11
S
ection
3 — c
ontrolS
& o
peration
•
Load Height:
As with any ramp application,
the distance from the ground to the truck
bed or trailer impacts the overall length of
the ramp you will need, the greater the load
height, the longer the ramp should be. Some
ramp manufacturers and retailers provide
load height calculators to help you determine
the correct ramp length you will need to
safely load your vehicle.
Note:
If you are still unsure of what types
of ramps you will need to get the job done
and are having trouble understanding these
instructions, check with your local ramp or
utility vehicle retailer for assistance.
Loading the Utility Vehicle
If your truck or trailer’s load capacity is sufficient
to transport the utility vehicle and you obtain the
proper loading ramps and equipment to safely
secure the utility vehicle to the truck or trailer, the
only thing left to do is load it. Here’s how to best
accomplish this task:
1.
Proceed with extreme caution. It is very
difficult to overcome a mistake while in the
loading process.
2.
Park the truck or trailer in a flat area, set the
parking brake, turn the ignition off and chock
the wheels.
3.
Face the truck bed or trailer towards a slight
incline, which will reduce the steepness of the
loading angle by bringing the bottom of the
ramps up on the slight incline. See Figure 3-10.
Figure 3-10
4.
Place the ramp fingers or plate edges on the
edge of the trailer or truck bed. See Figure 3-11.
Figure 3-11
5.
Use tie-down straps or cables to secure the
ramps to the trailer or truck, via the bumper
(steel bumpers only) or trailer hitch safety
chain loops. Refer to instructions provided
with the ramp.
6.
If your utility vehicle is supplied with a roof
and/or windshield, remove or fully secure
them prior to loading. Roofs and windshields
are not designed to withstand the wind
speeds that the open road can generate, so
it’s best to remove them entirely to prevent
any damage or accidents.
7.
Follow all safety rules provided in this manual
along with the manuals supplied by the trailer
and ramp manufacturer. Carefully load the
utility vehicle onto the truck or trailer.
8.
Once the utility vehicle is on the truck or
trailer, move the shift lever into PARK and
secure the utility vehicle to the truck or trailer.
Tie-down strap placement will depend on
your truck or trailer. Be sure to use only tie
down straps sufficient for the load capacity.
If loaded onto a truck, close the tailgate once
the utility vehicle is secured to the truck bed.
9.
Stop periodically to ensure that your tie-down
straps have not loosened and that the utility
vehicle remains securely in place.
IMPORTANT:
Know the total height of your
vehicle with the utility vehicle loaded
before transporting.
Be sure to check for
low clearance bridges, doorways etc. prior to
traveling under them, the added height above
the height of your truck could cause clearance
issues and damage to both vehicles.
