Discussion
Can anyone suggest some car ramps that work well. I have a Jaguar XK and I need to work under the car this summer to do some chassis renovations and rustproofing. I have good trolley jacks and axle stands but I like the idea of reversing it up some ramps so I can get underneath without axle stands on the chassis.
The rear tyres are very wide so I guess I need wide ramps. I also have visions of them pushing away as I reverse up . I have not used any before .
How do I get it up ! What have people used successfully.
The rear tyres are very wide so I guess I need wide ramps. I also have visions of them pushing away as I reverse up . I have not used any before .
How do I get it up ! What have people used successfully.
Most ramps are a simple frame with rungs across the section the car needs to drive up.
If the driven wheels are going up the ramp it will usually just drive up. You might struggle with traction if the tyres overhang the edge of the ramp and run over the frame instead of the rungs. Cross that bridge when you come to it. Basically, they're designed to be driven up, people have used them successfully for decades, there's no reason to think you will have any problems other than potentially ground clearance / approach angle issues - and that will depend entirely on the car.
If the driven wheels are going up the ramp it will usually just drive up. You might struggle with traction if the tyres overhang the edge of the ramp and run over the frame instead of the rungs. Cross that bridge when you come to it. Basically, they're designed to be driven up, people have used them successfully for decades, there's no reason to think you will have any problems other than potentially ground clearance / approach angle issues - and that will depend entirely on the car.
I just bought some for my son from Amazon. These are wider than standard (they say up to tyres 225 wide), have a relatively easy drive-up angle, and (most importantly) are braced sufficiently to give me confidence that they're strong enough.
I rejected plastic ramps outright and any with only one vertical brace per side.
https://amzn.eu/d/2dMlTPM
I rejected plastic ramps outright and any with only one vertical brace per side.
https://amzn.eu/d/2dMlTPM
I used some old decking, on the lower 2 rungs to reduce the slope on mine, which means the front spoiler doesn't catch, plus it's too steep without it and tends to slide across the concrete, as the car reaches it.
Once on the top, I fix axle stands under the sills in case they were to collapse due to the 40 year old welds failing.
I've got 3 sets (was given two sets by different people clearing out thier garage.
I've previously put the MX5 on 2 sets by driving up one set and then jacking up the back of the car to slide a set under the rear wheels. Took me a long time, and I need to do it again to get some space for a little welding.
My dream house has a 4 post lift.
Once on the top, I fix axle stands under the sills in case they were to collapse due to the 40 year old welds failing.
I've got 3 sets (was given two sets by different people clearing out thier garage.
I've previously put the MX5 on 2 sets by driving up one set and then jacking up the back of the car to slide a set under the rear wheels. Took me a long time, and I need to do it again to get some space for a little welding.
My dream house has a 4 post lift.
If you're just looking for something to drive the front or rear wheels up. Buy a set of Rhino Ramps. They're sturdy enough to hold a Bentley Turbo R comfortably and they also stack which makes them easy to store.
Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0841ZQ51H?psc=1&r...
I bought a set of these last month and they work well. They were on offer when I got them so I didn't pay that much.
They're bigger than I thought they'd be, taller and wider, but tbh, that's fine as when I put the car on them on my own I didn't need to worry about driving off the side. Good investment and they made working under the car much easier than me using axle stands.
I bought a set of these last month and they work well. They were on offer when I got them so I didn't pay that much.
They're bigger than I thought they'd be, taller and wider, but tbh, that's fine as when I put the car on them on my own I didn't need to worry about driving off the side. Good investment and they made working under the car much easier than me using axle stands.
The hydraulic type ramps are excellent but expensive, i bought a drive on manual set a while ago and they are the best thing ever.
Not cheap but if you do a fair bit of work worth every penny.
If im on my own i will try to jack the car up and slide the ramps under but this isnt always possible with certain cars.
Not cheap but if you do a fair bit of work worth every penny.
If im on my own i will try to jack the car up and slide the ramps under but this isnt always possible with certain cars.
In my opinion, a better option is wheel cribs from somewhere like raceramps.co.uk
You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
Paul_M3 said:
In my opinion, a better option is wheel cribs from somewhere like raceramps.co.uk
You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
these are the equivalent of a cock flavoured lollipop. Utterly useless if you want to do any work in or around the wheel wells like, changing brake pads.You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
What a dumb comment. Of course they're no good for doing brakes, that's not what their purpose is. The same as drive on ramps would be no good for that.....you know.......the thing which the OP was actually asking about.
What they are very good for is working safely under the car doing oil changes, exhaust changes etc. There are loads of jobs that don't require the wheels to be off the car but do require access underneath. It's no different to a 4 post lift.
If you're just doing brakes or similar, why would you need the car on a ramp at all? As a 'DIYer' you just do one corner at a time anyway.
What they are very good for is working safely under the car doing oil changes, exhaust changes etc. There are loads of jobs that don't require the wheels to be off the car but do require access underneath. It's no different to a 4 post lift.
If you're just doing brakes or similar, why would you need the car on a ramp at all? As a 'DIYer' you just do one corner at a time anyway.
[quote=GreenV8S
If the driven wheels are going up the ramp it will usually just drive up. .
[/quote]
That depends entirely on the surface they stand on. If it is smooth, like a concrete garage floor, the driven wheel will just throw the ramps at the wall.
Ask yourself, do the pros use ramps? Well, not these ramps, they will have hydraulic two or four-posters, but if they don't it's trolley jack and axle stands.
John
If the driven wheels are going up the ramp it will usually just drive up. .
[/quote]
That depends entirely on the surface they stand on. If it is smooth, like a concrete garage floor, the driven wheel will just throw the ramps at the wall.
Ask yourself, do the pros use ramps? Well, not these ramps, they will have hydraulic two or four-posters, but if they don't it's trolley jack and axle stands.
John
alabbasi said:
If you're just looking for something to drive the front or rear wheels up. Buy a set of Rhino Ramps. They're sturdy enough to hold a Bentley Turbo R comfortably and they also stack which makes them easy to store.
Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
I wanted to like these because they're probably the only ramps wide enough for my 295 tyres, however a colleague bought a pair for supporting his L322 and told me if they slide on the road when you're trying to climb up them, they wear/crack. He won't use them again. You might claim user-error but if they're not tolerant enough to weather that, then they're not for me.Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
Yes, that is second hand information I'm afraid but it was enough to put me off them when ordering a set of ramps for my son.
That said, I *still* need a set of ramps that are wide enough and I keep looking them. I respect the Rhino brand - I have a very strong tow strap and shackles of theirs. Maybe I just need to see some IRL to dispel my fears.
I have a set of wide plastic ramps that I bought from Ebay, as I needed something to take 255 wide tyres, and my old-school metal ones just aren't much good for anything over what is now actually quite a narrow tyre (o have older small cars too, though, which are fine on the narrower metal ramps).
No complaints really, although I normally use jacks and axle stands, it's useful having the option of ramps.
No complaints really, although I normally use jacks and axle stands, it's useful having the option of ramps.
I needed some so made a set of these, really easy to make, cost peanuts and are never going to crack or collapse on me.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tMp_IBvlbo
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tMp_IBvlbo
Paul_M3 said:
In my opinion, a better option is wheel cribs from somewhere like raceramps.co.uk
You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
I saw a chap on YT make a hybrid of cribbing and ramps from spruce. The idea was you drive up the ramp section onto the flat part, then remove the ramp. Seemed like an interesting idea.You still have to use the trolley jack to get the car on them, but you remove all the risk of driving up on them.
They seem expensive for what they are, but they are incredibly lightweight, and can be bought in various sizes and one or two piece versions.
ETA The video is in the post literally right above mine
Something I've seen recently that I would love if I didn't just have lumpy gravel is this:
https://www.tradecounterdirect.com/sealey-prk01-mo...
Edited by donkmeister on Wednesday 17th April 14:34
Mars said:
I wanted to like these because they're probably the only ramps wide enough for my 295 tyres, however a colleague bought a pair for supporting his L322 and told me if they slide on the road when you're trying to climb up them, they wear/crack. He won't use them again. You might claim user-error but if they're not tolerant enough to weather that, then they're not for me.
Yes, that is second hand information I'm afraid but it was enough to put me off them when ordering a set of ramps for my son.
That said, I *still* need a set of ramps that are wide enough and I keep looking them. I respect the Rhino brand - I have a very strong tow strap and shackles of theirs. Maybe I just need to see some IRL to dispel my fears.
Buy whatever you're most comfortable with as it will be you who's getting under the car. It might be possible that ramps can slip on very smooth concrete unless they have a backstop but I can't honestly say that I've not had any issues with mine and I own two sets of these type of plastic ramps (the other set are not Rhino ramps and don't stack so I keep them at the hobby shop).. Yes, that is second hand information I'm afraid but it was enough to put me off them when ordering a set of ramps for my son.
That said, I *still* need a set of ramps that are wide enough and I keep looking them. I respect the Rhino brand - I have a very strong tow strap and shackles of theirs. Maybe I just need to see some IRL to dispel my fears.
I'm surprised to hear that they've cracked. It's possible if they're old and were left to sit outside.
I have chased both steel angle iron ramps and (brand new) plastic ramps (as already linked above) across the drive; the latter suffered a crack when my GL (within their weight limits) eventually managed to scramble on board, probably for the reasons Mars mentioned. The nightmare is when one wheel gets a grip and the other side just slides along!
Along the lines suggested by Paul_M3, I have given up with both and when I want to raise a car up on the drive I use a trolley jack and some wooden platforms, 350mm wide and about 500mm long, I concocted from 7”x 2” and 4” x 2” softwood which give a 200mm lift. I’m fortunate to have a scissor lift in the garage, but the GL is too large to fit, but I have managed to do an ATF change and change the diff fluids while the car was raised on the blocks.
Along the lines suggested by Paul_M3, I have given up with both and when I want to raise a car up on the drive I use a trolley jack and some wooden platforms, 350mm wide and about 500mm long, I concocted from 7”x 2” and 4” x 2” softwood which give a 200mm lift. I’m fortunate to have a scissor lift in the garage, but the GL is too large to fit, but I have managed to do an ATF change and change the diff fluids while the car was raised on the blocks.
alabbasi said:
If you're just looking for something to drive the front or rear wheels up. Buy a set of Rhino Ramps. They're sturdy enough to hold a Bentley Turbo R comfortably and they also stack which makes them easy to store.
Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
Second these. I love mine. Think mine are some extra duty ones designed for stuff like Ford Excursions. Here's a link to them on Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/RhinoGear-11912ABMI-Rhino...
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