Anyone have one or used one? I have a 270 lbs. machine that I want to haul it on and was wondering how the vehicle drives etc.. Any advice and experience using them would be appreciated. This would be used on a small pickup not a full size truck.

I never used one like that with a ramp. If you have a backup cam it screws them up, thinks something is there. Have to turn it off. I use an anti rattle thing on the receiver, looks like a U bolt and a piece of metal with 2 holes in it. But that sounds like a lot of weight to hang off the back of a small truck.

Why not just put it in the bed?

Yeah, that is what I thought too. Be a lot cheaper than a trailer to license and insure for the little I would use it. Big trailer I can get just looking for a small trailer for small jobs. This would fit the bill for me if it would work.

I could and that is what I have been doing. I want to haul that SnowDog next winter and would be easier and hander with something like this. I also usually have the box full of other stuff.

I have one. Have used it quite a bit fom hauling out bear.
600#s have tested it.
Full sized suburban and the front end was easy to " steer".
They are very handy. But, going over rough terrain, they can bottom out.

I want to echo cmj's recommendation for the anti-rattle thing. I have gotten several from Amazon.

Moosetrot

It reduces your departure angle severely. If turning onto an uphill slope it will drag. If possible get one with an offset to raise it up. But that can effect tailgate use. Folding ones are nice as you can get up out of the way when not in use.
Another issue is awareness. If you don't pay attention you can forget it's back there when backing up and a resulting oops. And other drivers seem to not see them, just the truck. I've been hit at red-lights and had them side swiped in parking lots. Again folding models help with this. So does reflective tape.

As for weight, most are rated at tongue weight so your not going to experience negative driving unless you overload it. Small truck is most likely in the 250-300lb tongue weight range so your going to be pushing over max. BTW, weight of the hauler counts toward total.

For me I want one at least 2 foot deep as I regularly haul bees and a hive bottom board is 22 inches long. Consider what you'll possibly haul.

Consider getting a locking pin or one more secure than just a cotter key. I had one lose its key a rattle the pin out. Fortunately I was off road so I didn't drop it on the highway.

I see them around here in fall when hunters come in. Be a lot hander then dragging a trailer around and easy load and easy off. Thanks BB

Yep, that is right. I have pulled 100's of thousands of miles dragging a trailer around the country. Safety comes first!!

Curious, what size/class hitch is on the truck?

It'll either be a 1 1/4 class 1 or 2 or a 2" class 3, 4 or 5. 2" has become the defacto "standard" for all sorts of hitch attachments. But a 2" doesn't mean it can exceed what the vehicle can tow and tongue weight is ten percent of tow weight.

2 inch I bought a Maverick with the 4K towing package. For bumming around in going back and forth to ranch.

So does that mean 4k could have tongue weight of 400lbs? 10% of 4K = 400lbs.

I have one and ued it to hall deer and hunting gear when using my excursion. It handels 3 deer. In big coolers on ice deer stands ECT no problem.

Had a guy I was talking with that had a tracked electric wheel chair he got around in the back of his SUV with side ramp like that. I have no idea how heavy his charge was by tu thought it was probably heavy for the basket. Yet it worked for him.

We have one (2 inch receiver hitch rated at 300 lbs) for Christine's wheel chair (80 lbs). Ours can be folded up out of the way when not in use, but interferes with opening the rear hatch on the Murano and the ramp folds into the carrier We have had the wheel chair, 15 gals of heating fuel, and a large cooler, about 200 lbs total on the carrier. It's best to load the carrier with the center of mass as close to the hitch tube centerline to reduce the twist on the main tube. Departure angles are reduced, so expect to drag the carrier on steeper egress angles (a little disturbing the first couple of times when it happens). Not generally an issue as the platform just lifts off it's leveling screw as the carrier drags; could be a problem if the equipment being carried was close to the tailgate. I haven't had a clearance problem backing over parking stops after 5 years.

Never experienced any driving issues other than reduced gas mileage while transporting the wheel chair w/cover (think big sail) and camping supplies cross country, up to 85 mph on the interstate. Local speed bumps are a pain however, fair amount of bounce; but that is more a vehicle suspension characteristic.

Only real issue we have had was the pin that secures the ramp in the folded down position corroded and broke. I use a large carabiner through the carrier frame to hold the ramp in the down position. I very seldom fold the carrier up to the rear of the vehicle. Only person that's run into the carrier is me. But, we park in handicap parking so there is more room in the parking spaces.

Yes, you could probably go a little bit higher since there's a little fudge factor in there.

BTW 4k is barely class 3. Class 2 is up to 3500lbs. Class 3 is up to 8000lbs. Sounds like Ford threw an extra leaf on it to get a 2" receiver on it.

I have one , remember it is a lever off the back of your vehicle

I bought one with the flip up function and felt like it stuck out much too far

so I took that part off and get it really close to the bumper now

two large coolers works well maybe 80 pounds each

I am surprised you have to register trailers in MT
we don't have to register little trailers in WI , if you get too big , yes but that is fairly large.

Georgia all trailers must be tagged.

Next door in Alabama same except for boat trailers which are considered part of the boat since the boat is registered if it is a powered vessel. A canoe trailer would need a tag.

Thank You all for responding a huge help. So, what I gather I should be fine with about 260 lbs... I will give it some more though but I might try one it won't break the bank.

Thanks warrior and everyone!