simple solution for steep loading ramps

[knee deep in it]

climbing up a ramp isn't hard once your track hooks up on the ramp. You can actually stop or idle up the ramp once you have engaged it. The problem is that you need to carry enough speed in order to get the track to the ramp.

If you go to slow, you end up with only the very back of the track on the ground spinning. This is especially true if loading on ice or on pavement. if you go to fast, you end up on America's Funniest Home Videos. I think the fear of loading keeps many people from owning a sled deck.

What is needed is a way for the track to have traction without the need to go too fast. A simple idea is to add something that looks like a ladder to the ramp. Here is my first iteration of the design.

The extension is a 2x10" piece of pressure treated wood with gripping strips attached to the top of it. I used 1 1/2" strips of old hardwood I had glued then screwed every 6"

In order to attach it to the ramp so it doesn't get shot out backwards, I cut a 1" slot on the back of the board and it hooks onto the lowest rung of the ramp. Unfortunately, the ground wasn't level and I broke part of it. This part of the design needs some more thought. I may use a strap to help keep it attached to the ramp while loading.

Here is the extension in action. I idled up to the ramp and then idled 1/2 way up the ramp. I then stopped the sled and engaged the parking brake. You can see that the track is fully hooked up to the extension. I then made sure the sled was square to the ramp, started the sled back up and drove on to the deck at 1 mph.

At no point did I exceed a couple of MPH and the track had traction the entire time. I makes loading the sled child's play, very very easy. Time to build was about 1 hour and the cost was $7 for a piece of culled lumber at Home Depot.

Another idea I have is to attach the extension to the 2nd rung of the ramp. This way, it won't matter if the ground is a little uneven as the extension will be mostly off the ground, at a very shallow angle.

This would actually strengthen the connection between the ramp and the extension as the ramp won't be able to jump off the rung.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I like it.. I might have to put together a little tail for my ramp. with the 162's I put on my deck every time there is a dead spot that if your not on dry pavement you have to haul *** to get onto the truck.. and it bent my ramp some from hitting it so fast.

loading slow is nice.... and safe. I usually load my deck. nobody likes to load because there afraid to jump into the truck, except the people who also own decks and are used to loading.

 

[sandorsnow]

Great idea

Instead of notching the wood to hook onto the ramp,(where it broke) could you glue and screw another piece onto it to use as the hook so it wont slide out?

Just tryin to help, again great idea.

 

[knee deep in it]

i got an idea from Sandorsnow, attach another strip of hardwood on the back side to give a larger, more robust hook. It is now unlikely that the extension will bounce off the ramp while loading. Simple idea which I really like.

I had an extra cleat from yesterday because I lack the ability to successfully count to 9 so it was a simple matter of fishing it out of the garbage and glue / screwing it on to the underside of the extension.

Here is a pic.

As you can see, it adds a lot of beef to the hook so this itteration is no longer garbage. I had intended to do another one a little prettier but this one looks like it will work fine. 5 minutes to spray paint and you end up with this

 

[giddyup]

ramp

i have done the same, i dont use the wood idea, i have just taken about an 8in wide strip of old track and put it on , i have been thinking of bolting it to a hinge so i can fold it up when i put the ramp away, right now i just fold the track up, works great, lots of traction, i dont have any pic's of it, it looks the same as yours just where you use a board i use a piece of track.

giddyup

 

[94fordguy]

I really like that a lot.... had to hit it pretty fast last weekend in an icy parking lot and still slid around a little bit before the track grabbed the ramp.....


Very nice "cheap" solution

 

[Coldfinger]

Good idea. Yes, hook it to the 2nd or 3rd rung.

 

[skibreeze]

Good idea. Yes, hook it to the 2nd or 3rd rung.

Yup, just high enough to clear the belly pan will work the best.