Best Van Ramp - Review of the WM Loading Ramp for Sprinters from National Fleet

Thanks for checking out this quick overview of our new 128" WM Loading Ramp for the 2019 MB Sprinter VS30. When we first started looking for options for loading ramps, there wasn't much we could find. These ramps are expensive, so it's not shocking that getting reviews or feedback was challenging. Hopefully, this video is helpful to anyone else looking for an easy way to get heavy stuff into their Sprinter easily. This video covers the ramp's installation and initial use in our projects, on set, and out in the wild! We use this WM ramp for loading equipment used in commercial film, video, and photography production. It's a hydraulically assisted, bi-folding, aluminum ramp, so it's easy to manage but has plenty of weight capacity for heavy gear. We ordered this from a US distributor, National Fleet Products, who helped us pick the right length and options. We had help from a local installer (well worth it), and they had their hands full. While technically we could have DIY'd this, they had more technicians in their shop for lifting it into place and a lot more tools and parts (like Delrin spacers) for the installation. Even after using it for just a couple of weeks, this ramp has been a godsend. After a long day of shooting, having to left 50-100 lb cases into a van is not fun. And being able to leave our Inovativ cart assembled and rolling it up into place is soooo nice. The "less good"? It's got some rattles we need to dampen; a lot of them, actually. One of the locks that connect the bi-folding platforms doesn't work well, or really work at all. The safety leash near the top is a joke. But functionally, it's almost flawless. It'll hold more than 1300 lbs of weight. It's effortless to deploy and stow. We've used it as a gangway to a loading dock usually reserved for shipping trucks. We fashioned a method to turn it into a 10-foot long table we can lay cases and equipment on as a work surface. And since it's so new, we're sure to find more tricks and tips we'll share in a future video. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned! Links: https://www.nationalfleetproducts.com... https://www.wmsystem.com/en/loading-r... Transcript of video: "We can't always just work directly out of a vehicle, so most often we're loading into a building or have a short walk on foot. Because of that, we use a ton of pelican cases and this sweet Inovativ Cart a lot! One of the first things we knew we wanted to add to our Sprinter was a ramp that would make it easy to wheel those carts and cases in and out. To save the suspense, we bought a WM Ramp from National Fleet Supply. There isn't a ton of info about these ramps, so here's a quick rundown of what we thought about and where we landed. First, you have to think about weight capacity and incline. We looked up wheelchair ramp guides and probably pushed a little further than I'd be comfortable with a wheelchair. Our ramp is 128", which when folded, is about as long as you can go for the high roof Sprinter. We debated going shorter to 108" to allow us to use the ramp more when space was limited, but then thought of how often 20" would really matter. So far, it hasn't. We either have a ton of room or none at all. Secondly, weight capacity. This ramp supports 1300 pounds, which is kinda insane. In your search, don't skimp here. I've seen lighter capacity ramps buckle. These two things are foundational and have to be correct, or nothing else will matter. That said, here's the fun stuff: This ramp is hydraulically assisted, allowing it to drop and store with very little effort. Nearly anyone can do it. It locks in place in the stored position, which is obviously smart. And here's the coolest thing. When that parking space is limited, the swings open like a door. It's pretty trick. Also, just to be completely ridiculous, it can be used as a gangway to a loading dock. This ramp is one of the few things we didn't install ourselves. Because there wasn't a lot out on the internet from people that owned them, we didn't know what we were getting into. We called National Fleet Supply and they suggested a local installer if we bought this model. I'm glad we did because it sounded like even they had their hands full. We wanted to do this first, too, before any of the inside storage, so we could see what the dimensions were and how much space it would need into the van. It's not horrible, but it does have a footprint. Finally, and fair warning, this thing isn't cheap. Expect to pay $4,000 or more to get this setup. It's a basic necessity for us, so the cost is what it is, but it's probably not for everyone. That's probably why there's so little information out there about them. So, not the sexiest piece of equipment out there, but this thing is stupid useful and no doubt will pay for itself in pulled muscles and back problems. What to know something I skipped over? Drop us a comment below and I'll tell you everything you'd want to know!"