What size loading ramp do I need? Are arched ramps better? Are loading ramps safe? How much do aluminium ramps cost?

Whether you have a compact-digger, an ATV, a wheelchair, a motorbike, or anything else that requires a ramp for loading onto a vehicle, figuring out what size you need can be a nightmare. 

You don’t want to go bigger than is absolutely necessary, but in the same breath, if you go too small, you’re going to be in a world of trouble as well. And then the question of how safe loading ramps are come into play. And how much do aluminium ramps cost? 

In this article, we’re going to try and simplify the process for you and answer as many of these questions as we can, for your convenience. 

What size loading ramp do I need?

What size loading ramp do I need? Of course, the size of the loading ramp you require will depend on a wide variety of different factors. You have to ask the following questions: 

• What are you loading? (e.g., a mini-digger? An ATV? A motorbike?) 
• What are you loading your equipment onto? (e.g., a pickup truck? a 10-wheeler truck? An aluminium trailer?) 
• How much does the equipment weigh? 
• What material are you going to roll with? (There is much debate between whether steel is better than aluminium. In any case, this article is going to be focused on aluminium loading ramps). 
• How steep is the incline? 
• How wide is the load? 
• Are there any accessibility considerations? (where will you be loading your equipment?) 

These are just a few of the factors that can influence the size of loading ramp that you need. For example: for a standard sized truck, an 8-foot ramp or longer is recommended. For any trucks that are lifted up to four inches, then a 9.5-foot ramp is preferable. And for anything more than four inches, you’ll need an 11-foot ramp set at the very least. 

Are arched loading ramps better?

But it’s not just the size of the loading ramp that comes into question. For example, are arched loading ramps better? Are you better off with a folding ramp? These are each important questions and the style of ramp you opt for is crucial, depending on your situation. 

For straight ramps, the angle created to a high bed or truck enables a high centring situation, which is ideal for a lawn-mower that is typically quite low to the ground. However, the arched type loading ramp is designed to prevent that. The fact is, arched loading ramps are ideal for almost every loading situation and are typically better. 

That being said, you can get folding arched ramps, allowing you to conveniently fold them in half and reduce their size when transporting the ramps. 

Again, the type of loading ramp that you need is highly dependent on the equipment that you are loading. 

Are loading ramps safe?

Are loading ramps safe? The short answer is yes. Loading ramps are perfectly safe, provided that they are used properly and with care. 

For example, if you rush into buying any old ramp and subsequently end up with something too small, then you are going to have a difficult time with the loading process. Similarly, if you don’t put any thought into the weight of the equipment being loaded when compared to the total weight that the ramp in question can handle, then you are putting yourself (and your equipment) at a high risk. 

Thus, loading ramps are perfectly safe, provided they meet the perfect conditions:

• Your loading ramp is the appropriate length
• Your loading ramp is the proper material 
• Your loading ramp is designed to sufficiently handle the weight of your intended loading equipment
• Your loading ramp is the appropriate style for the task at hand
• You wear the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) 
• You take your time and do not rush the loading process
• You have a friend with you as necessary (a plus one is recommended when loading large, heavy, and especially dangerous equipment)
• You follow all recommended safety procedures when securing loading ramps 

How much do aluminium ramps cost?

And of course, another question that you might be wondering is “how much do aluminium ramps cost?” This isn’t an easy question to answer given how much variety there is. 

You see, loading ramps vary in size, style, length, weight, purpose, and so on. In addition to that, you can buy loading ramps used, brand-new, and even have them designed custom for your unique situation. 

As such, figuring out how much aluminium ramps cost in Australia isn’t easy. 

There are aluminium ramps that are designed for loading boxes onto trucks, and aluminium ramps that are designed for loading mini-diggers onto trailers. As such, the prices can vary from ramp to ramp significantly. 

This could average anywhere from $150, $5,000, $8,000 and beyond! 

In this case, your best bet is to first figure out precisely what you need (i.e., size, weight requirement, and so on), and then contact a reputable supplier with loading ramps for sale. Until you know exactly what type of loading ramp you need, there’s no use looking at “average prices”, as you may end up disappointed when you find precisely what you need and it turns out to be more expensive than you were anticipating. 

Conclusion 

We hope that this article has helped you narrow things down a little bit. The purpose of this article was to help you better understand the considerations that you must keep in mind when choosing the style of loading ramp that you need, and indeed its size. 

And finally, loading ramps are safe to use, but they can be disastrous if not selected properly or afforded the proper respect. 

Good luck, stay safe, and enjoy!