Guest Blog: The benefits of folding aluminum ramps

The last-mile delivery boon has been great for many fleets serving that segment of the market, but has been hard on equipment, including liftgates. Punishing duty cycles may add up to increased liftgate maintenance costs and possible failures in the field.

Hydraulic and chain-driven electric liftgates can be a great help to workers when they are operating properly, but can be costly to purchase and maintain. Liftgates that are mounted on the exterior of a vehicle are continuously exposed to the elements and can become a high-maintenance component.

Lightweight, folding aluminum ramps offer last-mile delivery fleets a practical alternative to liftgates. The ramps are easy to deploy and offer a highly functional solution for cargo movement in and out of vehicles.

Designed for use with both commercial vans and box trucks, folding aluminum ramps can often outlast the vehicles they serve and can easily be removed and remounted in a different vehicle. They are virtually maintenance free and only require periodic inspection and lubrication, compared to the cumulative maintenance and repair costs of hydraulic and chain-driven electric liftgates.

Products like Link Manufacturing’s line of lightweight, low-profile aluminum ramps mount and stow vertically inside rear or side doors and are designed to take up less than 12 inches of the commonly unused horizontal space just inside a vehicle door. Because they stow vertically within the interior of the vehicle, the ramps are not exposed to harsh weather or road debris when stowed. Once used and folded back into their vertical position, the ramp’s surface can be easily cleaned by brushing and wiping away any residual moisture or dirt.

With 180-degree rotation and two storage locations, Link’s LSR90 Series Swivel Ramp offers flexibility for loading and unloading cargo. The Swivel Ramp mounts in the rear stored position like a traditional folding ramp but can also be stored inside behind the wheel well, providing options for those times when a loading ramp is not needed. The swivel design enables the ramp to swing like a door, up to 90 degrees. The ramp’s swing action gives users complete open access to the cargo hold.

An optional built-in spring-assist feature is also available on some Link ramp models. Using the spring-assist, only about 50 pounds of force is required to open and close the ramp.

Link has nine standard ramp designs to meet a wide variety of applications. They are available in widths between 24” to 47” and can accommodate standard hand trucks and other cargo conveyance equipment. Bifold ramp lengths range from 72” to 135”; trifold models extend to 119”. Trifold ramps also feature an adjustable support mechanism for extra stability. Weight capacities range from 350 lbs to 1,500 lbs, and Link also offers custom engineering services for unique applications.