Heard about a fella who was lucky he wasn't killed loading his ATV. This could happen to anyone, so please take extra precautions! He agreed to an interview, and here's his story.

Surround yourself with like-minded outdoors enthusiasts, and chances are good you know someone killed or injured on an ATV. Chances are also good that horseplay was a factor, alcohol may have been involved or the victims were too young to be riding an adult-sized machine.

ATV owners are also killed or injured loading or unloading their 4-wheelers.

New ATV owner and Houston ISD teacher and coach, Jeff Reid, 38, is still recovering from his accident January 19, which occurred in the driveway of his Richmond, Texas home. It was his first time loading the machine into his just-purchased pick-up, which was bought so he could haul his ATV sport himself.

“It was that point of no return as I was driving my Yamaha Raptor up a ramp into the bed,” Reid says, his wrist still in a brace from the ordeal. “I was about three-quarters of the way up when I felt the bike tipping over. I remember thinking ‘this is not going to be good.’” He was right.



The next thing the husband and father of two young boys remembers was that he was sitting in his driveway, blood was pouring from his mouth and face, and neighbors — who witnessed the entire incident — were urging him to remain still until the ambulance arrived.

Reid would have nothing to do with an ambulance.

In shock and feeling no pain despite the seriousness of his injuries, Reid insisted that his wife would take him to the emergency room, once she arrived home from the store.

At the hospital, the shock was wearing off and the pain was setting in. Cat scans and x-rays revealed broken ribs and shattered bones in his wrist. A surgeon was able to stitch his nose back into place.

A second dose of morphine helped, but could not erase his near-fatal accident.

It’s easy to say that it could have been much worse. Reid had a couple of things in his favor. First, at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, a smaller person may not have been as fortunate. Secondly, his Raptor 350 only weighs 375 pounds while most hunting ATVs are much heavier.

“I was lucky, there’s no question about it,” Reid admits.

He is also reconsidering his loading techniques. Turns out, his driveway is on an incline, which made the chance for an accident much greater. Once he is well enough to ride again, he says the loading will be done on a flat surface.

How often do people get hurt loading ATV’s? We’ve all heard of injuries and read stories about deaths, but statistics on loading accidents are hard to come by. We do know that more than 100,000 people, like Reid, visit emergency rooms every year as a result of 4-wheeler accidents.

The dangers associated with ATV loading have spawned an entire industry of ramp manufacturers. Entrepreneurs have developed elaborate loading platforms, extended ramps, winch loading systems and even simple straps that secure the ramps to a pick-up’s bumper.

Although I don’t know anyone that has purchased one of these more elaborate safety devices, I also don’t have any hunting buddies that own a helmet.

Perhaps we should consider both.

This happens a lot. The ramps have to be at least 7 to 8ft and straps are needed to hold the ramps so the tires can not kick them out. A hunting ATV with an auto clutch can be easier if you take it slow. I have 15 years of riding ATVs and I have been lucky and smart but I know the dangers. I load my rincon into a tall F250 with 38 inch tall tires and 8 inches of lift, I put it in 4wd every time, take it slow and never panic. Trailers are usually more safe due to thier low height from the ground. I have taught a lot of friends and first timers how to more safely load into a truck bed.

I have loaded quads into truck beds for years and never had a problem, until one night. We had been doing a lot of riding, mud, trails, you name it. I left my ramps on the tailgate from when I unloaded, checked the safety straps before loading, made sure the tires were clear of mud. Put my ATV in 4wheel drive and 1st gear, got a little momentum, and about when the front tires hit the tailgate it lost traction and went to the right. A slow roll over and I was pinned beneath the ATV. Not hurt thank god, but pinned. Turns out that leaving the ramps in the loading position allowed the setting dew to accumulate on the ramps and truck bed, making for a very slippery situation. That's been my one and only accident ever while riding and ATV. Just be careful and wear a helmet, I wasn't, but I got lucky.

Certainly a learning experience. I noticed they mentioned his drive was on an incline making it more dangerous. He must have had his truck pulled in forward on the driveway instead of backwards. If he had backed the truck in the drive and loaded, the angle of the ramps would have been less and would have made loading easier.

It happened to a friend of mine, but he did not look as bad. My Gator kicked out a ramp on me. That's the most common problem. I always look for a little advantage, like backing into a ditch, or a depression.

I used to a dodge with 8" lift and 37s and i had 7' ramps and it a lil bit a butt clencher loadin n unloadin. I traded in for a stock hight dodge and dont have an issue, untill i tried backin the grizz in the bed so i could use the winch. 1st mistake was i didnt uncouple my atv trailer, i jackknifed it, 2nd i was on a downhill cross angle slope, 3rd n final mistake was continuing to gas it even though it was slipping off the ramps. The 800lb machine pinned me between my trailer, the atv n the tck. My leg was smashed on the corner of the dog box and the foot rest. After bout 10min of tryn to push it off, i finally found the strength and fliped it fwd, all the while it was pulling and pushing my leg further into the corner, tearing my skin and damaging my hamstring that i had a acl graff off of. Leassoned learned, to rig up a series of pulleys and bring the cable under the machine nxt time.

I had a friend who witnessed his friend tryn to climb outa creek, and his atv flipped backwards and he pulled the handle bars, turning them just in time for the right grip and throttle to impale him, unfortunately, claiming his life either from internal organ damge or by drowning in the creek.

I had a couple close calls loadin' mine years ago and quit ridin' it into the bed. I would ride it to the ramps, hop off, and gently gas it into the bed then unload it by hand with the engine off. No problem. I could see the hand writing on the wall if I was to keep ridin' it in and out of the truck.

Throttle control

I stand to the side and walk mine into the bed. I have blocks up front to stop it.

yup

I've loaded sport bikes and utility quads in my truck many many times. I can see how it could get dangerous. Knowing your limitations on atv's is key. Liquid courage gets in the way most of the time for me. I now have a 5x8 trailer to haul the atv, so hopefully no more chances for mistakes.

I've learned two things.. always use a tri fold and never have any additional weight on the back like a couple sacks of corn.

I've found that a sack of corn on the front cage helps tremendously.

Try poading this sucker. my newer Silverado is about 4 inches taller.

Buy a trailer. I know that they can be a pain but alot safer loading. I had one close call loading into my truck and perhaps my age allowed me to listen to the wake up call before I got hurt.
I have a wife and 3 children depending on me.

A trailer is a very inexpensive investment. Even for those who are city dwellers, you can buy a small folding trailer that will handle the weight of an ATV. The guys with lifted 4x4 trucks trying to ride an ATV up ramps make me cringe.

here go.....save yall the trouble...

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...Top#Post4124895

Gotta use ramps that are long enough. Seen what is described by the OP many times when the trucks tailgates are high (especially lifted trucks)and the ramps are too short. I can attest to having a similar near mishap when I killed a black bear and had it strapped on the back rack and being tired and near 4 am with no sleep I quickly ran up the ramps to load the wheeler with the bear on the back and my front tires started heading up into the air, let off the gas and let it roll back off the ramps. A little more gas or application of the brakes and I would have been buried under 1000 lbs of bear and wheeler.

wow

Cheapy winch in the front floor of the bed would have cured this issue.....

Been there done that

Ramps have always scared the crap out of me with ATVs; I'll use them for a dirtbike or mower, but that's about it. I've always just looked for a natural berm or ledge to load and unload them. An ATV (especially the heavier utility kind) can really hurt you.

This does help.

A wet ramp will get you killed.

Ive been around ATV's very often....and loading/unloading is probably one of the most dangerous events ATV owners encounter. Everything mentioned above are good ideas. Personally I don't load into a truck bed without an incline in my favor.

ATV accidents of friends and/or family: 1 fatality, 1 head trauma/permanent mental disability, several broken bones, lots of stitches, and even more bruises. But yet I still ride. When handled responsibly with a responsible crowd, ATV'ing is one of my favorite past times. But be safe!!!