ramps for mini skid

I would imagine that would be the case. They just feel a bit too flimsy to me. When I ordered them I expected them to come a bit more stout.

Thanks for the info and your thoughts.
 
If you buckle your ramps while loading, the mini you would use to upright a tipped machine may be laying on top of you.

I'd want at least 5k ramps, and still push for ideal loading conditions
I have 10k ramps. No worries.
 
southsoundtree said:
If you buckle your ramps while loading, the mini you would use to upright a tipped machine may be laying on top of you.

I'd want at least 5k ramps, and still push for ideal loading conditions
I have 10k ramps. No worries.
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True that, we'll be keeping an eye on them. I would hope 5k would suffice. Really need something folding to fit my setup.
 
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IMG_20191019_163233185.webp

These fold up. They are aluminum. Rated for I think 2000 pounds each. Super light. Never need to lift them or throw them around because they hinge from the edge of the truck. They're always connected. I've never tried them without the kickstands I had welded on. They are on a bracket that allows them to just fall into place when you pull the ramps out. If you are next to a hill or something you can just manipulate the kickstand so the ramps can lay flat. Got them from discount ramps. Never had a problem. No flex. Game changer being able to load logs, pull the mini on, go home, dump, and be ready to roll for the next day. No dumping, going back, pulling mini out, pulling mini off on and on its horrible.

More of a pain to set up than you'd think tho. Steels not cheap either. Very much worth it tho
 
Z'sTrees said:
True that, we'll be keeping an eye on them. I would hope 5k would suffice. Really need something folding to fit my setup.
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I'd look into stabilizers. I stack odds in my favor as much as possible.


Like other gear ratings, these ramps probably are tested after zero cycles of use/ brand new, under ideal/ uniform loading conditions.
 
Agreed on stacking the odds.. I wouldn't have even tried the ramps on mine without the kickstand having a rating that low. They are solid as a rock with the stands tho. Makes it much easier to handle the ramps, and the angle to load is really nice because the ramps are so long. If you had much of a steeper angle you would not be able to back my machine up the ramps, which is what I have mine set up for. You'd need to pull it on grapple first.

Steel ramps are wicked heavy. We added up the weight before going with the aluminum ramps. It was something pretty ridiculous like 180 pounds per ramp or something. If they aren't mounted to the platform and you have to throw them in the bed.... That's going to get old. Especially if the bed is full. Much more efficient to go with aluminum and have them mounted in place.

Even though its a simple platform. It cost approximately 2000 with labor/materials to pull the weird toolbox that was there off, build the platform, mount it to the frame of the truck, mount the ramps to the frame, build the side rail, and the ramp mounting fixings. Plus ramps were 800 bucks. Then you have to paint it.

Plus you need someone that will do it in a reasonable amount of time if you need to be working with the truck.

All things to think about. It beats the hell out of towing a trailer for it and having to hitch up and disconnect 5 times a day every day.
 
Serf Life said:
Damn that's a slick setup
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Thanks, I saw a guy with the same set up a while back and have been plotting it ever since. Found a cheap truck for sale with a wider than normal toolbox in between the cab and dump body. Went and measured it to make sure there was enough room for the platform. Got it for a steal and for the specific purpose of building that platform. She's an old lady but has worked out mint since being put in the fleet!
 
The standing platform sticks out, but doesn't go passed the mirror on the truck. We have driven around with it for months. I wouldn't be surprised if a dot cop gave me trouble for it, but not a lot of risk with that where I normally work. Town cops would never notice. Dot says you can be 8 and 1/2" wide. Its slightly over. If the ramps weren't taking up space it would definitely be legal.

Never had a problem and if I ever do it'll still be cheaper to keep the grapple on for all the time I save not having to disconnect/reconnect every time I take it off.....
 
Thanks for the picture and reply. I've thought about doing something similar and have an SK650. I have a friend with a GMC c7500 he'd sell me for a really good price. It has a 12ft chip box and room behind the cab for the loader platform and a mats rack. I'm kinda torn as I normally have helpers drive our F550 towing our chipper or sk650 which they can do with no cdl. I've had quite a time finding anyone with a cdl. I already have two cdl trucks in our fleet with me and one part timer being the only cdl drivers. I typically drive our bucket truck to jobs and return with our grapple truck if the job is large enough.

I bed one could make the plate pivot up with some mods so it would be able to pin up out of the way to get the width down if needed. Alot of it depends on if you get hassled and if it turns out to be a problem. I'd be much more concerned if it was on the right side of the truck. Left turns don't generally get close to stuff.
 
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Have you considered a small motorcycle as a shuttle vehicle? PCTree mounted one on his crane.

My target market is within 5 miles of my house/ shop, so I'm looking at an electric hub for my bicycle. Borrowed my neighbors for a test-shuttle. Not sure, yet.
 
For the tail hanging off, I wonder if you could well on a fold-up stand for the loader arms/ grapple to 'rest' on, making the machine a bit shorter, and narrow enough to be legal.
 
I have considered using a small motorcycle is a shuttle vehicle. I even already have a 400cc dual sport and a 650cc adv bike. I don't really have a good place for them on either of our existing cdl trucks.
 
Fivepoints said:
Thanks for the picture and reply. I've thought about doing something similar and have an SK650. I have a friend with a GMC c7500 he'd sell me for a really good price. It has a 12ft chip box and room behind the cab for the loader platform and a mats rack. I'm kinda torn as I normally have helpers drive our F550 towing our chipper or sk650 which they can do with no cdl. I've had quite a time finding anyone with a cdl. I already have two cdl trucks in our fleet with me and one part timer being the only cdl drivers. I typically drive our bucket truck to jobs and return with our grapple truck if the job is large enough.

I bed one could make the plate pivot up with some mods so it would be able to pin up out of the way to get the width down if needed. Alot of it depends on if you get hassled and if it turns out to be a problem. I'd be much more concerned if it was on the right side of the truck. Left turns don't generally get close to stuff.
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Are you sure the gmc 7500 is over cdl? I've looked at a couple that are under.
 
Yeah mine is the dt444e 7.3. 26,000 juice brakes. I try to stay under as I don't even have a cdl. As for folding the standing platform. I'd considered the same thing, but its such a heavy duty piece. It'd inevitably cause more problems than it was worth. It's really not much. If I were going on a major highway, I would just pull the grapple off and have plenty of room.

You can pick the loader way up and tilt the grapple back and it fits no question. Just looks a little weird and then the grapple sticks up above my bed. My truck is only 9'6" so there is plenty of space for the grapple to stick out I just don't like the way it looks. Rather have the loader right on the ground.

I thought about the length issue for a long time, but have come to the conclusion that no one is ever going to care. Sticking with that!
 
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