PVI Multifold Van Ramp

[TJ Cornish]

After recently getting a real van, I discovered that I needed a ramp to get things into it. There are a lot of choices of one piece ramps, ATV ramps, and other things that take up a lot of space, but the PVI multifold ramp caught my eye.

http://www.pviramps.com/products/product-details/id/4

These ramps are 30" wide and various lengths. They fold to 15" X half the open length of the ramp. There are two versions - the regular "multifold" ramp, and the "utility multifold" ramp. The utility version has a longer lip to clear the bumper of the vehicle, the regular multifold version is designed more for static things such as stairs. Both versions support up to 600lbs in lengths up to 8' and 500lbs for the 10' version. I have the utility version.

The ramps are tig welded aluminum made in the USA with a sandy non-stick surface. The 8' version weighs 54lbs.

My 6' ramp was built slightly better than the 8' - the 8' sticks a little when opening, but isn't bad enough for me to bother with fixing. If it ever starts bothering me, I'll pull out a file. Some of the sand has come loose with light use, which isn't a shock to me. I suspect after I have it for a while, that will taper off and the granules will stay put. If it ever wears too much, I can peel it off and replace it.

Here's the ramp in operating position:

The first fold:

The second fold:

And fully collapsed:

Due to a shipping error, I had a chance to try two different lengths - the 6' and the 8'. The pictures above are the 6'.

PVI suggests a 2:12 rise/run ratio for occupied wheelchairs (one of the major applications for these ramps), and a 3:12 ratio for freight. My Chevy Express' load height is 28" which puts me slightly steeper than the 3:12 recommendation with the 8' ramp. I did some testing with a 1/4 pack trunk full of SO cord that weighed 150lbs or so. With the 6' ramp, this was a little precarious. The 8' ramp made a big difference.

The ramp seems very sturdy and had no problem with the 150lbs of case plus my 180lbs. I'm very confident that the ramp can handle it's 600lb rating, but if you're getting close to that weight, the issue will be the steepness of the ramp rather than deflection.

I had a chance to try the ramp in a different configuration - bridging to a city truck height dock.

This worked OK, but is considerably more dangerous since there isn't much to hold the ramp in place. I found that the best way to do this was to stand on the ramp first so my weight would hold it down before dragging a case out. I'm not sure this is a manufacturer specified use, so do this at your own peril.


I paid $380 for the 8' ramp. This is considerably more than several non-folding ramps, but for me is worth it. The 8' version when folded fits vertically in the back of the van, and since I often run with a pretty full load, having several options for how it fits is a plus.

 

[Ben Lawrence]

Re: PVI Multifold Van Ramp

Nice review. Probably a well spent 380$. I should probably pull the trigger on something like this.

 

[TJ Cornish]

Re: PVI Multifold Van Ramp

I've used the ramp a few times and wanted to give an update. The ramp is truly cool - it folds amazingly well and is really light for what it is.

I had a small mishap and dropped something on the ramp - I dropped one of my JFL mains in a cloth cover about 18" from a 1/4 pack road case. I got a little excited (lazy) and tried to save time by putting somthing on the case as I shoved it up the ramp, and the speaker tipped over forward onto the ramp. Note to self - don't do that again.

Anyway, the JFL survived fine, save a little of the road coat being scraped off by the sharp lip of the ramp, but I now have a dent in the ramp from where the speaker hit. The good news is this probably contributed to the lack of damage of my speaker - it fell a short distance inside its soft case onto the soft aluminum surface of the ramp. I was able to pound the dent out to some degree, but based on this situation, I suspect that I'll probably accumulate another dent or two over the life of the ramp.

I don't think this is a major negative of the ramp - thicker decking or more reinforcement would add substantially to the weight and cost of the ramp, but buyer beware that this isn't the same level of ruggedness as the usual box truck ramps we've all used and abused.

 

[Jon R Smith]

Re: PVI Multifold Van Ramp

TJ, Very nice review. My ramp is by Harmar Mobility Folding Ramps. I also have the 6' version. Instead of the adhesive placed material mine is actually “cut” into the aluminum. About the same price as you paid and worth it's weight in gold! It fits the side door of my Dodge Ram Van perfectly and is a God send when packing the van and not using the trailer. I now use the van alone as opposed to packing the trailer for many medium sized gigs that require some larger wheeled cases.

I have not tried spanning a gap as you illustrate in your photos. Did not occur to me but will store it in my memory bank for future use.

 

[Marlow Wilson]

Re: PVI Multifold Van Ramp

I had a chance to try the ramp in a different configuration - bridging to a city truck height dock.

This worked OK, but is considerably more dangerous since there isn't much to hold the ramp in place. I found that the best way to do this was to stand on the ramp first so my weight would hold it down before dragging a case out. I'm not sure this is a manufacturer specified use, so do this at your own peril.

A few comments. First off, excellent review. Little things like ramps are among the most important things we use. I have had to use my 6' Harbor Freight trailer ramp a couple times to get up to a standard 48" dock and can offer a couple bits of advice. 8' is definitely the better size for loading docks! 6' is quite steep and it's not something I'd want to do too often. I'm lucky that the ramp fits perfectly on the back edge of the trailer deck (sits on the metal frame, and against the plywood deck) it's a smooth transition that secures the ramp. The ramp came with two chains for which I have left on. When in doubt, I can usually attach it to something to secure it from pulling back (sometimes a metal railing, on the dock there are often secure points for locking the door). With the ramp secured at both sides, it can't really fall back, and even if it did it could only fall so far. I'll try to grab pics next time I'm using it. Depending on a couple variables, I'm sure you could devise something to make the loading dock use a bit more secure.

Here's the pic from the Harbor Freight website:



One serious beef with my ramp is that the metal edging where the ramp folds is a serious slip hazard. It's just wide enough that if you step in the middle your foot does not touch any non-slip surface. Several times I nearly lost it by stepping right in the middle. I'm thinking about getting the grinder out to roughen it up, but in retrospect I probably would prefer a ramp that didn't fold. I bought this one because it was dirt cheap and I was on my way to pick up the trailer which didn't have a ramp and had to load stuff that night. The folding aspect actually makes it a bit annoying to move because the part that is easy to grab on to is opposite the fold and therefor requires two hand to keep it together despite being very light. Yes, I could add a bungie, strap or handle, but it's one more thing to think about. I'm still happy with it for the price, but if I ever come across a sturdy but reasonably light 8' non-folding ramp at the right price I'll be all over it. I may also consider something like yours which looks much more thought out.

Only a group of sound guys could geek-out about loading ramps like this. It's a great thing!

Cheers...

 

[TJ Cornish]

Re: PVI Multifold Van Ramp

@ Jon - how do casters work over the holes in the ramp? I specifically chose the PVI because it was relatively smooth.

@ Marlow - I agree - 8' is pretty much the minimum. I would love to have a fixed ramp too. There's no question that the hinges complicate and weaken the ramp compared to a more traditional non-folding design. Unfortunately I don't want to give up the cargo space for one. The PVI ramp is a premium priced product with definite compromises compared to a plain old ramp, but it is worth it to me for how incredibly small it folds up.