Getting under your car?

[300bhp/ton]

For those that like to work on your vehicles at home but don't have a workshop with a 4 poster lift. What do you use to actually get under your car to work on it?

Looking for ideas superior to axle stands. I've got some ramps, but these are only so good, and only lift one end of the car so high.

Options?

[ewenm]

Dig a pit? I find trolley jacks and axle stands are good enough though.

[300bhp/ton]

ewenm said:

Dig a pit? I find trolley jacks and axle stands are good enough though.

I did think about a pit, but sadly I think it's not an option.

I wonder, does anyone know where you can get those long low ramps you sometimes see cars on display at garages/dealerships? Something like those (for sensible) money would work really well for me.

[STW2010]

I use high quality and load rated axle stands (one end at a time though), keep the jack in place on one side and slide the wheels under each sil in case.

[Prof Prolapse]

Buy a newer car. Thats my plan.

I'm fking sick of getting under cars.

[LouD86]

Tend to jack up the rear, place on ramps, then jack up the front, place on axle stands. Then its solid and safe, and can play underneath. Still - wouldnt want to climb inside the car!!

[SystemParanoia]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORKLIFT-TRUCK-1-5-t-Cap...

suits you sir

[Dr Interceptor]

Building work starts on my new garages next month (hopefully done in time for Winter), and I'll be fitting one of these into the service bay.

http://www.strongmantools.co.uk/mid%20rise%20sciss...

Will make doing routine 'wheels off' service work like brakes much easier - only thing it won't allow is access to the mid floor section (i.e. exhaust).

[Vitorio]

I use axle stands and a trolley jack, then slide under on one of those rolling platforms.

It isnt ideal, since getting the axle stands up to the 3rd peg is difficult (need a higher jack), so i usually miss out on 2 inches of space underneath.

I'd love a two column bridge, but that isnt really an option with the space i have in the garage, i'm lucky to have half a meter on either side of the car as it is.

[rohrl]

Drive onto ramps then jack the other end up with a trolley-jack and rest on axle stands or big lumps of wood. Which end is on the ramps depends on where you're working and what needs to be done. I made a jack-pad by wrapping an old paperback book in gaffer tape which saves the sills from being damaged by the trolley jack.

Edit - remember to slacken the wheelnuts while the car's on the ground.

[Captain Muppet]

I've changed the gearbox on my MX5 using just normal axle stands (and a couple of scissor jacks to lift the 'box). I didn't need it any higher.

I have a mate who used huge axle stands to get his Amazon high enough to clamp to his rotisery-thingy. Once you have a car on one of those the access to everything makes a four post ramp look silly.

[Perd Hapley]

I like the idea of ramps but find that the majority of times I'm under the car I need one or two wheels off anyway. Axle stands are so versatile, ramps would probably be a bit limiting anyway.

Solution: build new garage designed around two post lift.

[blueST]

It is pain, would kill for a lift or a pit. I just get the car up on ramps and then jack it onto stands if I need more height. I keep looking at some of the stuff these guys sell to make life easier http://www.cjautosheywood.co.uk/

[STW2010]

Dr Interceptor said:

Building work starts on my new garages next month (hopefully done in time for Winter), and I'll be fitting one of these into the service bay.

http://www.strongmantools.co.uk/mid%20rise%20sciss...

Will make doing routine 'wheels off' service work like brakes much easier - only thing it won't allow is access to the mid floor section (i.e. exhaust).

I couldn't find it, but someone on here has a picture in their garage (probably the 'who has the best garage thread') with a TT on something like these. Pretty sure they were only £1.5k too when they shared the link with us.

If you have the space for these, then they would be well worth the investment.

[maffski]

SystemParanoia said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORKLIFT-TRUCK-1-5-t-Cap...

suits you sir

No really appropriate is it? For 300 it should be Yank (only 6 cylinder I'm afraid)

[SystemParanoia]

maffski said:

SystemParanoia said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORKLIFT-TRUCK-1-5-t-Cap...

suits you sir

No really appropriate is it? For 300 it should be Yank (only 6 cylinder I'm afraid)

i gleefully stand corrected my good sir good show

[300bhp/ton]

blueST said:

It is pain, would kill for a lift or a pit. I just get the car up on ramps and then jack it onto stands if I need more height. I keep looking at some of the stuff these guys sell to make life easier http://www.cjautosheywood.co.uk/

Ooh I like the idea of these..


http://www.cjautosheywood.co.uk/hyramp.shtml

Bit pricey mind.

[Dr Interceptor]

STW2010 said:

I couldn't find it, but someone on here has a picture in their garage (probably the 'who has the best garage thread') with a TT on something like these. Pretty sure they were only £1.5k too when they shared the link with us.

If you have the space for these, then they would be well worth the investment.

Yup, you can pick them up from around £1500 quid.... To put it into perspective, a big service (discs/pads) on the E-Class will cost the thick end of £1000 at a Mercedes dealer (sometimes the bill can be four figures), so I'm quite happy that it will pay for itself.

[Kozy]

300bhp/ton said:

Ooh I like the idea of these..


http://www.cjautosheywood.co.uk/hyramp.shtml

Bit pricey mind.

I've seen those before but with an old fashioned crank handle. That would be my choice if I needed to do it regularly, jacks and axle stands are a PITA for a quick job.

[Eighteeteewhy]

These at the mo,




But I have been looking at these...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-VAN-DISPLAY-RAMPS-WA...

Not sure if I'll really gain much though for the price.