and the neighboors wouldn't be keen on leaving that sucker in the front yard. So until I buy a new place I gotta deal. For now, my $250 ramp setup kicks a s s and I'll tow my friends trailers at anytime.
So unless you're offering up your place for me to store a nice 4 place enclosed at, shut it.
Hey Tom,
You might try ski condoms...that's what I call them... the plastic thingys that slip over the skiis.
xoxo
Tumbles
Krista,
Good luck!! I hope it went well for you!! I know what you mean about doing things yourself....
You might check out http://www.ladiesride.com when you get some time...
Similar threads
