How To Make Lawn Mower Ramps For Truck

How To Make Lawn Mower Ramps For Truck? DIY

5 minutes

Using a truck to transport a lawn mower anywhere can be incredibly efficient and satisfying. This is necessary if you need to take your lawn mower to a second home, business place, or any new location to cut the grasses, as it can save a lot of money and time. 

The main question is how to move such a heavy piece of machinery, as it is not an easy task. For this, you can actually build your own handmade, portable ramp to lift the mower into the truck. 

So, if you’re looking to save some money by making a ramp at home, then this article will provide you with everything you need to know. Here, I will be outlining the easiest DIY on how to make lawn mower ramps for trucks.

Let’s get started. This guide will outline the following: 

  • Necessary equipment 
  • A step-by-step guide on how to build your ramp 
  • Extra tips and tricks
  • Safety measures

Building Your Own Lawn Mower Ramp For Truck 

Basically, ramps can be expensive for loading heavy objects into any pickup truck or vehicle. However, constructing a ramp at home using a ramp kit is a simple process and very much affordable. You can find a ramp kit in any nearby hardware store.

Before getting started on building your own ramp, there are a few pieces of equipment you will need to get the job done. Take a look at the following list and get all equipment ready on hand!

Required Pieces Of Equipment

Step By Step Guide To Building The Ramp 

Using the ramp kits to build your own ramp will be much easier, all you need to do is follow the below procedure: 

  1. Measure the height of the truck using the measuring tape and cut the 2×4 inch lumber according to the required height. Find that perfect angle where you want your ramp to stand. Now, bevel one end of each of the pieces at that angle using the circular saw and carpenter’s square. 
  2. Attach the exterior grade plywood to the top of the 2x4s lumber. Take time and make the connection strong because the plywood supports the ramp to hold the weight of the mower. 
  3. Attach the support pieces at the bottom of the plywood using a screwdriver. 
  4. Add the ramp top kit brackets to the top of the ramp. 
  5. Using the circular saw, trim the lower ends of the ramp for even, flat ends that will sit on the ground. 
  6. Finally, if you want the surface to shine, you can paint the ramp. Moreover, you can add non-skid paint to the surface of the ramp to make it slip-resistant. 

Extra Tips To Ensure Safe And Sturdy Construction 

Of course, you don’t want to build a ramp that is unreliable and not able to navigate the lawnmower up and down constantly. So, it’s important that your ramp has sturdy, well-built lumber support to avoid accidents.

Here are some extra tips to ensure the best results: 

  1. Plan to make the ramp as long as possible. The center of gravity of a mower is much higher and this could cause the mower to flip while going up a steep incline. So, make sure your ramp is long enough to keep your lawnmower on a steady incline. 
  2. Another wise decision is to apply slip-resistant tape, this provides traction on wet surfaces. 
  3. The base of the ramp should be solid and must be attached to the top of the ramp, otherwise, the ramp board may shift when weight is applied to it.
  4. For building a solid and sturdy wood ramp, it’s recommended to use exterior-grade wood screws. 
  5. For folding the ramp to save space, you can use hinges in the middle of the ramp. 
  6. If you have a zero-turn lawn mower, it’s mandatory to have a wider and stronger ramp. Zero-turn lawn mowers have a different wheel offset and tend to have an uneven weight distribution. Before construction, design the ramp in such a way that will be able to accommodate the spacing of the wheel and can carry a higher weight than the zero-turn mower. 
  7. As the lawnmower has a very low height ground clearance, it creates a problem while loading the mower on the ramp. To eliminate this problem, the ramp should be built long enough, and have an arch during the construction of the ramp. To create the arch, attach two ramps in the middle by using screws, to gently pull the mower over the ramp without any damage.  
  8. Lastly, check the quality of the lumber. If you buy lumber that cannot hold pressure and weight, then it might deteriorate quickly. Check the durability and longevity of the lumber.

Safety Measures 

Last but not the least, taking proper safety precautions is a must when you attempt to construct anything. Always follow the below safety measures before building a lawn mower ramp for trucks: 

  1. Don’t forget to wear goggles before cutting the lumber. 
  2. Use a dust mask during the building process to prevent inhaling debris.
  3. Give a thorough check of the ramp before putting heavy weight on it. 
  4. Always try to push the mower to slide the ramp gently.  
  5. Ensure every part or joint of the whole ramp is secured properly. 
  6. For making the ramp higher than 20-25 inches, you need to use additional reinforcement, like more grade plywood and more screws to give it the right balance. 

Conclusion 

Making your own DIY ramp to carry lawn mowers is a great option, especially for those who don’t want to spend money on an expensive ramp. 

Hopefully, the above instructions will help guide you and make the process much simpler. And surely, you will be proud of yourself for using your own handmade creation in such a critical job. 

Finally, don’t forget to take the necessary safety measures when handling any heavy or sharp objects. Also, inspect the whole ramp before pushing the mower onto it. 

DIY lawn mower accessories transport
Todd L Miles
Lawn Mowers Enthusiast
I started "Landscape and Lawns Care" to provide clients with lawn care with better service, better products and, most importantly, better ethics. My promise to every customer is to give the greenest grass possible while controlling weeds, insects, and diseases! The most important thing is that I strive to always do the right thing for you, your lawn and your wallet!