Loading 4 wheelrs on bed of pick up

paul judd wrote:
Trying to solve the age old problem of the perfect travel trailer.

Have been looking at 5th wheels, bumper pull etc.

For what we want to do it seems like a pumper pull with some sort of loading platform on our truck would give us the most flexibility.
Not in love with driving up a steep narrow ramp to load 4 wheelers on a platform on the bed of our truck.
Are there any loading system that are easier, safer to use?
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

What you are searching for is called a TOY HAULER.

Definition of TOY HAULER, a purpose built trailer with a GARAGE BUILT IN TO HAUL "TOYS" like ATVs, Golf carts, motorcycles, ect..

They have a built in ramp, low garage floor height, tie downs and all weather flooring.. Some even have built in "gas stations" to boot..

Pretty much all toy haulers once you reach your destination you simply unload your toys and the garage now can become additional sleeping space or even a outdoor space that is nicely protected from the weather..

I use the motto, "the right tools for the right job will make the job go faster and smoother with best results possible"..

Yes, there are folks who load their ATVs in the back of a truck, but as you mention you WILL deal with a steep ramp. You will then need to make space to haul that ramp, then have to handle said ramp..

Not to mention ATVs will add a considerable weight to the back of your truck which may cause considerable overloading of your vehicles suspension..

By the way, toy haulers can be found in bumper pull or 5th wheel RVs..

On edit..

I should also add that toy haulers LOOK LIKE A RV, have interior like RV with living/sleeping/cooking spaces..

paul judd wrote:
Trying to solve the age old problem of the perfect travel trailer.

Have been looking at 5th wheels, bumper pull etc.

For what we want to do it seems like a pumper pull with some sort of loading platform on our truck would give us the most flexibility.
Not in love with driving up a steep narrow ramp to load 4 wheelers on a platform on the bed of our truck.
Are there any loading system that are easier, safer to use?
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

You don't say what truck you are planning to use. Even with a bumper pull trailer you are going to have payload issues if you load a couple 4 wheelers and gas in the bed of the truck.

I've seen lightweight winches used to pull UTV/ATV up a ramp instead of driving them up. Or I saw one guy with an in bed mounted swing arm with a winch. He would lift up his ATVs and swing them into the bed.

whats wrong with ramps? don't dump the clutch and stay ready on the brake. also can use an atv winch to pull them up the ramp.

Go with a bumper pull toy hauler. By the time you put a couple quads on your truck you are not going to have much payload capacity left for a trailer.

I use a tri-fold ramp to load my Quad in the back of my truck. Really simple and once loaded the ramp folds up narrow enough to slide it under the Quad.

Ron

Using the ramp isn't fun, but its not that awful. Get a really long tri-fold ramp. I use 10' ramps.

I'd prefer a toy hauler, but I didn't foresee my camping trips turning into atv trips and already had a TT.

Most UTV's will require a toy hauler or long bed truck with some sort of "sled bed".

The truck bed carriers seam to be popular in Canada.

paul judd wrote:
For what we want to do it seems like a bumper pull with some sort of loading platform on our truck would give us the most flexibility.
Not in love with driving up a steep narrow ramp to load 4 wheelers on a platform on the bed of our truck.
Are there any loading system that are easier, safer to use?
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

There are several vendors like Truck Boss or Diamond Back Systems that make pickup bed covers meant to haul 1 or 2 ATV's. Unfortunately if you put 800-1000 lbs of ATV on the rear axle you'll quickly run out of capacity for the hitch weight of a TT. You might be okay with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, but a 1/2 ton will be out of CCC by the time you load ATVs and people.

Like others said, you're probably best off looking for a toy hauler. you get the benefit of the enclosed garage and ease of parking ATV's without the steep ramps you mentioned.

KJ

Toy haulers are nice, but only if the camping and trailheads are at a single location. Often that's not the case and you need to transport the quads from the campsite to the trail.

I like the tri fold ramps much better than the two narrow ramps. Gives more room for error.