Which loading ramps?

Not something I need to take care of immediately, but having just bought a new (to me) 2001 Dodge van today, and looking forward to another stab at vintage roadracing next year, I wonder what people's favorite loading ramps are?

Last time around I just had a couple of 2x8s, IIRC. I want something that is a bit more firmly affixed to the van this time. I never had a board actually fall off with me or bike on it, but it sure seemed possible...

2x8s with the aluminum extrusions on the ends to sit better on the van? Aluminum ramps with the serrated grip surface? Something else?

Also curious about input on fixtures for mounting the bike in the van. I'm thinking of getting a front wheel chock and installing some sort of threaded inserts in the floor of the van so I can install/remove the chock at will, and add eye hooks at appropriate locations to tie the bike down once it's on the chock...

HF has aluminum ramps for a pretty reasonable price. Tractor Supply does too.

The bi-fold and tri-fold ones look interesting, but it seems like pushing a bike up one would be a little bit like trying to walk up a ladder no-handed... http://www.harborfreight.com/interests/motorcycle/super-wide-tri-fold-loading-ramp-90018.html

Are these the ones you were referring to? http://www.harborfreight.com/interests/motorcycle/1200-lb-capacity-convertible-aluminum-loading-ramp-94057.html

ransom wrote: Are these the ones you were referring to? http://www.harborfreight.com/interests/motorcycle/1200-lb-capacity-convertible-aluminum-loading-ramp-94057.html

I've been using these to load the Abomination. They work fairly well. With some blocking underneath, they even held up the Chevelle.

My favorite is my snowmobile ramp setup. You can find them on youtube. Basically its a false deck with a plywood pullout ramp underneath. You have a nice 4x8 ramp, which is real easy to work with. Very addictive.

Future thoughts are to figure out how to make one that lays even thinner.

In reply to ransom:

Yes. Those are they - with 20% discount coupon I paid right around $100 IIRC. I used them for the lawn tractor, my VFR & my BIL's Fat Boy (we used a winch though for that... no stunt riding :) )

I don't currently have a clue where mine might be - I used 2 2x12s to load up the snowblower over the weeend. Honestly - with some angle irons or something to make a hook on the truck end so they don't slip off... would be the cheapest way to go and I dont really see any downside except that wood is heavy.

I'm probably going to order one of these this week.

http://www.discountramps.com/aluminum-motocross-ramp.htm

EDIT: This showed up yesterday and I'm really happy with it, especially at that price. Plus, it's only six pounds.

Just ordered it through eBay from the same company for $59 with free shipping.

Whichever you go with, don't cheap out. I have seen clients of mine load up their new toys and taco brand new ramps... Of course these are heavier machines, but for the peace of mine I'd personally shell out a little extra cash...

I just bought the aluminum trifold ramp from Tractor Supply.

http://reviews.tractorsupply.com/0519/103511399/farm-ranch-single-tri-fold-aluminum-ramp-45-in-w-x-69-in-l-reviews/reviews.htm

The 45 inch width and non skid surface works very well to load by yourself. The 69 length is a little short but OK especially if you can choose your loading angle.

Chet

For occasional loading into a van or low truck and with a relatively light machine (under 500#), I'd be fine with a couple 2x10-12x8' planks with the extruded aluminum lip you can get at the hardware store - one for the bike and one to walk up. I put stair tread tape on mine, and screw an eye bolt into the bottom side to run a strap from the bumper/hitch to the ramp to keep it secure to the vehicle.

For serious loading at the shop, where we'd probably load/unload a handful of bikes a day, we had a set of heavy duty aluminum ramps. They were arched for clearance on the top end (so the bike doesn't bottom out on the tailgate of the truck, for instance) but still fit into a 8' truck bed. Incredibly sturdy - we'd load full Mall Expedition BMW GSs without a second thought. Ours came from one of distributor catalogs, and they weren't cheap, buy you only buy them once, and if you do a lot of bike hauling, they're worth the money.

I have one like this - http://www.discountramps.com/aluminum-motorcycle-ramp.htm

I highly recommend that you get a arched ramp. that way you don't have to remove your lower fairing before you load or unload.

At least europlugs was on-topic, but totally canoe.

Is such a double-post a catamaran?

In reply to Rusnak_322: Do you just have the single ramp? If so, is it awkward trying to push/keep control of the bike as you get closer to the tailgate?

I'm not too worried about it with my little CB160 race bike, but for a bigger bike it seems like it could be awkward...

In reply to ransom:

Yeah, it gets awkward. Having somebody in the truck to catch the bike, stabilize it and hold the front brake helps. Best idea is to get an 8' 2x8 to walk up next to the ramp.

Then again (just remembered you're going into a van), it's not too bad with a low load height. I used to load streetbikes into an Aerostar solo with no problem. And if you can cheat by backing up to a slope to level out the ramp a bit, Bob's your uncle. But going into enormous modern trucks that you need a stepladder to get up to the bed - yeah, I'd want two ramps and a helper.

alex wrote: And if you can cheat by backing up to a slope to level out the ramp a bit, Bob's your uncle.

I hadn't heard this expression until a year or two ago, but it cracks me up every time. And, coincidentally, Bob is my uncle.

I haven't the slightest idea what its origins are, it's just a quirky Brit turn of phrase I picked up somehow along the way.

In reply to ransom:

I put my Aprilia sport bike into and out of the back of my 4x4 F350 with only my wife watching to make sure I was keeping the tire on the ramp. I used either a cooler or a dirt bike stand as a step. I have a enclosed trailer now with barn doors that I put our street bikes into with no issues at all without a step, and it is only slightly lower then my brother-in-laws work van floor.

In reply to Woody:

1st time i heard it was in the Movie "worlds fastest Indian".

Yup, me too.