Any recommendations for ramps to load mower in van?

[Vibe Ray]

What kind of ramp would you guys recommend to use to load a Lazer HP 44" into a van (regular extended van, not cube van)? Any thoughts on this?

[BUSHMASTER]

Will it fit though the door with a driver on it? but i would
look at an allum... portable just slide it under the mower when done.

[Esby]

Trust me and invest $500 into a trailer. I got my 6x12 for that much, you can find something out there. You dont want to have that in your van, regardless if it fits.

[VLM]

Some REAL personal safety issues here. Your ramp may be the most important piece of equipment you have. If one side gives out it can happen in a second, and that's alot of steel coming down on you. You'd be lucky to walk away from it. Unless the ramp is secured to the vehicle you have this risk. Sometimes the momentum of the machine or a slight change in speed can cause the ramp to bounce and bingo, its loose. I would look into having a welder fabricate one for you that can be secured by bolts so there is no chance of this happening. Also Nothern Equip. (catalogue) has alot of foldable aluminum ramps you could bolt to the floor and fold out maybe.

[Jason Pallas]

VLM is right - Northern Tool has a pretty good selection of ramps and at good prices too.

[Randy Scott]

Esby might have a good point. A good and safe set of ramps and a little fabrication may end up equaling the cost of a trailer. Shop around and see what's out there Vibe.

[Runner]

Don't even do it.

[captdevo]

Randy, You'd be better off with a trailer. the streets in and around Slidell will easily handle a trailer. I'm just getting over having a broken foot for 4 months. It sucked!!!!

[Skookum]

I agree, a few hundred spent on ramps, would be best used towards a small trailer with a ramp gate.

If not, and still set on ramps, I have a set of ramps that are made using a kit from Ramparts. They are aluminum pieces that fit on the tops and rubber pieces for the bottom that fit onto 2x12's. They come with a pin that you use to secure them to the loading vehicle so they will not slip off.

Mine are 7',6" long and I use to use them to load up a 1,000 lb garden tractor into a small trailer. I still use them to load up equipment into back of truck. They work really nice. Just be sure to get good 2x12 lumber!

[rdh]

i got one of the alm.walk boards from a drywall finisher that they use for scaffeling.they are two pieces ,i just took one apart to get 2 ramps i use them alot they are longer than the ones you buy and stronger ,i used them once to load a chevelle on a car trailer they work great .people are using these to load there atvs in trucks also.

rdh

[Greenkeepers]

For the price of the ramps , you could buy a small used trailer. Which is much safer and easier than ramps.

[lawrence stone]

http://www.ncrampsystems.com/vanramp.htm

[GREG R]

I have a one ton cargo van, thought the same as you have.
it would be nice not to pull a trailer around, but
after loading a 36' wb in it, I throw that thought out
the window, to small not enough room for anything else.
and the gas cans smell really bad.
We now use the van for hauling bagged material (mulch
and salt) it is excellent for hauling the aerator around,
and can still pull any one of the trailers if we need it
too.
big, big,logo on the side,
do a seach on the net search "loading ramps" "truck ramp"
that should get you some results.. hope that helps

[Cleve]

Contact these folks. I once had a Iveco truck with a box body that I used to carry the equipment. Tried all sorts of home made ramps and never did feel safe.
http://www.handyramp.com
I sent them the height dimensions and so forth and they custom made a folding ramp for me. Worked like a charm. Had assist springs made right into the hinge portion of the ramp and one person could lower or raise it. Right now they have a small ad on page 44 of the Jan. issue of PRO magazine that shows one of the same type ramps on the bed of a pickup.
I had no problems working with these folks and the ramp was working when I sold the truck.

Cleve....

[MIDSOUTH]

Buy a trailer, would look way more professional.

[Man Joe]

Used a Van without a trailer for a little while, but had to stop because of gas fumes. Breathing those fumes inside a
van while you are driving can't be good for your health.

[Just Cut]

There are to many safety issue's in doing this. I would be concerned about the mower going up or down the ramps and one of the ramps coming out from under it, gas fumes in the van, lack of space in the van for other equip, gas cans, etc. Go buy the trailer and then you will have room to expand in the future