Portable Snowmobile Loading Ramp
Basically You build a 2×4 frame in the bed of the truck. A 1/2″ (or 3/4″ whatever you want. I have the 1/2″ just to see if it would last) 4×8 sheet goes on top of that frame. The “ramp” needs to be a minimum thickness of a 3/4″ 4×8 sheet that MUST BE REINFORCED with either 2×4′s or 2×6′s on the top side (to keep from bending/snapping in the middle if your sled stalls out and to keep you from driving off the edge when loading it). The “ramp” has a couple of eyelets in the corners. You use those eyelets for tie-downs to the truck to keep the ramp from sliding off the tail gate when you give the sled some gas. Once the sled is run up the ramp and is sitting on the 1/2″ 4×8 sheet that is on top of the 2×4 frame in the bed of the truck, you unhook the tiedowns and grab the handle on the end (end on the ground) of the ramp and slide the ramp in under the 2×4 frame. You can have your sled loaded and the ramp put away in about 1 minute. Then you use the tie downs on the rear of your sled to secure it.
I have $47 in receipts building this ramp. I had a couple of parts lying around, but had to buy the 4×8 sheets, the 8 ft. 2×4′s and the hardware. It was nearly $7 for a box of 2 1/2 inch deck screws.I had the tie-downs and some 2×4′s and the 2×6′s for the truck bed frame.
I wanted a ramp that I could store somewhere in the bed of the truck. So I thought, ‘Why don’t I raise up the sled (with the 2×4 frame) and slide the ramp under the sled?’ I tried it and it works great. The eyelets that you put in the ramp need to have a flat back to them so that the ramp slides in easily. I used carriage bolts and 3 links of chain for my eyelets that my tie downs connect to. It works great and I don’t need anyone to help me load my sled anywhere I go, I get good gas mileage because I don’t have to haul a trailer and my sled doens’t get any salt/crap on it from the road. I don’t even have to put a cover on it.
The only drawback, if you can call it one, is that you don’t have much room for error with the 4 ft wide ramp. You have to have it lined up good and go up the ramp at about a jogging speed. I havn’t gone off the side with it, but you do have to make sure you are lined up good before you head up the ramp. If you have a wide front end on your sled, it may not be wide enough for you. I have a 2000 ZRT and it works great.
If you used it for a dirt bike, you could cut slots in the 4×8 sheet in the bed of the truck for the tire to fit into and have eyelets in the 2×4 frame that you could use to tie the front end down with. Customize it for your own application. I just hope I can help a few people out there create a ramp for their application that doesn’t cost much and works well.
List of parts needed:
1-4×8 1/2inch sheet
1-4×8 3/4inch sheet
2 ½ inch Deck screws
2-carriage bolts long enough to go through the 1/2inch board and whatever you use for the eyelets
4-washers for the carriage bolts.
2-lock nuts for the carriage bolts
2-eyelets. I used 3 links of chain
4-2×4′s (or you could use 2×6′s). 2 for the 4×8 sheet in the bed of the truck and 2 for the ramp
Some sort of traction device for the ramp. I cut 2×4′s and used them.
Enough 2×4′s (or 2×6′s) to make the frame for the truck bed
4 joining plates (like the one used on a truss) for the truck bed frame. I was going to use one on both sides, but one per/side seems to be enough
1-garage door style handle for the end of the ramp
Duration : 0:8:11
25 Responses Leave a comment
awesome desgin man …
awesome desgin man u did a great job
Thanks..just used …
Thanks..just used mine again tonight.
Neat video!
Neat video!
No problem..just …
No problem..just trying to help a few sled heads out.
Very good job…. …
Very good job….thx for posting
Composite decking.. …
Composite decking….hmmmm…It probably would work as long as it is thick enough. Just make sure it is supported enough and go easy going up it the first time. If it starts to flex too much you may want to abandon ship!
great vid, good …
great vid, good tips. would composite decking work?
Ya, I say in the …
Ya, I say in the video that the sled may push the ramp…it depends on the type of skis and carbides on the skis, Also, if you put the ramp at too high of an angle it can push the ramp too. You could put a small piece on the bottom of the ramp at the front of it so that piece will catch the edge of the tailgate so the ramp won’t push forward. The only time it pushed the ramp on me is when I didn’t have the edge of the ramp near the edge of the tailgate. That’s why you go up it relatively slow.
@BlaineDP i had to …
@BlaineDP i had to put plastic where the skis go on the ramp so it didnt push up the first time i did it with no plastic the ramp just pushed right up i put the plastic on ramp doesnt more at all
No problem…just …
No problem…just trying to help out fellow gear heads.
Sure glad I saw …
Sure glad I saw this. I made one and it works just great. Thanks for the video!!
I just bought a …
I just bought a crew cab and had to modify mine for the shorter box and longer wheel wells. A little more of the sled is near the rear but that is ok.
just built one of …
just built one of these to take my sled to the shop in my truck it works great the only issue is i have a tool box in my 8 foot box so there a lot of weight behind the axle.
It’ll probably …
It’ll probably sratch the tailgate going in and coming out if you don’t put anything over the tail gate. Remember, I just give the basic design and you customize it to your specific needs. I am using a 1994 GMC with 200,000+ mile son it..the last thing I care about is a little scuffing of the tailgate.
I have metal skis …
I have metal skis on my sled pulling it off the truck won’t dent my tailgate will it?
Another satisfied …
Another satisfied customer…:)
i built this last …
i built this last season, worked all winter long.
thanks for the great video!
Click on the down …
Click on the down arrow that is located just below the video. It is a drop down box and it gives a detailed list of materials, prices ect….if someone wanted to make themsleves a deluxe version and had to buy everything new they’d still probably not even have $100 into building the ramp. As you can see it is basically two 4×8 sheets, some 2×4′s, some fasteners, a handle, a couple of eyelets, a couple of tie downs and putting it together is rather low-tech.
hey blaine…just …
hey blaine…just wondering what was the aproximate cost of this ramp
Go forth and build
Go forth and build
Brilliant. This …
Brilliant. This will work for my motorcycle.
Agreed. Actually in …
Agreed. Actually in the last year I’ve done that but in the interest of keep cost down on the initial build I just used what I had on the shelf.
I like it but you …
I like it but you should put bolts in it with washers on to go in to the 2X4′s so they wont rip out .
yep, it slides …
yep, it slides under and is out of the way. It doens’t move an inch when driving around.
nice i like how the …
nice i like how the ramp slids under