Yard Ramp - Selecting The Right Yardramp

Selecting The Right Yardramp

Careful consideration must be taken when selecting the correct yardramp for each application. The manufacturer should be able to provide information to help select the correct model, but important things to consider are:

• Capacity or rated load – The rated capacity of the ramp must always exceed the greatest total moving load (including goods, persons and transport equipment). If there is any likelihood of changes to operations; it is always better to over specify than under specify. It is also vitally important to be aware if quoted capacities are total load (uniformly distributed load: UDL), or single axle (dynamic load) capacities. Under heavy braking it is quite feasible to have the full weight of the fork truck acting through its front wheels only, therefore it is important to ensure the single axle rating of the ramp is sufficiently high.

• Frequency of use – High frequency usage, e.g. shift working can cause damage to light duty ramps which are only designed for occasional use.

• The load to be moved – The ramp must not restrict the movement of the load sizes required. Narrow, high side curbs are a hindrance if trying to load wide items, and long, tall items may foul on the top of the container if the level off top section at the top is too short.

• Usable width – This is typically full vehicle width, i.e. around 2.25 m (7'5" to allow straight access into the vehicle without the need for repositioning at the top of the ramp.

• The type of fork truck – 3-wheeled fork trucks for example will put additional pressure on the flooring of the yardramp. It is also important to check the trucks to be used are capable of running safely on the incline at which the yardramp will be working at, and have no under clearance problems.

• Height range – The maximum recommended incline of a yardramp is 7 degrees or 1 in 8, though some yardramps are capable of raising beyond this angle.

• Movement of the yardramp – Yardramps are typically moved around using a simple tow bar which is pinned into the tow hitch on the back of most standard fork trucks, though some designs offer alternative methods, such as pushing the ramp around using pockets which accept standard the forks of a fork truck.

• Yard Surface - If the ramp is to be regularly towed across rough or stony surfaces, or towed at high speeds then it is preferable to have a ramp fitted with conventional pneumatic tires rather than the cheaper solid tires normally used as standard on many European ramps.