Matching Your Ramp to Your ATV and Your Loading Setup
The most important specs to get right before buying a ramp are weight capacity and ramp length. Weight capacity is straightforward. Your ramp needs to be rated above the weight of your ATV with gear, not at it. Loading creates dynamic forces that exceed the static weight of the machine, particularly at the point where the ATV transitions onto the ramp. Always buy a ramp with a comfortable margin above your ATV's actual loaded weight. Length matters because it determines the angle of the ramp. A shorter ramp slapped onto a tall trailer creates an angle that is too aggressive, with, in turn, makes for harder loading and more stress on the undercarriage. It’s a longer and more gradually sloping ramp that you want.
Folding and Storage: Getting ATV Ramps That Work for Your Setup
Ramps take up significant storage space and how they fold or break down matters a lot for practical everyday use. Bi-fold ramps fold in half for much more compact storage than full-length rigid ramps. Folding single ramps offer similar storage benefits. If you're storing ramps in a truck bed alongside the ATV or in a trailer with limited space, a bi-fold or folding design is usually the right choice. If storage space is a non-issue and you want to get the most possible stability and a full continuous ramp surface, a plate-top ramp that doesn't fold is the most rigid and secure option. Match the design to your storage reality, not just the price.
ATV Ramp Surface Material and Grip: What to Look For
Aluminum ramps are the standard for a good reason. They're strong, lightweight relative to their load rating, don't rust, and are much easier to handle than steel alternatives. The surface design matters too. Plate-top ramps give your tires a continuous, stable loading surface. Open-tread designs drain mud and debris but require your tires to track properly on the tread ribs. Grip surface on the ramp matters especially in wet or muddy conditions where a smooth aluminum surface can be genuinely slippery. Serrated or textured surfaces give your tires something to bite into during the loading process.
Top 3 Selling ATV Ramp Brands
Titan Ramps makes a range of well-regarded ATV loading ramps including their sport series and pivoting ramp systems, with solid load ratings and designs built for repeatable, safe ATV loading.
Open Trail produces quality aluminum folding and bi-fold ramps for ATV use with the lightweight construction and fold-down convenience that riders who load and unload regularly appreciate.
Mad Ramps builds their pivoting ramp system specifically to address the stability and flex issues that single-ramp loading can create, with a two-thousand pound capacity design that handles heavier ATVs confidently.
Top 5 Selling ATV Ramps
The Ramp Rack Sport Series by Titan Ramps is a clean, well-rated ramp set for sport and mid-size ATV loading with a design that stores compactly and handles the loading process safely and predictably every time.
The two-thousand pound Pivoting Ramp System by Mad Ramps addresses the flex and pivot point issues that plague many single-ramp setups. The pivoting design keeps the ramp stable and properly angled as the ATV moves up it. A serious upgrade for riders loading heavier machines.
These seven and a half foot Aluminum Plate-Top Ramps give you a full-length, continuous plate-top surface that's stable, easy to track onto, and provides a gentle enough angle for most standard trailer heights. Sold as a pair for proper two-ramp loading.
The ATV Aluminum Bi-Fold Ramp by Open Trail is as easy to use as it is to store, folding right in half when you need it while providing top-tier support.
The ATV Aluminum Folding Ramp by Open Trail is an excellent folding option for riders who want a solid loading experience without all the bulk.
How can I know when the rating is enough?
Check your machine’s weight and your ramp’s product specs. Remember that dynamic loading forces during the loading process can briefly exceed static weight, so a proper margin matters.
Do I have to have two ramps?
In the majority of cases, two ramps is the standard for a reason. Single ramps are harder to balance on.
How should I secure ramps to a trailer during loading?
Most ramps have hooks or attachment points designed to catch on the trailer's gate or edge. Always make sure the ramps are fully engaged with the trailer before riding up them. Test the stability before committing your full weight and the machine's weight to the ramp.