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(805) 261-2630
sales@selectramps.com
Mon-Fri: 9AM - 6PM PST
Aluminum Trailer Ramps: Hook End vs. Pin-On, Length, and Capacity
Aluminum trailer ramps bridge the gap between the ground and a trailer deck so a car, tractor, or piece of equipment can drive on. To choose a pair, match four things to your trailer and load: the attaching end (hook or pin-on), a length whose rise range covers your deck height, a width that fits your tires, and a per-axle capacity above your heaviest axle.
Hook end vs. pin-on trailer ramps
Hook end ramps drop over the trailer's angle iron or rub rail. There are no brackets and no hardware, so setup takes seconds and the same pair can move between trailers. This is the common choice for car trailers, utility trailers, and anyone loading more than one trailer. See the hook end car trailer ramps and the hook end heavy equipment ramps.
Pin-on ramps seat into skid seat brackets mounted on the trailer and lock in place, so they cannot shift or kick out during the load. They suit transporters, fleet operators, and equipment trailers that load the same way every day. The brackets are sold separately; the aluminum skid seat bracket comes in 24 in, 36 in, 48 in, and 97 in lengths. Browse all pin-on equipment ramps.
A third style pins at both ends. The 20,000 lb pin-on trailer ramps anchor at the trailer and at the ground instead of relying on friction at the foot.
Knife foot vs. stub foot
The foot is the end that sits on the ground. A knife foot tapers to a thin edge, so tires roll on with almost no bump. It is the standard on car trailer ramps. A stub foot is squared off and gives solid ground contact on gravel, dirt, and pavement, which is why it shows up on heavier equipment ramps. Both are listed for every size in the comparison table below.
How long should trailer ramps be?
Length is set by your deck height, not by the vehicle. Every HD Ramps pair lists a rise range, the deck heights it is built to reach.
Step 1: Measure your deck height
With the trailer hitched and level, measure from the ground to the spot where the ramp will hook or pin on.
Step 2: Match it to a rise range
Pick a pair whose rise range includes that number. A 4 ft pair covers 8 to 12 in. A 10 ft pair covers 20 to 36 in. A 16 ft pair covers 36 to 42 in.
Step 3: Go longer for low vehicles
When two lengths both cover your deck, the longer one gives a lower angle. On a 24 in deck, 10 ft ramps climb 2.4 in per foot of ramp; 12 ft ramps climb 2 in per foot. Low cars and long-wheelbase equipment benefit most from the gentler slope.
How much capacity do you need?
HD Ramps rates its trailer ramps per axle: the weight carried by one axle as it crosses the pair. Total vehicle weight is not the number to compare. Look up the axle weights for your car or machine and choose a pair rated above the heaviest one. Equipment with a loaded bucket or attachment can carry most of its weight on one axle, so check the manufacturer's figures for the configuration you will load.
The car trailer ramps in this guide are rated 5,000 lb per axle. Equipment ramps run from 7,000 lb to 12,000 lb per axle, and the double pin-on pair is rated 20,000 lb per axle. All pairs over 10,000 lb are grouped in the over 10,000 lb collection.
Car trailer ramps vs. equipment trailer ramps
Car trailer ramps are built around a 5,000 lb per axle rating, a knife foot, and widths from 15 in to 20 in per ramp. The 10 ft × 20 in Low Profile version stands 3-1/4 in high and covers 12 to 20 in rises, for cars with limited ground clearance. See all car trailer ramps.
Equipment trailer ramps carry more per axle and get deeper and heavier to do it. The 14 ft × 16 in, 12,000 lb pair stands 6-1/4 in high and weighs 115 lb per ramp. HD Ramps puts a loaded skid steer on a tandem-axle deck at the top end of its hook end equipment range.
Aluminum trailer ramps compared
All pairs below are HD Ramps, made in the USA from high-strength aluminum, with a serrated rung surface and a five-year warranty. Each is sold as a pair. Capacity is per axle; size, rise range, and weight are per ramp.
| Ramp pair | Size (L × W) | Rise range | Capacity per axle | Weight per ramp | End & foot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD Ramps Aluminum Car Trailer Ramps |
4 ft × 15 in | 8–12 in | 5,000 lb | 20.5 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Short rises, small trailers |
| 10 ft × 16 in | 20–36 in | 5,000 lb | 47 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Standard car trailers | |
| 10 ft × 20 in Low Profile | 12–20 in | 5,000 lb | 68 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Low-clearance cars | |
| 12 ft × 16 in | 24–36 in | 5,000 lb | 65 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Lower loading angle | |
| 16 ft × 18 in | 36–42 in | 5,000 lb | 99 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Tall decks | |
| HD Ramps Aluminum Car Hauler Ramps |
10 ft × 20 in | 24–36 in | 5,000 lb | 72 lb | Pin-on end, knife foot | Transporters, repeat loading |
| HD Ramps Aluminum Heavy Equipment Ramps |
7 ft 6 in × 15 in | 20–24 in | 7,000 lb | 36 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Light equipment, utility trailers |
| 7 ft 6 in × 14 in | 24–36 in | 10,000 lb | 47 lb | Hook end, stub foot | Compact equipment | |
| 14 ft × 16 in | 36–42 in | 8,000 lb | 96 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Tall decks, mid-weight loads | |
| 14 ft × 16 in | 36–42 in | 12,000 lb | 115 lb | Hook end, knife foot | Loaded skid steers | |
| HD Ramps Aluminum Equipment Trailer Ramps |
7 ft 6 in × 14 in | 24–36 in | 10,000 lb | 47 lb | Pin-on end, stub foot | Compact tractors, trenchers |
| 14 ft × 16 in | 36–42 in | 8,000 lb | 96 lb | Pin-on end, knife foot | Tall decks, mid-weight loads | |
| 14 ft × 16 in | 36–42 in | 12,000 lb | 115 lb | Pin-on end, knife foot | Heavier loaders | |
| HD Ramps Aluminum Pin-On Trailer Ramps |
10 ft × 20 in | 36–42 in | 20,000 lb | 240 lb | Pins on both ends, stub foot | Heaviest wheeled machines |
Shop the full aluminum trailer ramps collection, or see every HD Ramps product. Hauling on a step deck instead of a flat trailer? Those use different kits, covered in step deck ramps.
Storing trailer ramps on the trailer
Ramps that ride loose on the deck shift in transit and take up load space. A bolt-on holder keeps them in one place. The bolt-on trailer ramp holder fits 5 in thick ramps in 18 in and 20 in widths. Storage brackets, skid seat rods, ramp dollies, and pins are in trailer ramp accessories and parts.
Setup and loading safety
- Hitch the trailer to the tow vehicle and set the parking brake before loading.
- Seat both ramps fully over the rail or into the skid seat brackets before any wheel touches them.
- Space the ramps to the vehicle's track width and line up straight; avoid steering on the ramp.
- Load slowly and at a steady speed. Keep people clear of the ramps and the sides of the trailer.
- Check the per-axle rating against the heaviest axle every time the load changes.
Frequently asked questions
How long should trailer ramps be?
Long enough that your deck height falls inside the ramp's rated rise range. Measure from the ground to the spot where the ramp hooks or pins on, then pick a pair whose rise range covers that number. If two lengths both cover it, the longer pair gives a lower angle, which matters for low cars and long-wheelbase equipment.
What is the difference between hook end and pin-on trailer ramps?
A hook end ramp drops over the trailer's angle iron or rub rail and needs no hardware, so it moves easily between trailers. A pin-on ramp seats into skid seat brackets mounted on the trailer and locks in place, which suits a trailer that loads the same way every time. Skid seat brackets are sold separately.
Is trailer ramp capacity per ramp or per pair?
HD Ramps rates its trailer ramps per axle: the weight on one axle as it crosses the pair. Find the heaviest axle on the machine or vehicle you are loading, not just its total weight, and choose a pair rated above it.
What width trailer ramps do I need for a car?
Wide enough to carry the full tire tread with room for steering corrections. HD Ramps car trailer ramps run from 15 in to 20 in wide per ramp. The 20 in pairs give the most margin on approach.
Do pin-on trailer ramps need brackets?
Yes. Pin-on ramps lock into skid seat brackets on the trailer. HD Ramps sells aluminum skid seat brackets in 24 in, 36 in, 48 in, and 97 in lengths, plus a weld-on steel version.
Are HD Ramps trailer ramps made in the USA?
Yes. HD Ramps lists every trailer ramp in this guide as made in the USA from high-strength aluminum and covers them with a five-year warranty for the original purchaser.
This guide is general information. Confirm ramp specifications on the product page and your vehicle or equipment manufacturer's axle weights before buying or loading.