Aluminum loading ramps are the best type of ramp you can get no matter what you want to move. Manufacturers build heavy duty industrial style ramps and lighter duty recreational style ramps.

But what exactly can an aluminum loading ramp be used for?

In an industrial setting, ramps are useful in loading heavy equipment such as forklifts, front end loaders or bobcats. In a factory, they come in handy loading and unloading cargo between warehouse and transport truck.

Recreationally, they are useful in loading up quads, street bikes, dirt bikes, snowmobiles and more into the bed of a pick-up or into a trailer. You can also use them to load things like lawn tractors and farm equipment. Or load a stock car onto the back of a flat bed trailer.

Aluminum loading ramps are built strong enough to hold any kind of load you can throw at it while being tough enough to meet the challenge. You do have to get a ramp that is rated for the job you have in mind and with enough weight capacity to bear the load.

There are many differences between a ramp that is being used by a homeowner or a person running a small business and a ramp being used in industry or commercially.

Very heavy duty ramps that are manufactured for use in loading heavy equipment is made with aircraft graded aluminum. These ramps are able to withstand literally thousands of pounds of weight. Additionally, they are made a lot wider and longer than the average ramp and have been reinforced adding to their overall strength.

Heavy duty ramps like this are really not needed by the average consumer. Just be sure that you get a ramp that will work with what you need to load. Some things can be safely loaded with a pair of narrow ramps. Other things really need a single, wider flat ramp to load up safely.

When you purchase a set of ramps, remember that the weight capacity that is listed is a combined total of both ramps. It’s important that you do not go over this capacity. Include the weight of the person who may be riding the equipment up the ramp as part of your weight calculations. Avoid overloading to be safe.

There are a large number of different sizes and types of aluminum loading ramps. Some ramps have rubber padding. Some come with a textured surface. Others have holes which have been drilled at intervals. They are designed for use in slippery conditions.

You can choose from flat or arched ramps available in different lengths. It can be hard loading equipment like a riding lawnmower if you don’t use an arched ramp. The mower deck sits so low to the ground that it easily gets hung up if there is not enough of an angle.

An aluminum ramp is portable. A larger ramp may come as a bi-fold or a tri-fold ramp. That allows the ramp to be folded up making for easy transport from one place to another.

In most cases, aluminum loading ramps are the first choice due to their versatility. You won’t find any other ramp that’s as portable and lightweight and still strong enough to load and offload practically anything.

When you get yourself a set of aluminum loading ramps, consider this a one time payment. Because these ramps won’t rust and are able to withstand lots of wear and tear, you could conceivably have them for a lifetime.

To get your bike or ATV to the trail, you’ll probably need to load it up in the back of your pickup. This is another place where it pays to be safe. Don’t trust your motorcycle or 4 wheeler to a mickey mouse ramp. Check out the solid motorcycle loading ramps at aluminumloadingramp.org as well as the huge selection of ATV loading ramps.