Do you guys use ramps and how to get ATV on the bed?

Actually not ATV, but a lawn tractor. I'm planning not to use a trailer but just drive the tractor to the bed using ramps. But how to get over the tailgate? I'm afraid I can't drive this 600lb tractor over the tailgate - it has to be lowered so it does not interfere with ramps. But removing the tailgate in 1st gen Tacoma is not as fast as in 2gen, so what do you guys suggest?

 

trailer

years ago there was much to do about the tailgate

handling weight

HD motorcycles etc

at 1 time there was mention of a strengthening kit

trailer

 

There is no problem climbing that tractor on 2-meters long ramps - it rides much steeper hills . I wouldn't want longer ramps anyway as I would have to carry them with the load, and the bed length is limited.

Unfortunately getting a trailer setup in Poland is not as simple as I had it in USA. I would have to do at minimum 7-wires trailer wiring with standard plug (in USA it is just 4-wires adapter), then get the truck "re-registered" for "being able to tow", and then of course pass the safety inspection for the tow hitch and the trailer harness.

But wait, this is just a first part. The second part is a trailer. You can't just buy a used trailer or make your own. Actually you can't make a road legal trailer at all. It must be certified as a roadworthy (have all the paperwork from a manufacturer) then pass a safety inspection and get registered. If you buy a used trailer, you need to make sure that it does have all the paperwork required for registration, and also factory installed "VIN plate" with matching information.

It is so much f** hassle I am trying to avoid, when all I want to do is to deliver this tractor to the service once a year. If I can't load it on the bed of my Tacoma, I'd rater pay the service guy to come over with his trailer and take it in, then when the service is done, bring it back. Really, sometimes I think it is easier to buy a low floor cargo van than trying to hook up a trailer to a car or truck. It is worth if you are going to use a trailer all the time (like for business) as once the truck is registered as a "tow vehicle" it has to pass the "tow part" of safety inspection every year regardless if you will ever tow or not. And for example a stupid short in towing harness will fail the entire truck on annual safety inspection. It has to be 100% operational regardless if you use it or not. I love my Poland

 

Wow! Learn something new every day.
Any idea why they are so strict about towing? One big horrific accident cause a bunch of new regulations or something?
I thought the US was over regulated but that’s over the top.

 

itl be fine. my half rusted out tailgate has seen many heavier things loaded onto it. including a polaris that was fully loaded for a cabin trip weighing probably 1200 lbs with me in it.

 

Fork Lift or Crane .

Not allowed to use ramps deemed unsafe

 

I have used ramps for four wheelers. One thing to pay attention to is after you get it loaded make sure that if you have to slam your brakes on that the four wheeler or lawn mower won't slide forward and break the back glass. I have used 2x4s or a small old tire before. My dad broke a glass like this when I was a kid, he wasn't very happy.

 

My guess is some smart politician figured out that trailers, because they travel on a public roads, must be treated the same way as cars that are towing them. USA gives motorists much more freedom, than European countries (the vehicle regulations are mostly unified in EU, and Poland is just following it). Like any modifications to factory suspension or breaks are frown upon at annual inspection. Big wheels and tires - oh, you will get in trouble if they stick outside the fender. There are some of-road clubs with people playing in a mud, but these modified vehicles are usually not registered, and they are delivered to the playground on trailers. Truck culture and "modifying automobiles" is USA thing. In Europe a car is just a mean of transportation with primary focus on gas mileage (hence so many small diesel cars or LPG conversion). Fab shops don't really exist, and shop related to cars are doing just repair things. Oh well, Europe sucks, USA rules .

 

There are dedicated ramps for my tractor (made by the same company)



The tractor is:

 

How do you secure the Ramps to the Truck while in Use??

Something to secure them they can`t move?

Driver backing the equipment off the Pick up Ramps kicked out equipment landed on him till he was found he had moved on.

 

You do it very carefully . By the way, this is how this tractor was delivered. Brought in inside a cargo van, driven off it on such ramps. Nothing happened. It is not a tank. If you can secure a truck from moving while changing a tire, I'm sure it is possible to secure it for loading using ramps.

My real question was is it safe to attach ramps to the gate and drive the tractor over it or is a some trick to lower the gate so the rams can be leaned against the bed. The tractor is not that long (the grass catcher is detachable) so I can drive it on the bed with the tailgate up. The loading is the real question.

 

My tail gate saw loads of 1000 pounds often but not all 1000 pounds at one time.

Then I replace the cables that hold the tail gate every year.

 

I use folding ramps that are pretty long from Tractor Supply Co: LINK

Seems to do just fine with my arctic cat 500, I try and find a bit of a hill/depression to load/unload on so it lessens the angle, but smooth & steady wins the race. I also put a piece of a plastic barrel in front of the ATV bumper so it doesn't smash the back window out.


This is the hill i back onto on my property to load/unload- makes it super easy:

 

To make sure I understand it correctly, you attach the ramp to the end of the tailgate? So when you drive ATV you drive it over the ramp and tailgate to get to the bed? And the tailgate is good enough to sustain the partial weight of ATV?

 

The problem will be the transition from the ramp onto the truck.

Front wheels on truck, rear wheels on ramp, mower deck hung on the edge where the ramp meets the truck.

Even with the mow deck in full raised position, it can still hang.

 

I bought metal transitions and cut a 2x8. The transitions include a template, you measure height of the tailgate and cut the 2x8 to fit. The angle is less aggresive than some metal ramps, enough that I never actually start the tractor..I just push it up the ramp off flat ground by myself.

 

Nope, these are "curved ramps". The shape makes smooth transition. By the way I rode this tractor in much drastic angle - that deck is pretty high for the wheelbase. The picture I attached shows the deck at the lowest possible position.

The main question is will the gate support the weight of ramps attached and 500lb tractor driving on it.

 

Take the tailgate off.
Put the ramps up to the bed and secure them to the underside of the bumper. (They have straps or use some)
Drive the mower on and tie it all down.

 

Another option, yup. I"ve never had to remove my tailgate to transport mine (have a couple of pics in My Photos if you want to check it out).