How To Choose What Size Loading Ramps You Need: Three Measurements Determine Everything — Weight, Length and Angle
Choosing the wrong loading ramps is not just inconvenient — it is dangerous. A ramp that is too short creates an angle that is too steep. A ramp that is underrated for the weight can bend, buckle, or collapse under load.
Getting it right comes down to three measurements: the weight of what you are loading, the height of the deck you are loading onto, and the angle the ramp creates between the ground and that deck. This guide walks you through all three so you can choose with confidence.
Step 1 — Work Out Your Weight Capacity Requirement
Start with the heaviest single item you will ever load using these ramps. Not the average load — the heaviest. Then add a safety margin of at least 20 to 30 per cent on top of that weight. This margin accounts for dynamic loading forces — the momentum, vibration, and uneven weight distribution that occur when a machine drives up a ramp or is pushed up by hand.
For example, if your heaviest load is a 1,200kg mini excavator, your minimum ramp capacity should be 1,200 x 1.3 = 1,560kg. You would choose ramps rated to at least 1,600kg.
Don't just look at the model number and assume you know the weight of the machine. Just because it has '1.8' written on the side, doesn't mean it weighs 1800 kg. Does that weight include the canopy? How about the weight of the operator, fluids, attachments, etc. Check the manufacturer's website or the manual and make sure you've got your head around these numbers.
It's worth noting that the loading capacity listed on ramps is the combined capacity... a set of 2000kg ramps, is likely rated to 1000kg per ramp. This means the load rating assumes your weight is evenly distributed. If your machinery does not evenly distribute the weight, you need to ensure that BOTH ramps are rated to the heavier load.
Step 2 — Measure Your Deck Height
Measure the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the deck, tray, or trailer bed that you will be loading onto. Measure in millimetres for accuracy. This is your rise — the single most important number for calculating what ramp length you need.
Always measure your own vehicle or trailer — these are typical ranges only. Even 50mm of difference changes the angle calculation.
Step 3 — Calculate the Safe Loading Ramp Angle
This is where most people get it wrong — they buy ramps based on weight capacity alone and ignore the angle. The angle of the ramp determines whether your equipment can safely climb it, whether it will lose traction, and whether low-clearance equipment will bottom out at the transition point.
The widely accepted safe loading angle for machinery and equipment is between 16 and 22 degrees. Sureweld, one of Australia's leading loading ramp manufacturers, recommends staying within 18 to 22 degrees as the optimal range. Steeper than 22 degrees significantly increases the risk of traction loss on wheeled equipment, tip-over on tracked equipment, and ground clearance issues at the ramp-to-deck transition.
Ramp Length Guide — Match Your Deck Height to the Right Length
Here is a reference table showing the approximate ramp angle for common deck heights and ramp lengths. The safe zone (16 to 22 degrees) is where you want to be.
Deck height 400mm (box trailer): 1.5m ramp = 14.9 degrees (safe), 2.3m ramp = 9.9 degrees (safe, gentle)
Deck height 550mm (tall box trailer): 1.5m ramp = 20.2 degrees (safe, upper limit), 2.3m ramp = 13.4 degrees (safe)
Deck height 700mm (ute tray): 2.3m ramp = 16.9 degrees (safe), 3.2m ramp = 12.3 degrees (safe, gentle)
Deck height 900mm (high ute tray or light truck): 2.3m ramp = 21.4 degrees (safe, upper limit), 3.2m ramp = 15.7 degrees (safe)
Deck height 1,200mm (truck tray): 3.2m ramp = 20.6 degrees (safe, upper limit), 3.3m ramp = 20.0 degrees (safe)
Note: these angles are calculated using arctan(height / effective ground run), where the ground run is slightly less than the full ramp length because the ramp rests at an angle. For simplicity and to err on the side of caution, use the full ramp length as the run in your own calculations — the actual angle will be very slightly steeper than calculated, which means you are building in an additional small safety margin.
Ramp Width — Match Your Tracks or Tyres
Each ramp needs to be wider than the tyre or track that sits on it. As a minimum, allow at least 50mm of clearance on each side of the tyre or track. For rubber-tracked machinery (mini excavators, skid steers, posi-tracks), measure the full track width, including any rubber overhang and add at least 100mm total. If you are unsure, measure your widest tyre or track and contact us
Australian Workplace Safety — Your Legal Obligations
If you are using loading ramps in a workplace or commercial context, Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation requires you to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This applies to anyone conducting a business or undertaking (a PCBU) — including sole traders, contractors, and hire companies.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal, engineering, or professional safety advice. Always consult the relevant Australian Standards, your state or territory WHS regulator, and a qualified engineer for specific applications. The applicable standards and regulations may include AS 1657:2018, AS/NZS 4024:2019, the model WHS Act and Regulations, and any state-specific codes of practice. Requirements may vary by jurisdiction and application.
Quick Reference — Ramped Up Loading Ramps by Capacity
Here is a quick guide to matching common loading tasks to the right ramp capacity from our range:
🛒 Hand trolleys, wheelbarrows, small garden equipment (under 200kg): 230kg single folding ramp (2.3m)
🚜 Ride-on mowers, small ATVs, motorcycles (200–300kg): 340kg single folding ramp (2.3m) or Sureweld ATV Ramps 450kg
🌿 Larger ride-on mowers, side-by-side ATVs (300–500kg): 500kg single with support leg or 460kg pair (2.3m)
🏍️ Quad bikes, heavy mowers, small tracked equipment (400–700kg): 680kg pair (2.3m) or Sureweld Curved Mower Ramps 450kg
🔧 Small machinery, heavy equipment, bobcats under 1 tonne: 1,000kg pair (2.3m)
🦾 Mini excavators 1–2 tonne, skid steers: 1,600kg pair (2.4m) or 1,800kg pair (3.2m) or Sureweld Rubber Series
🚧 Mini excavators 2–3.5 tonne: 2,500kg pair (2.3m) or 3,000kg pair (3.2m) or Sureweld Rubber Series
🏗️ Heavy tracked plant 3.5–5 tonne: 5,000kg pair (1.6m) or Sureweld 4.8T Steel Track Series (3.3m)
⚙️ Heavy plant 5–9 tonne: Digga Easy Loader Loading Ramps (configurable 1T to 9T)
🦿 Steel-tracked machinery (any weight): Sureweld Track Series (steel track specific) or Sureweld PT Series (posi-track)
If your equipment falls between two capacity ratings, always choose the higher-rated ramp. Operating at 60 to 80 percent of a ramp's rated capacity puts less stress on the structure and provides a larger safety margin.
Still Not Sure? Ask Us
If you are not confident about which ramps are right for your setup, contact the Ramped Up team. Tell us what you are loading, what you are loading onto, and the deck height — we will recommend the right ramps for the job
