First time smart loading

[zipposrv]

Hi all, we are going to "test load" the car this afternoon, are there any special steps we need to take.

 

Thanks Mary

[Jack Mayer]

Not really. Just be careful. Double check everything. No one should stand in front of the car. Make doubly sure that the line is in the pulley's correctly.

 

I assume you have watched the loading video's.

 

Try to make sure you are on a level "plane" before loading....or that the ground rises on the car side (less angle on the deck and bottom of ramps).

 

Most important - take your time.

[GlennWest]

We just drove ours up. Did have stops on deck to stop us. Did fold my mirror in. I drilled a hole thru ramp and deck and installed a pin so they couldn't kick out.

[Jim & Wilma]

If you're winching the car up the ramps, watch for the cable rubbing the deck when you first hook up. Depending on the angle that Jack mentioned, we may drive the Smart up the ramp a foot or so to raise the cable off the deck. Some people put a piece of HDPE plastic on the deck for the cable to glide over. This all depends on your setup and may not be necessary, just look out for it.

[rdickinson]

A plastic load corner protector works for the cable, the slot in it fits over the T handle of the ramp compartment.

 

Make sure the car is perpendicular to the deck or it will load crooked and will hit one chock at the back before the other.

 

Be careful the underbelly doesn't catch on the deck bolts. I put a pce of 1/8" thick angle iron in the ramp hinge to reduce breakover angle.

 

Don't load with the truck deck out of level so the car runs downhill backwards when going onto the deck.

[zipposrv]

Thanks everyone, do I need anything to the car itself. We have a tow bar for the back, and will be winching it on.

Safety is always first, as my husband is an owner operator, that specializes in over sized loads.

[rdickinson]

I'd use a pulley on the back bumper then run the cable from the winch thru the pulley then back to the winch or A frame. It will take the jerkiness out of the winching and slow the load speed by 50%, giving you more time to check and/or adjust things as the go up the ramps.

[zipposrv]

Well, everything went as planned. Just a few more things to finish up, them off to Yellowstone for the summer. Thanks for the input.

[sclord2002]

Congratulations.....enjoy your trip !! Charlie

[Chad Heiser]

Well, everything went as planned. Just a few more things to finish up, them off to Yellowstone for the summer. Thanks for the input.

Where will you be in Yellowstone? We are going to be heading through there in early June.

[zipposrv]

I'll be working at Grant Village until September.

[noteven]

_{Generally when we winch a wheeled something we set up a bit of a lean if possible so the winch has tension the whole distance, loading or unloading to keep the wheeled something under winch control at all times...}

 

_{if that makes sense}