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Rear access is the option choice buyers agonize over most, because it is the one you operate every single load. There is no universally right answer — each of the three carries a real trade-off, and the right one depends on what rolls up the ramp.
Bi-fold ramp: the machine-loading default
The bi-fold is a full-width aluminum ramp that folds in half onto itself, then lays flat against the rear of the trailer in transit. Because it is full-width, anything that fits the deck fits the ramp — UTVs, zero-turns, tractors. The fold means the stored height is roughly half a full ramp gate, which matters for rear visibility and for wind load at highway speed.
- Best for: UTVs, zero-turn mowers, anything with wheels and an engine.
- Trade-off: it is the heaviest of the three options, and folding takes a moment longer than dropping a gate.
- Loading angle: shallower than a tailgate on most sizes — kinder to low equipment.
Stowaway ramps: deck space preserved
Stowaways are a pair of ramp sections that slide into a carrier under the deck when not in use. Nothing stands at the rear of the trailer — no gate to see around, no wind load, and the full deck length stays usable for cargo that overhangs. The trade-off is real: you position two separate ramps to your machine’s track width every load, and narrow-track equipment (single-wheel implements, some mowers in transport) may not line up with both ramps at once.
- Best for: cars, tractors, and haulers who value a clean rear and overhang room.
- Trade-off: two-piece setup each load; track width must match your machine.
- Weight: lighter at the tongue than a gate — the mass rides under the deck.
Tailgate: the utility workhorse
The tailgate is the classic mesh gate: it drops down as a loading ramp and latches up as a fourth wall. If the trailer’s job is mulch, hand equipment, ATVs, and general hauling, the gate does double duty — containment when up, ramp when down. Its loading angle is the steepest of the three (the ramp is only as long as the gate is tall), which is the honest limit: low-clearance machines can scrape.
- Best for: general landscape hauling, ATVs, equipment with ground clearance.
- Trade-off: steepest loading angle; low decks and long overhangs can scrape.
- Bonus: it is a wall. Loose cargo stays put without extra straps.
The decision in one table
| Bi-fold ramp | Stowaway ramps | Tailgate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading angle | Shallow | Shallow (long sections) | Steepest |
| Setup per load | Unfold — fast | Position two ramps | Drop gate — fastest |
| Full-width loading | Yes | No — track-width pairs | Yes |
| Acts as containment | No | No | Yes (fourth wall) |
| Rear visibility in transit | Half-height stack | Clear | Full gate height |
- Can I have both a tailgate and a ramp?
- Rear access is one choice per build — the rear of the trailer holds one system. If you need containment AND shallow loading, the bi-fold plus side rails is the usual answer.
- Do the ramps hold a tractor?
- Ramp capacity depends on the trailer model and configuration. The builder disqualifies combinations we will not stand behind — if you can select it, it is rated for the trailer’s payload.