I'm expanding my business into (hopefully a dealership) and I am moving a lot more pianos. I have decided to customize a trailer for this purpose. Care and maintenance of a truck is not economical at this time. Does anyone have plans to construct a loading ramp or know of a company that sells a decent ramp? Harbor Freight tools has one that is the right size but very light duty.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1200-lb-capacity-convertible-aluminum-loading-ramp-94057.html

Any advice is greatly appreciated

I'm not into this but I would think an electric or hydrolic lift would be much more convenient?

Maybe something like this

http://www.tommygate.com/

1200 lbs. should be sufficient, but I have never needed a ramp to put a piano on a trailer. The floor is close enough to the ground that one is not necessary.

A ramp can make things a lot easier. There are many different situations, such as loading down into the trailer or up a few steps out of the trailer, for example.

1200 lbs is not a very heavy duty ramp. If you are moving a concert grand, make sure both your movers are only 100 lbs....

You can make a fairly cheap, temporary ramp with some 2x12s with 1x4 edges. This can at least buy you some time until you find the perfect solution. Hey, my temporary ramp has lasted over ten years! (And I am not about to invest in piano moving equipment, as piano moving is something I try to avoid).

Thanks for the insight and comments. The trailer floor is low enough to the ground that it is easy to put one end into the box. pick up and slid the skid board but a ramp will help especially with uprights. Hmmm, Tommy gate is a good idea when I have the truck to haul with but when I get into the business more I might invest in the moving truck with hydraulics. One step at a time. Oops ... no stair jobs yet.

The economy here is showing improvement and people are once again looking for quality used instruments. I closed my shop in 2006. With no repairs, rebuilding or player systems installations the shop floundered. I have been recently acquiring pianos with potential and already have interested parties. Piano moving has to be done myself because the choices here are dealers services or a few reptiles that call themselves movers.

What Jurgen describes is very similar to what I use. 2x10x8 planks with 2x4" edges to keep the dolly from rolling off the edge. I leave mine in two separate planks for easier carrying. Cheap, easy, and effective. I have 2 sets of long planks and a set of 4' planks.

If you get one end of the piano over the floor, you can put a pipe under it, lift, and it will roll on with no trouble. You can wedge it or tie it down with the pipe underneath so you do not have to lift when you are unloading.