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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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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