drwwicks
Alabama
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Joined: 01/16/2012
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New to this forum but it was suggested by members on a motorcycle site. Just purchased a "new to me" used 2011 Raptor that was barely used and did not have any vehicle in the garage. I will be carrying a Harley Davidson Electra Glide, weight around 900 lbs. and don't yet have the suitable tie-downs. The question I have is about the ramp. The surface is a rubber "high traction" one but it's slippery when wet. It might have been coated by someone with a pretty substance such as armorall, but I am leery of moving the bike up or down that ramp until I get a good and real high traction surface.
Any suggestions. The m/c crowd had suggested a sand paint or high traction bed liner application. My concern would be whether it would adhere to the existing surface. Have no had a chance to try to clean off the ramp with a degreaser or solvent yet, but the day I picked it up it was raining and moving up and down the ramp took care.
The subject of tie-downs, chocks and rails such as e-track will be later.
Thanks
As soon as I figure out on this site, I'll add a sig line
2011 Keystone Raptor 300MP
2012 Ram 3500 CC Dually
2011 Harley Davidson FLHTK
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Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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Welcome aboard! As for the ramp, I guess they have changed it, our previous Raptor had a grit surface for the ramp, but even then could be slick when wet. The problem was it looked bad if the wheels had any dirt on them. I suppose you could remove the rubber ramp surface and apply something like stair paint with sand in it. I would think that rubber material also adds a lot of weight to the door too, so if you remove it you may find the door wants to spring back up.
I'm sure some other MC riders will chime in with ideas too.
Our RV: '07 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
Our Toys: Four Winns Horizon 190, Polaris Sportsman 500's & Honda Recon's
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drwwicks
Alabama
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Thanks. One of my thoughts was to get a rubber pick-up truck bed liner, maybe cut it in 1/2 lengthwise and coat it with a super skid resistance sand type pain. Devise a clamping method so it would not slip on the ramp.
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RVnMC
Bethlehem PA
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Joined: 10/22/2011
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drwwicks wrote:New to this forum but it was suggested by members on a motorcycle site. Just purchased a "new to me" used 2011 Raptor that was barely used and did not have any vehicle in the garage. I will be carrying a Harley Davidson Electra Glide, weight around 900 lbs. and don't yet have the suitable tie-downs. The question I have is about the ramp. The surface is a rubber "high traction" one but it's slippery when wet. It might have been coated by someone with a pretty substance such as armorall, but I am leery of moving the bike up or down that ramp until I get a good and real high traction surface.
Any suggestions. The m/c crowd had suggested a sand paint or high traction bed liner application. My concern would be whether it would adhere to the existing surface. Have no had a chance to try to clean off the ramp with a degreaser or solvent yet, but the day I picked it up it was raining and moving up and down the ramp took care.
The subject of tie-downs, chocks and rails such as e-track will be later.
Thanks
As soon as I figure out on this site, I'll add a sig line
The ramp is normal. And YES - IT's SLIPPERY WHEN WET.
NEVER grab the front brake while backing out/down. Just make sure you have a lot of distance/space behind the open ramp to ride out the speed and stop once off the ramp.
And try not to put your feet down on the wet ramp while backing out as your boots won't have enough traction either to keep you and the bike from sliding down/out sideways.
Check out Condor chocks or better yet BoltItOn system.
http://www.boltiton.com/
For tie downs, the hooks should be round or clasps and rated for enough weight to secure your bike.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Don't know your TT. Mine is a sideload. If I put the awning out before dropping the ramp, ramp stays dry. Still an issue when returning if TIRES are wet and muddy, but at least ramp is ok.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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maryvillept
Jackson, MO
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Like everyone else said pretty much all toy hauler ramps are slick. Mine is a gritty type sandpaper stuff but is slick when when. Can get a slight run at it so you are not throttling on the ramp. If tires or ramp is wet, it will be a little slippery. Say a prayer before going up.
2012 Chevy 3500hd crew cab short bed. 6.0 L, 4x4
16k Reese slider hitch
2007 Forest River Salem 38' toy hauler
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1L243
Astoria, Oregon
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My ramp is the same as yours. Don't use your front brake when backing down it will just slide all the way down when wet. Use your clutch.. Put the bike in gear and your clutch as a brake by pushing in when you want to move and let it out when yo want to stop. Takes some practice but the rear wheel will not skid like the front wheel.
2011 Work and Play 30WR. Added 2nd AC, four deep cycle batteries.
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4wlow
Holtwood, PA
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I got some strips of anti-skid tape and placed them on the ramp. It helps alot when your shoes, tires, or ramp is wet.
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OldGreaser
South Texas
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My Cyclone is similar to your unit, and my RKC will slide down the ramp with the front brake locked. I try to have a spotter available when unloading. Going in doesn't have as much drama as unloading. A suggestion that I have not tried would be to screw some 'expanded metal' onto the ramp. This is steel sheet that has multiple slots cut into it and is then stretched to make a mesh. Of course, it will look like crap. We use our garage as a living room, so will continue to look for easy unloading spots with less ramp angle.
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joebedford
Jasper, Ontario
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Joined: 09/03/2003
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1L243 wrote:My ramp is the same as yours. Don't use your front brake when backing down it will just slide all the way down when wet. Use your clutch.. Put the bike in gear and your clutch as a brake by pushing in when you want to move and let it out when yo want to stop. Takes some practice but the rear wheel will not skid like the front wheel.
I agree completely. One clarification though - have the engine running. Some engines can be hurt if you spin them backwards!
2011 Silverado 3500HD LTZ CCLB 6 x Michelin LTX MS2 80 psi
2011 Voltage 3950 6 x Bridgestone Duravis R250 80 psi
2004 H-D VRSCB(mine)
1996 / 2007 H-D / DFT FLHTCUI Trike(hers)
2004 Thor Dutchman 35SRV traded
2004 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 CTD traded
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