HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT YARD RAMP FOR YOU
Yard ramps are quickly becoming the go to equipment for loading and off loading cargo. To this effect, careful consideration should be practiced when making a choice of the right yard ramp for you.
Below is a list of the most crucial things to put in mind when buying the best yard ramps.
CAPACITY
The capacity of the yard ramp should be more than the total weight of the goods to be moved. This weight should include the weight of the goods, the weight of the person transporting and the weight of the equipments used to transport the goods.
When buying a yard ramp, make sure you go for the highest capacity you can afford. Steel yard ramps would be the best option. This will come in handy in case of changes to the operation. It is always safer to overestimate the yard ramp’s capacity instead of underestimating.
It is also vital to know if the capacities indicated are uniformly distributed or it is a dynamic load. The ramp’s single axle rating should be high to cater for instances where heavy breaking is performed.
HOW FREQUENT THE RAMP IS TO BE USED
You know the kind of application you will be using the yard ramp for. If you use your ramp on a frequent basis, it is advised to pick a ramp that is heavy duty. Other ramps that are light duty are meant to be used occasionally. Choosing the latter and using it frequently, will damage the ramp. This forces you to invest in another one.
THE LOAD TO BE MOVED
Choose a ramp that goes hand in hand with the kind of cargo you are offloading. If your cargos are wide choose a ramp that has wide side curbs. The same applies to when offloading tall cargo. Tall cargo requires the top level section to be tall.
TYPE OF FORK TRUCK
The type of the fork truck really matters when choosing a suitable yard ramp. If you are using a 3-wheeled fork truck, it is good to understand that these fork trucks are heavier in weight and will put additional pressure on the ramp. In this case, a ramp with a bigger capacity will be suitable.
It is also good to have an idea of whether the fork truck you will be using will be able to safely move on the incline at which the ramp is set.
HEIGHT
There are times when the offloading area is on a higher ground. The common type of yard ramp rises to a maximum incline of 7 degrees. If you are on a ground more than 7 degrees higher, it is advisable to pick a ramp that caters for that and higher.
YARD RAMP’S MOVEMENT
If the ramp is supposed to be moved from one place to another and the surfaces on which it is towed across are rocky, please take the time to replace its solid tires with pneumatic tires.
The best thing about following these guidelines is that it is a money saver. You will say goodbye to money wasted from replacing yard ramps month after month. Do look out for the above when purchasing a yard ramp.