Ramp Strechers

[Dave.Smtih]

Anyone that has loaded a bike on to a one-ton 4x4 knows they are in for a bit of a push with 8' ramps. I looked at some folding 10' ramps, but choked at the near $300/pair price tag. So, I made up a couple of brackets that lengthened the tail gate cables and here's the results.
http://home.att.net/~dirt.tech/ramp-strechers.JPG

[Andy Winters]

just ride it up! I used to have a dodge 2500 and it was way too high, and I had short ramps. You will be surprised how easy it is, once you get over the fear of falling off the ramp!

I was the only one that would ride my bike into the truck everyone else was scared! but for me it was easy, once you had confidence that the ramp wasn't going to spit out from under you it was a piece of cake! just get your momentum up before you hit the ramp and you just coast right up every time.

[Russ VCHSS]

I'm with you Katoom, the only problem I have is being affraid the ramp is going to break on me one of these day and I will shoot into the rear end of the truck. So far it has not though....

[Andy Winters]

Russ, stop using those planks you found on the roadside! I've seen guys use angle iron on the side's for reinforcement and to keep their tires from sliding off, but realy it's just a mental thing. you dont need to hit the ramp hard at all, just a little momentum and you glide right up it like it wasn't even there. after I did it a few times I couldn't believe how easy it was. Although I have seen people "panic" and blow out the back window, and/or fall off the side of the truck.

I used to have two cables I connected to an alum ramp to ensure it would not slide backwards. One time as i was hooking up the cables, a friend came by and said "you don't need those cables, you just don't know it yet." he was right, it was just a mental thing, never used them again and never had a problem.

[Dave.Smtih]

I've been riding up the ramps since the 70's, but times change. I like my neighbors enough that firing up the 380 at 5:00 am isn't an option. The third bike goes in backwards... Occasionally one of the bikes doesn't come back in running condition.
I tend to agree on not needing the cables for a two wheeler - the only time I've spit out a ramp was loading a commercial walk-behind mower when the deck hung up.

[huskymatt]

I had a friend shut off his gas after riding one time. When he started it up to ride it up in the truck it stalled on the ramp and well you know the rest of the story. Once in a while I used to ride up in the truck but I use the side of an old waterbed for a ramp. It was only scary when there was still laquer on the side and it got wet. Now Im married, traded in the Tundra for a minivan and use a trailer. Ughhh!