| ATV Ramp Reviews
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Megan Vickers
Assistant Editor
With the increased popularity of the larger and heavier ATVs and UTVs, it’s up to the dealer to make sure their customers have a loading ramp that can hold the added weight. By asking questions about what your customer intends to add to the vehicle’s weight, including the driver’s own weight, retailers can avoid any accidents that may occur while loading the vehicle onto the truck or trailer. The following ATV loading ramp companies share some information regarding their latest ramp products for you to review. |
Photo courtesy of Rage Powersports |
2007 ATV RAMPS MARKET REPORT
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The AmeriDeck SuperDeck XL offers safe, ground level loading, secure under deck storage and the ability to haul one or two ATVs in the back of a pick-up truck, described General Manager Matt Wilson, who added, no trailer is needed. “Our product allows the user to drive their ATVs on to our deck, secure them and load them into the back of their pick-up truck with the push of a button,” he stated. Quality and ease of use are what people value, Wilson explained, especially those who race in either the intermediate or pro circuit. |
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| After introducing this product last year, overall sales have increased, he divulged. “Selling an ATV ramp can be a great way to expand your market offerings to your customers,” he said, adding, “Having a nice selection of ramps to sell your customers gives them options as well as makes your business a one stop shop for them once they invest in an ATV from you.” Wilson advised dealers use the equipment that they sell to their customers so that they can see it in action. “Many of our distributors started out using an AmeriDeck system in their business for pick-up and delivery of ATVs and once the customers saw the product in action they wanted one for themselves,” he concluded. |
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“Our newest ramp we call the Retractable Ramp System,” said Paul Nicolaou, vice president of
Boss Truck
Accessories. This system is safer because the ramp will not shift or kick-out and it does not overload the tailgate, stated Nicolaou, who explained, the ramps extend to 7 1/2 ft. in length and the ramps extract and retract into the truck bed, so there is no need to remove and store. “Safety is becoming a larger overall issue and this carries over into the ramp market,” he noted, “Customers are looking for ramps which are safe and easy to use.” |
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| The company has broadened its dealer network over the last year, which has resulted in increased sales of its ramps, Nicolaou told us. He added, “Dealers need to know ramps that rest on a truck’s tailgate are dangerous. Tailgates are generally not built strong enough to handle the weight of an ATV plus driver. Quite often a tailgate will fail (fold and/or cables snap) with disastrous results. Our Retractable Ramp System solves this problem by replacing the stock tailgate.” |
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Five Star Manufacturing President Jim Woodward told us his company’s latest ramps are the model LRC3 styles, which are available in four lengths: 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft., plus these ramps consist of three pieces to make a total of 41 inches in width. “The two outside pieces are 12 inches wide with a 750 lb. load capacity, the center piece is 16 inches wide with a 1,500 lb. load capacity and the total weight capacity is 3,000 lbs.” explained Woodward.
The LRC3 style ramps reportedly connect together with two stake pocket-type hooks for locking purposes and the two outside pieces can be used for loading and unloading many different types of four wheel vehicles, such as ATVs, UTVs, golf carts, lawn mowers and go-karts. |
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| Woodward said he has noticed a trend in the ATV market where the machines keep getting bigger and heavier; therefore, the ramps have to keep getting longer and wider with more load capacities to accommodate. Sales are up, he told us, adding, stores should know the safety and quality of each ramp as well as the specifications for each ramp in order to sell them to fit each customer’s needs. |
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“We are proud to offer a new lightweight aluminum ATV loading ramp from
Fly
Racing,” stated Western Power Sports ATV Product Manager Chris Harris. He told us the ramp features a wider design to accommodate newer, wider ATVs and it comes with rubber dipped angle ends to protect the tailgate. Harris added, the ramp folds in half for easy carrying and storage, the rungs have extruded surface grooves for added traction and it comes with a load rating of 1,200 lbs.
“We see ATV ramps keeping pace with the larger ATVs by increasing in size while keeping safety and function as the base of the design,” he explained, adding, “Our ramp sales are up over last year. I feel, we have made a great quality ramp at a very nice price.” |
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| Harris said these ramps were made with the larger displacement ATVs in mind. “This lightweight aluminum ramp is the widest ramp we offer,” he noted. “The traction bars extend all the way to the outer edge of the ramp. With larger quads getting wider, you need traction to extend wide enough for the tires to use. So we have made this new ramp for all ATVs while keeping the ramp strong and lightweight,” he concluded. |
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New from Grant Manufacturing-TK Loader is the model 200SE ramp, which features ease of installation and removal and ease of operation, informed President Steve Dixon. Its number one benefit is its safety features and it handles all ATVs including the two passenger models, as well as UTVs which are all difficult to load with typical ramps, said Dixon. “Also, the TK Loader prevents damage to the tailgate when loading UTVs and heavy ATVs,” he added.
Dixon told us the company’s product is becoming more popular with safety conscious consumers and dealers and it is also gaining popularity as a high-tech loading system. |
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| Sales are up, he divulged, thanks to increased awareness through strategic marketing which includes a new Web site. “With our product, it is first a concern for safety and secondly a matter of pure convenience,” Dixon explained to dealer/retailers. |
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“Our newest ramp is a full 8 1/2 ft. long ramp that replaces the factory tailgate on a pick-up truck,” explained
HandiGate Ramps Manager Sperry Bilyea. This ramp offers several features, including being made partly from composite materials that provide superior traction and eliminate the problem of rust, the ramp is arched to prevent bottoming out and, as an integrated part of the truck, enthusiasts can always have the ramps with them, he told us.
“The largest trend we have noticed is toward safety when loading equipment,” Bilyea said, adding, “Pick-up trucks are getting higher and equipment is getting larger.
These trends demand ramps that are securely fastened to the truck for safety and can safely handle the heavier loads.”
Bilyea divulged that sales are up because of the safety features offered by HandiGate’s ramps. “I think it’s important for dealers to understand how their customers will use the ramp in order to sell the one that is best suited for the customer,” stated Bilyea. He continued, “That is, how often will the customer use the ramp, under what conditions and with what kind of truck and equipment.” |
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Kimpex’s Marie-Josée Turcotte told us the Tri-Fold Sport Utility Ramps make it easy to load equipment. The ramps are sold completely assembled and can be unfolded and ready to use in seconds, she explained, adding, the ramp weighs only 36 lbs. and folds to 16 inches.
These ramps can also reportedly be used for loading snowmobiles and equipment with small tires and are said to accommodate plywood decking.
They are ideal for loading snowmobiles, snowblowers, ATV four wheelers, motorcycles, lawn tractors and more, said Turcotte. She explained that the company’s sales are going up because of this product and that customers enjoy it. |
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“Ohio Steel Industries aluminum telescoping ramp has a 1,250 lb. distributed load capacity per set and features a punched tread pattern for increased traction and safety,” described National Sales Manager Fred Feeney. “A push of a button extends the ramps to lengths of 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches. When not in use the ramps retract and lay flat for easy storage and transport,” he added. |
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| Feeney said he has noticed a continued influx of imported products as one trend in the market. He’s also noticed today’s ramps have heavier weight capacities due to the increased popularity of UTVs. “Customer safety should be a key concern for dealers,” said Feeney. They should take the time to question their customers on how they intend to use the loading ramp and also make sure consumers are aware of loading ramps and other accessories during the sale of the ATV or UTV, he explained. Feeney concluded by saying, “Due to pricing and convenience factors, consumers are likely to purchase accessories elsewhere if not presented by the dealer at the time of the ATV/UTV sale.” |
| The model #71352
E-Series Tri-Fold “is a great ramp for loading wider ATVs
while maintaining the ability to compact it to a storable
size,” explained Oxlite
Manufacturing. “The E-Series Tri-Folds have the
design benefits of less aluminum with a more open design in
the center panel not only reducing cost but reducing the risk
of dangerous misconceptions of uses making your customers and
your business safer,” said Oxlite, which added, the ramps
come in sizes of 46 inches by 71 inches, 46 inches by 81
inches, 50 inches by 71 inches and 50 inches by 81 inches, all
at a 1,000 lb. load capacity. They are said to come with
a five year warranty, safety straps, serrated rods and rubber
tips for grip. Oxlite’s sales are the same when compared to
last year’s, divulged the company. |
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| They concluded by saying, “Oxlite ramps are designed for specific applications and [the company has] over 70 ramps to accommodate just about every powersport customer’s need.” Oxlite urged dealers to take advantage of their manufacturer’s willingness to contribute and provide education on their products saying, “it’s important for our dealers and retailers to know what a ramp can or cannot safely and efficiently be used for.” The company added, “Product knowledge and confidence will contribute to optimizing customer sales and service.” |
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Chuck Bright, national sales manager for Prairie View
Industries, reported the company’s latest ramp is the DOM “L” Series ramps. These ramps feature replaceable components and close rung spacing, plus they have been safety tested by an outside testing organization for consumer safety, said Bright. The trend he said he has noticed the most is that the ATV market has been flooded with cheaper quality products that have been coming in from China. Sales are the same as last year due to the pressure from foreign made products, said Bright, who continued by saying, the most important things a store should know are the safety issues and testing procedures conducted on the products they carry. “Are they safe? How are the tests conducted?” were some questions he suggested dealers ask. |
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The seven foot, single arched folding ramp from Pro-Wheel Racing Components features a 600 lb. load capacity and folds up to a compact 12 inches width for easy storage, informed spokesperson Jill Carter. The need for higher capacity at a reasonable price is one trend she said she has noticed. “Our ramp sales are up due to more unique ramps and improved quality with sensible pricing,” explained Carter. She said the most important thing a store should know about selling ATV ramps is the importance of education. “Dealers must educate their buyers on weight capacity - do not overload the ramps,” Carter stated. |
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“Our biggest news in our QuadBoss ramp offering is a new lower price on our best selling ramp,” informed Tucker Rocky Distributing’s Glen Urquhart, ATV segment director. He added, “Our 44 inches by 71 inches bi-fold is now as low as $94.99 each, when bought in a pallet of 10 ramps.” Urquhart told us this ramp is made in the USA with 6063-T5 aluminum, which means that no recycled aluminum has been used in its construction. “Rated at 1,500 lbs. capacity, this ramp also carries a 10 year warranty and is welded by robotics for accuracy and consistency,” he explained. |
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| According to Urquhart, ramps with a load rating of less than 1,250 lbs. are going away due to the popularity of larger quads and side-by-sides, which require ramps of at least 1,250 lbs. “Side-by-sides really need a ramp of at least 2,000 lb. capacity and we offer one in our QuadBoss line,” he said, adding, “Our ATV ramp sales are up because dealers and consumers recognize the quality in our ramps and understand the need for higher load capacity.”
Urquhart urged shops to train their consumers to always use
the security straps and to make sure the ramp fits their ATV
or side-by-side. “Higher tailgates require longer ramps so
as not to have too steep a load angle,” he stated. |
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The dual folding arched ramp kits (pictured on pg. 7) are new from Rage PowerSports, noted President James Meyer. These kits are available at a low cost to the dealer and offer a compact shipping and storage size, as well as a super strong design, he told us. Meyer said he has noticed a trend where there are more larger, heavier ATVs on the market. Sales are up, he divulged, adding, “We have been developing new products to change as the market changes.” Meyer urged dealers to keep a selection of ramps in stock and on display to show to their customers and to allow them to compare each product. |
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The latest ramp from Ramp Age Ramps is actually a UTV ramp for side-by-sides, but should also be used when loading heavily accessorized ATVs, informed National Sales Manager Gene Freeze. “This ramp is a folding arched pair with a 2,400 lb. loading capacity,” described Freeze, who continued, “The arch of the ramp takes out the steepness of incline when loading onto higher trailers or vehicles.” The ramps are reportedly 18 inches wide for safer loading and 89 inches long when fully extended for use. |
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| While the company’s
sales are level with last year’s, Freeze said he has noticed
an increase in both the size and weight of today’s ATVs and
UTVs, which might not be suited for the ramps consumers might
already own. “Dealers and retailers need to know that
they can become liable for selling the wrong ramp to the
customer,” he said. Freeze concluded by saying, “They also
need to be more familiar with the correct weight of the
vehicles after gas, oil and other accessories (including the
driver’s weight) are added.” |
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New from Scorpion Ramp is the Scorpion II and dual single pans, which are safe, compact, portable and great for lifted trucks and low clearance ATVs, reported President Steve Griffin. He said he has seen an increase in consumers looking for a simple and safe way to load and haul ATVs. “Our sales are up,” said Griffin, who added, “We offer the safest, most compact and portable, easy-to-use loading ramps available.” |
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The X-Ramp features a unique folding accordion design and attaches to the tailgate, informed company President Tom Roberts. The ramp extends, retracts and rides on the truck bed, he explained. Roberts added it can be easily removed for unobstructed bed access. "Customers are moving away from cheap and dangerous ladder type ramps," he told us, and higher-end customers want safe loading ramps. Sales are up over last year's, Roberts divulged. All shops need to do is put one of these ramps on their shop service vehicle, he said. "When the customer sees the X-Ramp they buy it," Roberts added. |
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By displaying and stocking loading ramps in your store, customers can look and compare each ramp until they find the right one for them. By asking your customers questions about the final weight of their vehicle, you can help them avoid any accidents that may cause damage to themselves and their vehicles. If you have any questions regarding these products, be sure to contact the company for more information. We’d like to thank these ATV loading ramp companies for their participation in this month’s Market Report and urge you to read up on our look at the latest winches as well as our Holiday Stocking Stuffers, elsewhere in this issue.
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