As a solutions company, Handi-Ramp is dedicated to providing you with a cargo van ramp that allows you to safely and efficiently fulfill all of your business needs. In order to do this, it is important that you are able to confidently purchase a cargo van ramp with the specifications that will work best for your vehicle and business.

Our industry-leading cargo van ramps are offered in 5 standard lengths and 3 standard widths. Below, we have organized useful information that will help you determine which ramp size is best for your cargo van.

If you have any questions about our ramps or are still unsure about which ramp will work best for you, please give our friendly ramp experts a call at 866-833-0314.

Know Your Cargo Van’s Specifications

While the differing lengths and widths of Handi-Ramp’s standard cargo van ramps may present different benefits, it is most important to select the ramp that fits within your cargo van’s specifications. Before choosing the best ramp for your cargo van, it is essential that you know the exact measurements of your cargo van.

You will need to know:

  • Rear door opening height
  • Rear door opening width
  • Load (floor) height
  • If any modifications to the van have been made

Handi-Ramp makes it easy to find the ramps that will fit your cargo van’s specifications by using our exclusive cargo van ramp configurator.

USE THE CARGO VAN RAMP CONFIGURATOR
Simply enter your vehicle make, model, year, wheelbase, and roof height, and Handi-Ramp will sort through our standard cargo van ramps to provide you with only the ramps that will fit your vehicle.

 

How Wide Should My Cargo Van Ramp Be?

Handi-Ramp’s three standard cargo van ramp widths are 36 inches, 45 inches, or 52 inches. As mentioned above, it is important to know the specifications of your cargo van to ensure your ramp fits securely in your vehicle. When mounted in your van, the cargo van ramp installation hardware adds an additional 9 inches in width, so your van’s rear door opening must also accommodate the extra 9 inches in addition to the ramp’s width. 

While smaller vans, like the Ford Transit Connect and Ram ProMaster City Tradesman, will only be able to fit ramps that are 36 inches in width, some larger vans will be able to fit all three widths. Depending on the width of the rear door opening, the cargo van ramp can be mounted in the center or on either side of the rear door opening. 

Once you know which ramp width(s) will be able to fit in your cargo van, you can start thinking about which width will best suit your business needs. With a larger amount of surface area, wider ramps are able to transport larger cargo. If you are transporting large equipment like industrial lawnmowers, it would be advisable to purchase a wider cargo van ramp to ensure the equipment can be securely transported up and down the ramp. If you plan to use your ramp as a path for you or your employees to walk on while carrying packages or transporting cargo with a dolly, a ramp smaller in width can do the job. 

It is also helpful to keep in mind that some Handi-Ramp cargo van ramp accessories are only suggested for use with specific ramp widths. The Tower Hoist, which reduces the lifting effort of the ramp, is only recommended for use with 52” ramps because of how it is installed along the ramp and the sides of the rear door opening. The Swivel accessory, which allows your ramp to be rotated almost 180-degrees inward against the wall or outward towards the opened rear doors of your van, is only recommended for use with 36” wide ramps because of the added hardware that is installed on the side of the ramp.

How Long Should My Cargo Van Ramp Be?

Pros and Cons of Shorter Ramps

The two shortest ramps included in Handi-Ramp’s standard cargo van ramp line are the Short and the Medium. Because these bifold ramps are not constructed with as much material as longer ramps, they are lighter and a bit easier to unfold and stow. This may be something you want to consider if you are using the ramp constantly throughout the day. 

Shorter ramps also allow you to load and unload cargo in areas that have limited parking or loading space. This makes shorter cargo van ramps more ideal for use in cities or urban areas. A cargo van that is used to make numerous deliveries throughout the day would also benefit from a shorter cargo van ramp when extended unloading space isn’t always guaranteed. 

Because of their shorter length, the Short and Medium cargo van ramps will not have as gentle of a slope as the longer ramps in Handi-Ramp’s standard cargo van ramp line and may require more effort when transporting cargo up and down the ramp. For many, this will not be an issue as all of our ramps have a patented 360-degree anti-slip raised button surface to prevent any slips or falls on the ramp. However, if you are transporting very heavy cargo or need the use of a cart or dolly, you may benefit from a longer cargo van ramp that has a gentler slope. 

The Short commercial van ramp is usually purchased for smaller cargo vans that have a lower load height and smaller rear door dimensions. Large cargo vans often have a higher load height which creates  a steeper slope when paired with a shorter ramp. 

Pros and Cons of Longer Ramps

Beyond Medium, Handi-Ramp offers Long, Extra Long, and Extra-Extra Long length ramps. Like the Short and Medium, the Long is a bi-fold ramp. The Extra Long and Extra-Extra Long are tri-fold ramps. Unlike shorter ramps, the Long, Extra Long, and Extra-Extra Long ramps are not always ideal for loading and unloading at cramped locations with limited loading space like city streets. With their longer lengths comes a heavier weight. While still operable by just one person, ramps longer in length take more effort to unfold and stow than ramps shorter in length. Handi-Ramp recommends the addition of the Tower Hoist accessory with longer ramps, especially the Extra Long and Extra-Extra Long tri-folds, to reduce the effort required when operating the ramp. The Tower Hoist is also only recommended for use with the 52” wide ramps.

The longer ramps create a more gentle slope that may be most helpful when transporting large and heavy equipment and reduces the amount of effort needed to move the equipment to and from your cargo van. This gentler slope also allows for more control when using a cart or dolly with your cargo. If you know that you will be using your cargo van ramp to move heavy equipment like appliances, you would most likely benefit from a longer ramp with a gentler slope.

What Capacity Do I Need for My Cargo Van Ramp?

The Short, Medium, and Long Handi-Ramp cargo van ramps come standard with a 1,000lb capacity. This capacity is ideal for virtually any cargo or job. These ramps also have the option to increase the capacity to 1,500lbs with an additional welded center leg that sits where the ramp folds. If you know that the equipment that you will be transporting will weigh over 1,000lbs yet under 1,500lbs, it is crucial that you purchase a ramp with the 1,500lb capacity center leg. If you are planning to use the cargo van ramp to transfer smaller equipment or packages, the standard 1,000lb capacity will safely support you and your cargo. 

Because of their increased length, all Extra Long and Extra-Extra Long ramps come equipped with the center leg and have a 1,500lb capacity. 

Don’t See the Specifications You Need?

Handi-Ramp is able to construct a cargo van ramp with custom specifications to fit cargo vans with aftermarket modifications like cabinets and shelves. Give our ramp experts a call at 866-833-0314. Trust the world’s oldest custom ramp manufacturer to create the ramp that will best fit your vehicle and business needs.