Hauling Season: How to Load an ATV, Mower or Snowblower the Safe Way

Every fall, the same scene plays out in driveways across America. Deer season opens, the mower needs to go to the shop before winter, the snowblower has to come home from storage, and the dirt bike is begging for one last trail weekend. All of it has one thing in common: it has to get into the back of a truck. And the most common way people do it, with two boards and a buddy, is also the fastest way to bend a tailgate or end up in urgent care.

Why loading ramps are suddenly on everyone's list

October and November are peak hauling months. Hunters are moving ATVs and UTVs to camp and to the woods. Homeowners are swapping summer equipment for winter gear. And with shop pickup and delivery fees climbing, more people would rather haul a 400 lb mower themselves than pay someone else to do it. A good set of aluminum ramps turns a two-person struggle into a calm one-person job, and it pays for itself after just a couple of trips.

Which situation sounds like you?

You hunt with an ATV or UTV

Getting a quad into a pickup bed at 5 a.m. in the dark is not the time to improvise. The VEVOR Aluminum Ramps, 1500 lbs Folding Loading Ramps (89"L x 12"W, 2 Pcs) give you a long, gentle 89-inch slope, a gritty rung surface for tire grip, and safety straps that keep the ramps hooked to the tailgate. Two separate ramps also let you match the track width of almost any machine.

Once it is in the bed, it has to stay there. A set of VEVOR Ratchet Tie Down Straps (4PK, 5208 lb Max Break Strength) lets you cross-strap all four corners in a couple of minutes. Heading deep into the woods? An VEVOR ATV Rear Storage Box and Lounger (95L) keeps your gear dry and locked, and doubles as a backrest on long rides to the stand.

You are moving a mower or snowblower between seasons

Riding mowers and two-stage snowblowers are heavy, awkward and expensive to repair if they tip. Folding ramps let you drive or walk them up under their own power, and they fold in half to hang on the garage wall when you are done. Strap the machine down at four points so it cannot roll forward when you brake.

You haul something that cannot drive itself

Broken-down quads, project bikes and old mowers do not climb ramps on their own. Mount a VEVOR 4500 lbs Electric Winch, 12V DC ATV/UTV Winch on a trailer or receiver plate and let the cable do the pulling while you steer. It is also the tool you will be glad you packed when the ATV sinks in a muddy creek bottom on opening weekend.

The complete loading kit (before, during and after)

• Before: Ramps to get the machine up safely.
• During: Ratchet straps to lock it in, and a winch for anything that will not run.
• After: A rear storage box so the gear you need at the other end arrives with you.

Buying them together means you only plan one delivery and you are ready for every haul this season.

Five quick safety tips

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake before you hook the ramps on.
• Check the weight: machine plus rider must stay under the ramp rating.
• Go slow and steady in low gear. Never stop halfway up.
• Always use the ramp safety straps so they cannot kick out.
• Strap the load at four corners, then re-check the straps after the first few miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should loading ramps be for a pickup truck?

Longer ramps make a gentler, safer angle. For most full-size pickups with the tailgate down, ramps around 7 to 8 feet long, like an 89 inch set, keep the climb manageable for ATVs, mowers and snowblowers.

Can one person load an ATV into a truck?

Yes. With two arched aluminum ramps strapped to the tailgate, a steady low-gear climb and four ratchet straps, one person can load and secure an ATV. For machines that do not run, use a winch to pull them up.

How many straps do I need to tie down an ATV?

Use at least four ratchet straps, one at each corner, pulling down and outward. Re-check the straps after the first few miles of driving.

What weight rating do I need for ATV ramps?

Add the weight of the machine and the rider, then choose ramps rated well above that total. A 1500 lb pair covers most ATVs, riding mowers and snowblowers.

Get ready before opening weekend

Delivery takes about 10 days, so order now and your truck will be ready for deer season, winter storage runs and every haul in between. Grab the ramps, add the straps and winch, and make this the year loading day is the easy part.