Portable Steel Yard Ramps
The portable steel yard ramp is good for construction sites where no dock is available. Steel Yard Ramps are available for rent or purchase. The safety features of a portable steel yard ramp include a manual crank for adjusting height, chains, and rubber bumpers. Additional features for portable steel yard ramps include pneumatic tires and either a hand pump hydraulic lift or a DC powered lift.
Be sure to check carefully with the model you are considering owning, as these features are different or nonexistent on Byrd model portable steel yard ramps. You'll need to double check on Byrd models to see how they differ from the other models you are considering and whether these differences affect your intended use of the yard ramp. If you need a different size portable steel yard ramp than what you see in the catalogue, as your sales rep about your other options, as specials sizes are often available.
The Yard Ramp-A Different Kind of Ramp
Yard ramp models can accommodate railroad cars, trucks and trailers. Yard ramps are high-capacity and far exceed the smaller load ratings of fiberglass and aluminum ramps. Additionally, these ramps are often designed to compensate for a different or uneven height between the ground and the dock.
One very important feature of some yard ramps is the "lease potential." Some models are available for rent as well as purchase, making the yard ramp an affordable rental solution for those who don't have the budget to purchase one outright.
Most of these yard ramp rentals include a clause in the rental agreement stating that the lessor agrees not to use the ramp for any work above the rated capacity. Doing so makes the lessor liable for all damage to the ramp. Read the agreement carefully and know your yard ramp's capacity rating before the job begins!
Yard Ramp Options Part Two
Did you know that your portable yard ramp may come with an optional accessory kit for towing? The portable yard ramp kit includes brake lights and turn signals which will help keep you legal as you move down the road with your load.
Remember that you may need to purchase sway bars if you are towing with a ligthweight vehicle. In cases like these it's much better to err on the side of caution. Why risk getting pulled over for an "unmarked" load or for engendering other drivers for lack of the right equipment?
Ask your vendor for information about sway bars and what vehicles may be required to use them in transit. Your portable yard ramp comes with many optional items for purchase that will help you stay in compliance with safety regulations and the rules of the road.
The Yard Ramp Rental
Some models of yard ramps are available as rentals for your convenience. These models include capacities between 16,000 and 20,000 pounds. Your lease agreement will spell out the terms of the rental contract, but keep in mind that the rental period may begin as early as the day after the ramp leaves the yard at the rental facility.
It's also important to keep track of your rental payments--late payments can incur additional fees as spelled out in your contract. It's common for the rental contract to include a pro-rate amount for rental terms that fall short of full weeks--make sure you know in advance what the pro rated amount comes to and what the minimum lease term is specified for your yard ramp.
Mobile Yard Ramp Capacities--Check Before You Buy!
Aluminum mobile yard ramps are lighter and easier to use than their steel counterparts. These mobile yard ramps are available with aluminum grating or steel grating.
These ramps are especially handy when no dock is available for a loading or unloading. Capacities for these yard ramps range from 16,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds and come in a wide range of lengths and widths. If you are renting a mobile yard ramp it's very important to check the width of the ramp you are considering--does your material handling equipment have the clearance to operate on the ramp you are buying?
This not only includes tire width, but also the width of the cargo loaded on the forklift or other equipment. The mobile yard ramp can easily accommodate cargo and equipment, but be sure to double check your cargo weight ratios against the capacity of the ramp before renting.
Yard Ramp Options
Did you know there is a wide variety of optional equipment available for your portable yard ramp? These items include tow bar hitches and loops, plus optional fork lift pickup slots and handrails. These options are available for purchase, but if you have special needs which require these extra items for a rental agreement, it's best to check with your rental agent on the availability of the additional equipment.
If it's not spelled out in the rental agreement, chances are you may need to make special arrangements for any optional accessories you need to properly use the portable yard ramp model you are renting.