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The selection of ATV ramps on the market today is much better than when I bought my first 4-wheeler 20 plus years ago. The same goes for utility trailers. You have a lot more to choose from within both categories than ever before.
Before you get to the point of mulling over all those options, you first need to know if you’re going to go with ramps, or are you going to go with a trailer. I don’t think you could go wrong with either choice, but I do have my preference, as I suspect you will.
Below are the pros and cons to consider when comparing ATV ramps vs. utility trailers.
6 Reasons You Should Buy Ramps
Ramps have a lot of positives going for them. Below are the reasons I think they are a great way to go, especially for the budget minded rider. I started with ramps, and used them for over 20 years before moving to a trailer.
- Affordable
- Ease Of Storage
- No Maintenance
- Large Selection
- Theft Prevention
- Better Gas Mileage
1. Ramps Are Cheaper Than Trailers
The number 1 reason to go with ramps is cost. A good set of 4 wheeler ramps can be had for $150 to $400, whereas a trailer is going to run you $1000 for a decent 5×8 lightweight model with a fold down ramp.
The ramps pictured below are a cheap set from API Outdoors. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest you go with the cheapest model like I did. These are from back in the day when your average ATV weighed less than the models more common today.
For safety reasons, you should opt for a sturdier set that is very strong, over saving a few bucks.
2. ATV Ramps Are Easy To Store
Aluminum ramps are compact, and can be stored anywhere, including outside in the elements. Mine are propped up against my fence, and that’s where they stay most of the year. Very little space is required.
3. They Require Zero Maintenance
I have had the same set of aluminum ramps for over 20 years. All I’ve ever done is rinse the mud off of them. They are impervious to rain, ice, hail, and the brutal summers of the southeast.
4. Better Gas Mileage
Pulling a trailer definitely impacts your tow vehicle’s gas mileage. Whether it’s significant enough to matter is debatable. Ramps win here every time. If nothing else, a trailer is added weight, which will impact your MPG’s.
5. Huge Selection
There are many ramp options available to suit your budget and taste. Trifold’s, bi-folds, fixed, curved, short and long. Hit up Amazon to get an idea of what you might prefer, and then shop around locally to see them in person before buying.
6. Ramps Protect Your ATV From Theft
If you have an ATV in the bed of your truck, and back up to something like a tree, it’s going to be nearly impossible for someone to steal your ATV.
I think a quad sitting on a nice trailer is an ideal target for a thief. However, a heavy quad sitting high up in the back of a truck – not so much.
Consider An ATV Hitch Tie Down
I’ve have 2 of these “Louisiana Guard Dog” tie downs, linked below, which I’ve used extensively on both a Toyota Tacoma and an F150. These are more secure and convenient than straps. If you decide to go with ramps, you may want to think about something like this instead of using straps.
3 Negatives Of ATV Ramps
- Vehicle Damage
- More Dangerous
- Tailgate Left Down
1. Potential Vehicle Damage
If you’re not careful, you can ram the front of your truck bed, and even break your back glass when loading an ATV into the back of a truck. To minimize this risk, place an object in the bed of the truck, such as a cooler. This prevents accidentally ramming your front rack into your rear glass.
I have managed to avoid this for 22 years, but that was through careful and sober loading of my atv. If you make one mistake, you rear windshield can become toast. You can also dent the hell out of your truck bed, which I have seen other people do.
2. Ramps Are Dangerous On Trucks With High Beds
I went from loading a 4-wheeler into the back of a Toyota Tacoma to loading it into an F150. The intimidation factor went way up with just that small increase in height. I think the higher your tailgate is, the more you should lean towards a trailer.
Besides the risk of an ATV slipping off the ramps, you also run the risk of a tailgate cable breaking. If that happens, your day can go bad in a hurry.
3. You May Have To Leave The Tailgate Down
Most ATV’s won’t fully fit in the bed of a truck. What that often means is leaving the tailgate down, which means you really have to strap your ATV down well.
Rocks can damage the underside of a tailgate’s paint the more miles you travel with it down. Also, if you go backing up in brushy areas, you are going to get scratches under there. I know, because I’ve done it.
| ATV Ramps | Utility Trailers |
|---|---|
| + cheaper | - more expensive |
| - sketchy | + safer |
| + no maintenance | - maintenance required |
| + easy to store | - need space to store |
| + no ongoing expense | - ongoing fees and maintenance |
| - possible vehicle damage | - dealing with spare tires and lights |
| + gas mileage | + multipurpose use |
| - bed space occupied | + free bed space |
| + better truck mobility | + better for large ATV's |
5 Reasons To Choose A Trailer Over ATV Ramps
- Trailers Are Versatile
- Frees Up Your Truck Bed
- They Are Safer
- Better For Larger ATV’s
- Trailers Hold Value Better
1. You Can Use A Trailer For Other Things
A huge benefit of a trailer is that it can be used for other things. They can be used to transport all manner of things that a homeowner might need, such as appliances and landscaping supplies, just to name a couple. They also come in handy for moving a kid off to college. You can even unhook a trailer upon arrival, and then use your ATV to pull it around.
2. Trailers Free Up Space In The Bed Of A Truck
If you’ll be carrying lots of stuff, you might need the bed of your truck. A trailer keeps all that premium bed space freed up for things such as chainsaws, decoys, a dog kennel, and coolers.
3. Trailers Are Safer Than ATV Ramps
As already discussed above, loading onto a trailer is always safer than driving up the steeper angle of a ramp.
4. Trailers Are Better For Larger ATV’s and UTV’s
It really does depend on how large your ATV or UTV is, as to which option is the better choice. I personally think you should go with a trailer for most side by sides and larger ATVs. In my opinion, ATVs smaller than a 500 size can go either way. Anything larger than that, and I would steer away from ramps.
5. Trailers Hold Value Better Than Ramps
I don’t necessarily have proof of this, since I have not tried to sell ramps before. I do know trailers are expensive, and seem to hold a lot of value, even when used.
5 Negatives To Trailering An ATV
- Storage
- Expense
- Maintenance
- Gas Mileage
- Mobility Issues
1. Trailer Storage Issues
Obviously you’ll need a place to store a trailer, which takes up far more space than ramps do.
Some folks run into an issue with being able to even fit a trailer through a gated entrance into their back yard. You don’t really want a trailer parked in plain view in some neighborhoods for risk of theft.
2. Extra Costs
Not only are the upfront costs higher for a trailer, you’ll also have a whole other set of costs, most of which are ongoing.
With a trailer, you’ll have registration and tag fees, tire and wheel maintenance, among other things. Don’t forget that you’ll need a spare tire. Also, trailer lights often become an issue eventually.
Extra and ongoing costs clearly make a trailer much more expensive than ramps.
3. Maintenance Requirements
As mentioned above, there will be ongoing maintenance with a trailer. Tires, lights, rust and wheel grease, to name a few. Conversely, I have used the same set of aluminum ramps that are propped up against my fence for 22 years now. I have zero maintenance invested in those.
4. Towing An ATV Means Worse Gas Mileage
You most assuredly will get slightly better gas mileage with an ATV loaded into the back of your truck.
5. Trailers Limit Mobility In Tight Quarters
If you have limited space, such as in the woods, a trailer presents mobility complications. Trailers can also scrape on steep drives.
You Can Use Both
Many folks use both ramps and trailers. Depending on the situation, you may find that both are helpful on a particular outing.
In the past, I have rented equipment from Home Depot to take to my hunting camp. When I did that, I put my ATV in the truck bed and towed the additional equipment on a trailer.
Most times I think a trailer is the better option. I own both, but I am doubtful I’ll pull the ramps out anytime soon.
Conclusion
I have used ATV ramps for over 20 years, so I have a lot of experience with them. The older and fatter I get, the scarier they get. I’ve done a lot of dumb things with them, including driving up them with a nearly 200 lb. buck on the rear rack. I recently made the move to a trailer. If possible, I recommend you do the same.
ATV ramps work better for younger, more agile folks with trucks that are lower to the ground. The higher your truck bed and body weight, the more you need to look into getting a trailer.
Be careful loading those ATV’s!
Augustus Clay
