has anyone ever made loading ramps for a truck or know a cheaper alternative?

 

I don't think I'd take the cheap way out on this. The results could be bad. try discoutramps.com if you need one, I just bought one for my dog and their prices seemed pretty good. Or craigslist. Or 4 people who are stronger than me.

 

I use the ramps i purchased for my ATV to load the bike when i am forced to...just have to back the rear wheels of my F150 down into a low spot so the angle is slight enough so the bike to high center...works fine. about $100.00

 

A 2 x 12 with an aluminum bolt on ramp end has worked well for me for the past 15 years. I got fancy and painted it gloss black and put a big "Harley Davidson" script sticker down the middle of it, then put on a couple of coats of Minwax Helmsman spar urethethane. I threw a few hands full of sand in the varnish to give it some grip.

 

For a one off at home I made a ramp from bricks and a bit of plywood - stealer used his ramp at the other end.

 

any pics of the ramp?

 

I have a piece of used guard rail got it at a scrapyard. 10 bucks

 

I found a ramp on Ebay that is made for Harleys with 3 separate regular ramps bolted together with U-brackets and a long threaded bolt going through the center of all 3 so that it can fold in half. It is full width same width as a full sized truck bed so you can walk next to your bike as you push it up the ramp.

I don't like the ATV ramps because the spacing is too big between the cross members and you can slip and stick your foot through a slot and end up breaking your leg. I paid $200 for it and it makes loading bikes a cinch.

I put a Baxley chock in the front, start the bike, walk it up under power being careful to modulate the clutch and throttle, pop it in the chock, 2 tie downs with a Canyon Dancer and secure the ramp to the truck with 1 tiedown on the side, and I am off in under 3 minutes.

 

Here ya go:

It is 7 ft long. I choose that length, because it will fit diagonally in my 1994 Toyota pickup's bed with the tailgate shut. (Yeah, I made the ramp back when I bought the truck brand new and have had 'em both for years...LOL) The truck is a 4WD and has 32" tires. Two healthy guys can roll my Sportster up on the truck from flat pavement. If I am by myself or loading the Road King, I find a ditch to back into or an embankment to back up to to make the angle a bit less and just ride the bike up.

I also use it with a trailer that I built outta a 1976 boat trailer nearly 20 years ago. The trailer is only about 2 feet high, so I just ride either bike up the ramp...I built a box outta plywood and have it mounted under the trailer bed to carry the ramp if I'm using the trailer or to just store the ramp at home.

 

I made one from two 2x4s and a piece of 3/4" plywood.