Your Yard Ramp Rental Questions: Answered
Let’s project the following scenario: You decide that renting a yard ramp might very well help with the streamlining and productivity of your business operations. And so you decide to ask around—or surf the Web (yes, try YardRampGuy.com). With that basis, we recommend that you keep in mind the following five questions toward the optimal fit for your business for yard ramp rental:
1. How long do I need the yard ramp?
Most rentals are by-the-month with a one-month minimum. If you need a yard ramp for less than a month (even for a single day), consider that freight fees to deliver and return the yard ramp may be prohibitive. On the other hand, if you need your yard ramp for more than six or eight months, it might make sense to purchase. Be sure though to ask the rental company if they have a buy-back policy (see #3)!
2. How do I know what size yard ramp I will need?
The easy answer is to determine the maximum loading capacity of your forklift and multiply that number by three. The loading capacity of your yard ramp must exceed this number. Length and width equally important. For ground-to-truck applications, using an 84-inch wide forklift ramp will match most truck widths. For ground-to-dock applications consider a 70-inch wide loading ramp. Be certain the narrower width does not create a safety issue at your dock opening. Length is critical in any application and necessary for any ground-to-truck use. Yard ramps with level-offs at the top give forklifts more maneuverability and assure the forklift can enter/exit a truck with ease.
3. What is a buy-back policy?
Some companies offer customers who purchase a yard ramp the opportunity to sell the yard ramp back for a pre-agreed-upon buy-back price. This is ideal for companies who know they need the ramp a year or more. The company will sell a loading ramp to you from their fleet and include a buy-back price. This is a firm price the customer can count upon receiving from the supplier, so long as the yard ramp is in acceptable condition upon completion of use by the customer.
4. What if I want to buy the ramp outright?
Do not even consider the rental proposal if this option is not included. So often a luxury once had will become necessity. It is important to have a firm price set as part of the rental agreement. Haggling price on a unit sitting in your possession puts you at a terrible disadvantage.
5. Where is the ramp coming from?
Some rental companies offer month-to-month payment plans. While some merit exists in terms of convenience, such terms do impose premium rates. However, most renters know their budget for the yard ramp and are looking to squeeze every last dollar. Look for a rental company that actually requires up-front payment of the entire rental period. These rates will almost always be less, and the rental company usually refunds the unused pro rata portion of the rental fee, so long as you give them enough time to line up another rental.
The Yard Ramp Guy has extensive experience in rentals and sales of quality yard ramps. We pride ourselves in our customer service and will gladly answer all your questions—with clarity and detail—to help you make the best decision for your business.
