Brad NSW Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 Is anyone relying on friction alone to secure the ramps to their beds? If so, I had an interesting mishap. Driving off in Gettysburg, PA, the bottom drivers side frame scraped the ramp off the bed! Left front tire was hanging in mid-air (sorry I didn't have the presence of mind to snap a photo). A couple of young men helped me lift the Smart up, while the DW slid the ramp under the wheel and back on the bed. Drove her off and immediately drilled holes into the frame, through the ramps. Now I insert 2" long bolts to prevent a recurrence. Clearance has always been close but guess the angles lined up just right so the frame scraped the ramp off. Quote 2010 Freightliner, DD15 Eaton Ultrashift, 2015 New Horizons 5th Wheel. Occupants - Dena/Brad/Hershey BLOG LINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 Glad you didn't end up as a you-tube video. We have a simple arrangement which secures our ramp, as the ramp itself has a flange protruding down, which slips into a pocket on the side of the truck. No bolts, pins, or other hardware to loose. Friction.....where is it when you need it? Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 I'm brave, but not that brave. Always used ratchet straps to keep the ramps on the truck. That had to be an eye opening ride. Quote I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sclord2002 Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 I use pins through the lip of the ramp and bed to align/secure the ramps to bed. Glad that your episode had a happy ending. We all live and learn as we travel along. Continuing education.... Quote Don't ever tell a soldier that he doesn't understand the cost of war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 I have the channels the ramp flange sits down in. Quote 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) I actually screw a bolt in the ramp now. I used simply friction first few times. When I discovered one moved backwards some on me, I changed that. Glad no one or anything hurt. Edited July 13, 2020 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geodog Posted July 13, 2020 Report Share Posted July 13, 2020 I am a :belt & suspenders" type when it comes to loading the Smart. I bolt both ramps with 2 bolts each. ShortyO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted July 14, 2020 Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 Ya no don’t. Make a mechanical connection of some kind between decks and ramps especially when loading machines under their own power. Quote "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted July 14, 2020 Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 Her'Bolting down front chocks was time consuming as well as sometimes a problem with threads getting messed up. So this is how it's done now. Instead of bolting the chocks on the front, I use 2" ratchet strap with a hook to hook onto the truck mounted bar with the pin in it. Less grief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad NSW Posted July 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2020 All good solutions! Glad everyone has something (slots, bolts, straps) will do the job. Quote 2010 Freightliner, DD15 Eaton Ultrashift, 2015 New Horizons 5th Wheel. Occupants - Dena/Brad/Hershey BLOG LINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Gravity Securement...always fails Glad it worked out ok, Brad. Quote MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaHybrid Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 2 bolts per ramp and not an issue. Then again, every Herrin bed I have ever looked at had that arrangement and funny thing, never have heard of a car sliding the ramp off the bed.... Quote 2017 Kenworth T6802015 DRV 38RSSA Elite Suites2016 Smart Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 On 7/16/2020 at 10:32 PM, GeorgiaHybrid said: 2 bolts per ramp and not an issue. Then again, every Herrin bed I have ever looked at had that arrangement and funny thing, never have heard of a car sliding the ramp off the bed.... Mine was the 2nd smart bed that Larry Herrin built. I don't "know" about the 1st one but he built mine, like you said, with 2 bolts per ramp. The man knows what he is doing. I changed the bolts out with detent pins many years ago. But in 10 years, neither ramp has moved at all. Quote MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted July 19, 2020 Report Share Posted July 19, 2020 6 hours ago, Big5er said: Mine was the 2nd smart bed that Larry Herrin built. I don't "know" about the 1st one but he built mine, like you said, with 2 bolts per ramp. The man knows what he is doing. I changed the bolts out with detent pins many years ago. But in 10 years, neither ramp has moved at all. I switched the bolts out for the detent pins 2 years ago, The ramp foot still sits on the deck but the angle iron bolted to the foot sits in a stainless build out on the side of the deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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