Last night I stumbled upon the new 2005 Kawasaki Brute Force at a local dealer and I bought it. Now I'm looking for an easy way to load and unload it into the bed of my truck (Ford F250 Crew Cab Diesel with 8ft bed). I've found the standard bi and tri fold ramps along with the caps to put on the ends of boards. However, I'm looking for something that won't take up a lot of space in the bed for 2 reasons.

I plan on taking the ATV with me on my yearly fishing trips out to the UP and I used to fill up my bed with gear as it was and now will have the ATV in there too so space is really at a premium. Additionally the ATV will be primarily used to stock pheasants during small game season here in NJ. With the ATV in the bed, I'd like to try to have enough room for the crates of birds when I pick them up from the farm.

So far the best solution I've found is here. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with something along these lines or had any other suggestions. I'd rather not deal with a trailer during the long road trip and would have a tough time finding a place to store it as well.

Thanks,
Joe

 

Have you found the right ramps yet? If not, drop me a line I might have just what you need. Check it out here and then drop me a line and tell me that you are from this forum and we will get you a better deal.

http://www.tailgateramps.com

wtebbutt@kansas.net

 

I found some ramps at Harbor Frieght, for 50 bucks , that have worked great for years. They are stong and dont take up much space. Your other option might be a small trailer.

ramps
Just make sure you secure them, to the truck when to load and unload. Its bad news if they slip, when youre on it.

 

Bass Pro has ramps near $100.00 we have a set of Bi-fold ramps that I have used to put my KFX700 in the back of my truck, just slide them under the atv between the wheels when your hauling it..

BassPro Ramps

all their ramps

 

I store my bi-fold ramp under the ATV (as others have suggested) when I carry it. With my paddles (20") it can be a snug fit to get under the rear skid place if the safety hooks on the ramp are in the way.

I mentioned the hooks for a reason...USE THEM! They are there for a reason, and take a minute to set and tighten on mine (nylon sinch stap style.) You're never in TOO MUCH of a hurry. If I'm pushing the bike up, I sometimes don't use them. But if I ride it in I make SURE they are secure. I've seen a ramp go flying off a tail gate at the dealer when someone rode a quad up an unsecured ramp. Luckily they had most of the bike in the truck and didn't take a dive.

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you can get the ramps Hondabuster was talking about (in 8') and modify them to attach/extend the height of your bed rails when they arent in use.

Three 2x4's bolted to the bottom of each one,,,and they will slide right in the slots.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies. I ended up going with the ones that I originally mentioned in my first post. The really fit my needs very well. Even though I have an 8ft bed, I have a roll n lock cover and the cannister the cover rolls up to takes up some of the front of the bed. Then I have a small toolbox in there too so when the quad is loaded in the bed, the rear tires are about even with the tailgate. With the ramps that I did buy, the tailgate remains down giving me an extra 2 feet or so of bed space (just need to rig up a bed extender). That extra space is perfect for more of my gear when I head out to Michigan or crates of birds during pheasant season.

Thanks again,
Joe

 

word of warning if useing the tail gate for a bed check the cabels that hold your tailgate i've had a friend that did what your doing and his broke going down the hiway lucky his wheeler was strapped in good and his truck was only acouple of years old ..