Which Carrier will work with my truck and ATV/UTV Combination?

Check out or Application Guide.

What are Bulldog Carriers made of?

Bulldog carriers utilize square and rectangular steel tube and steel angle iron for the primary frame and structure.  The treadplates are made of raised expanded steel mesh for superb traction and safety.   The rack is mig welded using a series of jigs and fixtures for utmost quality.

Do you really make a Side Load Carrier for a Shortbed Truck?

Yes, our Sideload Carrier will work in either a long bed or short bed truck and has separate anchoring points for each truck. The primary support rail is engineered to handle the overhang behind the carrier base.

Using a SideLoad Carrier in a short bed truck results in overhang behind the tailgate, bumper and possibly hitch.  This overhang is different depending on truck year, make and model.  It is up to you, the customer to determine if this overhang will cause any interference or conflict with towed trailers or vehicles.  Every receiver hitch, load equalizing hitch, and trailer tongue is different and varies in length, in some cases the overhang may present an interference issue with high profile towed trailers.

Which is better, SideLoad or RearLoad?

If you have a long bed truck, Sideload carriers have many benefits over that of a rear load rack.

• You can drive on drive off. (No back off required)

• You don't have to disconnect your trailer to unload your ATV's.

• The weight is centered over the vehicle width with no overhang outside of your normal vehicle width.

• The carrier is basically the same width of you truck, allowing for an un-obstructed view of your trailer.

If you have a short bed truck, there are many things to consider.

SideLoad:

• SideLoad racks have the above mentioned benefits but have the drawback of overhang behind the tailgate.

• Depending on hitch, load equalizer hitch and trailer tongue length, you may experience interference between the carrier and the towed trailer.

• You need to measure 102" from the inside of your bed near the cab, back to the rear of the vehicle, this will give you the approximate location of the rear of the rack.  If you then measure 82" wide at this point you will be able to identify where the corners of the SideLoad Carrier will be. You will have to evaluate this and see if it will cause interference with your towing configuration.

RearLoad:

• RearLoad racks have been around for many years and have been our largest seller but with the release of SideLoad Carriers, it isn't always the carrier of choice due the above mentioned benefits of SideLoad Carriers.

• Rear Load Carriers extend beyond the vehicle width typically by 10" or so.

• Rear Load Carriers can obstruct your view through your mirrors.

• Rear Load carriers are 102" wide but extend only slightly behind the tailgate.  In some towing conditions this may be a favorable choice over that of a SideLoad in a short bed truck.

• The 102" width can sometimes present interference with your towed trailer in tight turning conditions.  You will have to evaluate your towing configuration to determine if the 102" width will cause you interference issues.

Is it true that hauling my ATV's sideways will ruin the plastic?

No, this is a myth spread by some of our competitors who don't offer a SideLoad carrier.  Consider the number of trailers designed and built to haul ATV's sideways.  Most ATV fenders are made of engineered polymers designed to handle the abuse of the trail which far outweighs the abuse of transportation.  Since the release of the SideLoad carrier we have seen no signs of truth to this myth.

How much does a Bulldog Carrier weigh?

Sideload racks weigh approximately 290lbs without the ramps.

Rearload racks weigh approximately 300lbs without the ramps.

Telescoping ramps weigh approximately 49lbs each.

Aluminum Folding ramps weight approximately 26lbs each.

Do I have to assemble anything?

Carriers purchased from our retail dealers require no assembly, Bulldog Carriers sold through our retail dealers are one solid weldment shipped to your local dealer ready for use.

Do I have to drill or mount anything to my truck?

Not Necessarily. If your truck does not have the appropriate tie downs it will be necessary to add Bulldog Truck Anchors in all 4 corners.  This is relatively easy and is a one time event.

How do I load my rack into the pickup?

It is recommended that you remove the ramps from the carrier prior to loading.  With the help of a friend you can lift one end of the rack onto the tailgate, using the tailgate as a fulcrum, the carrier can easily be tilted up and slid into the bed of the pickup.  It will then be necessary to anchor the carrier securely to the truck.  It is recommended that you purchase the Bulldog Truck Anchor Straps for this purpose.  The straps provide a simple, effective and safe method of anchoring the rack to the truck.  Turnbuckles can be used for this purpose also but must have a 2000lb working load or better. 
WARNING FAILURE TO SECURELY FASTEN THE CARRIER TO THE PICKUP CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Can I install a Bulldog Carrier with a plastic bed liner?

Yes, but your liner needs to accommodate attachment of the truck anchor straps to the tie down points in the truck.  It may be necessary to cut 4 holes in the liner if the liner does not have openings for the anchor straps.

The angle varies with each truck.  For example, if the top of the rack is 4'6" high, the angle would be roughly 25.5 degrees, If the top of the rack was 5'6" high the angle would be roughly 31.6 degrees.

Is it safe to ride my ATV onto the carrier?

Bulldog ATV Carriers are designed with safety in mind, We have done everything we can think of to make it safe to load your ATV's.  Each ATV behaves differently and handles the loading angle differently.  We recommend that the users do everything possible to minimize the ramp angle, always consider loading and unloading locations very carefully.  Look for locations that would allow the wheels to be lower than the ramp leg's, thus minimizing ramp angle, even 6" will make a big difference in loading angle. If you are uncomfortable riding the ATV onto the Carrier it is recommended you consider our winch option.  If you have a SideLoad Carrier ALWAYS insure the safety gate opposite the loading side is up and pinned in position. Never attempt to load or unload the carrier without Personal Protective Gear. 
WARNING FAILURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Is it Safe to Drive my ATV off from the Carrier?

The reason we designed the SideLoad Carrier was for improved safety.  With SideLoad Carriers you do not have to back off from the carrier.  With a well maintained, warmed up machine unloading should be relatively easy for most riders.

If you have a RearLoad Carrier, you are required to back off from the ramps, it is advised that you have a spotter with you, make sure your lined up properly with the ramps before starting the descent.  Ensure that the machine is warm and running well prior to attempting to unload, a machine that dies or locks up on the ramp may result in serious injury.  With a nice continuous descent using a well maintained, warmed up machine, unloading should be relatively easy for most riders. 
WARNING FAILURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Where do you put the ramps?

The ramps stow under the ATV's on the Carrier deck on the rear and sideload models. On the Mini, single place carrier the ramps stow in the bed on the side of the carrier base.

How do you anchor the ATV's to the Carrier?

There are anchor points front and rear for each ATV.  We recommend attaching below suspension using good quality ratchet type atv tie-down straps.  We recommend using an extra strap on each wheel for added safety and protection in case of strap failure.

Will the Carrier affect the handling and ride of my truck?

Yes.. Your truck will handle as if it is loaded.  Each truck will handle the curbs and side sway differently.  Handling will be similar to that of a small camper without the wind affects.  Two place carriers are recommended for use on 3/4 ton and larger capacity trucks.  Side Load Carriers will offer improved stability over that of a RearLoad Carrier,  SideLoad Carriers center the weight directly over the bed of the truck with little to no overhang outside the truck wheel base.

Will my ATV Fit?

Yes.. Most likely, we continually monitor the sizes of machines on the market and do everything possible to ensure that all ATV's will fit.  We don't however currently accommodate the side by side products like the Mule and Rhino.  If you are concerned about size check spec's page on this website.

Can I use your carrier in my small or mid size truck?

The mini is designed to carry one ATV in small and mid-sized trucks.  We don't manufacture a 2 place carrier for small and mid sized trucks.

Can you build a rack to my specs?

Some minor modifications can be made but structurally the rack is locked to the current engineered designs.  Keep in mind that these rack are built to exacting specs using a series of Jig's and Fixtures, any alterations can significantly affect manufacturing time and hence price.   We don't guarantee delivery times on custom built racks and require a 50% deposit before manufacturing begins.

Can you ship my Carrier?

Yes your carrier can be shipped by common carrier, because the carriers are fairly heavy and rather large packages, shipping can sometimes be quite costly.  If you have a dealer in your area, it is much more cost effective to purchase the carrier from a local dealer.