Quick answer: use a pair of ramps rated above your mower's weight (with you on it), set them on a level surface at the gentlest angle you can, drive up slowly in low gear with the deck raised, and strap the mower down at four points. That's the whole job — the detail below is what stops it going wrong.
Every mowing season, utes and trailers around Australia collect dented tailgates, and mowers collect bent decks — almost always from the same three mistakes: ramps that are too short, too steep, or not rated for the load. Here's how to load your ride on properly, every time.
Loading A Ride On Mower Onto A Trailer Is A One-Person Job — With The Right Setup
You don't need a helper, a homemade plank or a run-up. You need the right ramps, the right angle and a slow right foot.
What You'll Need
- A pair of mower-rated ramps — curved, rated above the combined weight of mower + operator + fuel. See our mower ramps range.
- A trailer or ute on level ground with the handbrake on and, for trailers, the coupling still hitched to the car.
- Four ratchet straps and solid anchor points.
Step 1: Choose Ramps Rated For Your Mower — And Curved For Clearance
A typical ride on weighs 200–350kg; add yourself and fuel and you're often past 400kg. Choose a ramp pair rated comfortably above that total — our Sureweld curved mower ramps are rated at 450kg for exactly this reason. And go curved: a straight ramp creates a sharp breakover angle at the top, which is what grinds cutting decks and catches low chassis rails. A curved ramp follows the mower's path so the deck never touches. Not sure on length? Our guide on what size loading ramps you need covers the maths.
Step 2: Set The Angle — The Scrape Problem Solved
The steeper the ramp, the more likely the deck grounds at the transition and the less traction your drive wheels have. Longer ramps mean gentler angles: for a standard box trailer deck around 600mm, a 2.1m curved ramp gives a comfortable climb. Space the ramps to match your mower's wheel track exactly, square to the tray, and check both ramp lips are seated securely on the tailgate or deck edge before anything rolls.
Step 3: Drive On Slow And Straight
Raise the cutting deck to full height. Lowest gear, slowest speed, wheels dead straight, and drive up in one smooth motion — no stopping halfway, no steering corrections mid-ramp. If your mower is a zero-turn, keep both drive levers even; a one-sided input on the ramp is how wheels drop off edges. Rear-engine mowers with most of their weight over the back wheels climb better in reverse — check your manual.
Step 4: Strap Down At Four Points
Handbrake on, blades disengaged, engine off, then four ratchet straps: two at the front, two at the rear, each pulling slightly outward to opposite anchor points. Strap to the frame or axle — never the steering wheel, seat or deck. Give each strap a final tug after driving 5 minutes; loads settle.
Loading A Mower That Won't Start
Dead mower? Put the transmission in neutral (most hydrostatic mowers have a release lever near the rear axle), and push it up with one person steering and one pushing — this is the one time a helper is non-negotiable. A winch or a strap around the front frame to a second vehicle beats backs and heart rates every time.
Common Mistakes That Drop Mowers
- Single ramp loading — ride-ons need a pair, spaced to the wheel track.
- Wet or muddy ramps — grass clippings are as slippery as ice on aluminium. Brush rungs off first.
- Buying ramps rated at the mower's weight — leave headroom; ratings are for static loads, and you're a moving one.
- Unhitched trailers — a mower climbing an unhitched single-axle trailer will see-saw it. Keep it coupled.
The Best Trailer Ramps For Ride-On Mowers
We've compared the options in detail in our ride on mower ramps buyer's guide, but the short version: the Sureweld curved folding pair (450kg, 2.1m, Australian made) is the one we'd put our own mower on. Browse all mower ramps and trailer ramps — full warranty, best price guarantee and fast delivery Australia-wide, rated 4.7 stars by 800+ Aussie buyers.
