Cheap but safe car ramps
Discussion
I have been looking at these
and none of them seem very expensive so I was just wondering on how good the quality is on them. The idea is to use these instead of two jacks when servicing the car as it seems a lot safer.
I know they are rated to 2 tons (these are anyway) but I saw someone driving a car up some once and one of the metal bars going accross snapped as the tyre went over it. The one he was using were old and rusty, but since then I always get a little nervous when working under them as I keep wondering what if the bars currently holding the tyres up snapped just as I am under the car.
How safe are they in reality, and is it worth investing in some more expensive ones for peace of mind? They seem to be selling for around £40 both at online shops and ebay (decent looking ones do anyway)
and none of them seem very expensive so I was just wondering on how good the quality is on them. The idea is to use these instead of two jacks when servicing the car as it seems a lot safer.
I know they are rated to 2 tons (these are anyway) but I saw someone driving a car up some once and one of the metal bars going accross snapped as the tyre went over it. The one he was using were old and rusty, but since then I always get a little nervous when working under them as I keep wondering what if the bars currently holding the tyres up snapped just as I am under the car.
How safe are they in reality, and is it worth investing in some more expensive ones for peace of mind? They seem to be selling for around £40 both at online shops and ebay (decent looking ones do anyway)
The ones in the picture look like they would be a PITA because they're too steep. One or other of them would be forever scooting away whilst you're trying to drive up them, and if your car has any type of front spoiler or is a bit low to the ground you would be lucky to get up them at all. One solution to the 'scooting away' problem is to wrap a loop of carpet around the first rung so the weight of the car keeps them in place, but tbh I've had ramps start slipping even when I'm half way up them.
A pair of sturdy and carefully placed axle stands used in combination with a full-size trolley jack is infinitely preferable. For one thing, you can remove the wheels - which is pretty handy, because a lot of tasks require that.
A pair of sturdy and carefully placed axle stands used in combination with a full-size trolley jack is infinitely preferable. For one thing, you can remove the wheels - which is pretty handy, because a lot of tasks require that.
Very safe. I like to use two sets of these instead of axle stands when doing stuff which doesn't involve wheels-off. Drive up one end, jack the other end then slide the ramps under the wheels.
I would point out that they're a complete pain in the backside to drive up when on relatively smooth or wet concrete/paving slabs. They just kept slipping away from me - never let your spotter stand in the way of them, or they'll lose an ankle. Problem easily solved with some strong luggage straps, tied to the bottom step of the ramps and stretched out along the path of the rear wheels of the car. Or you could lift a paving slab and butt the ramps against it, but that's a lot of effort.
I would point out that they're a complete pain in the backside to drive up when on relatively smooth or wet concrete/paving slabs. They just kept slipping away from me - never let your spotter stand in the way of them, or they'll lose an ankle. Problem easily solved with some strong luggage straps, tied to the bottom step of the ramps and stretched out along the path of the rear wheels of the car. Or you could lift a paving slab and butt the ramps against it, but that's a lot of effort.
Eggman said:
The ones in the picture look like they would be a PITA because they're too steep. One or other of them would be forever scooting away whilst you're trying to drive up them, and if your car has any type of front spoiler or is a bit low to the ground you would be lucky to get up them at all. One solution to the 'scooting away' problem is to wrap a loop of carpet around the first rung so the weight of the car keeps them in place, but tbh I've had ramps start slipping even when I'm half way up them.
A pair of sturdy and carefully placed axle stands used in combination with a full-size trolley jack is infinitely preferable. For one thing, you can remove the wheels - which is pretty handy, because a lot of tasks require that.
They are the same as the halfords ones, and yes with a rear wheel drive car they scoot away when you drive on to them, it's a real pain for sure! I had a hell of a job getting my 330 up them!A pair of sturdy and carefully placed axle stands used in combination with a full-size trolley jack is infinitely preferable. For one thing, you can remove the wheels - which is pretty handy, because a lot of tasks require that.
I had some ramps like that once - I put a small sheet of rubber under each pressure point - that stopped them from sliding.
Also - you need to ensure they are wide enough to accommodate your tyres - these days, it's commonplace for cars to have 225 or wider tyres - which can be too wide for many of these ramps.
As some others have said - axle stands and a decent trolley jack are probably a better option.
Also - you need to ensure they are wide enough to accommodate your tyres - these days, it's commonplace for cars to have 225 or wider tyres - which can be too wide for many of these ramps.
As some others have said - axle stands and a decent trolley jack are probably a better option.
A good trick to stop em sliding away is a rubber car mat under each one. As for the ones pictured I don't really like the look of them. I had some made with about twice as many supports and bracing (too many horror stories). Depends what you are putting on them I spose, ok for a fiesta or simmilar, but for my e24 635, no thanks 
I think the comments have all been made but my experience of them is
They work OK
They can slide away when you try and get up them
lowered cars or cars wiht low front and rear spoilers can catch ramps or the oposite end on the floor, this means you either jack car up and put them under again oposite end can hit the floor or you raise the car all round on Rialway sleepers first
then there is tyre width anything wider than a 205 hangs off sides and when you get some real fat tyres it looks like the outer edges are trying to cut through the tyre at the treads
They work OK
They can slide away when you try and get up them
lowered cars or cars wiht low front and rear spoilers can catch ramps or the oposite end on the floor, this means you either jack car up and put them under again oposite end can hit the floor or you raise the car all round on Rialway sleepers first
then there is tyre width anything wider than a 205 hangs off sides and when you get some real fat tyres it looks like the outer edges are trying to cut through the tyre at the treads
Ok guys I am going to take your advice and go with the Trolley jack and Axle stands, seems like the better option for all round work really, IE I can take the wheels off and do a lot of other work without having to worry about if the ramps will be up to it.
I also want to end up doing my own brakes etc eventually so to be honest I may aswell plan for the future!
How do these look?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-TONNE-TROLLEY-JACK-2-X-2-T...
Thanks for the comments and help!
I also want to end up doing my own brakes etc eventually so to be honest I may aswell plan for the future!
How do these look?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-TONNE-TROLLEY-JACK-2-X-2-T...
Thanks for the comments and help!
Edited by ymwoods on Sunday 13th June 13:21
I've got those axle stands - they are very good for the price. The car feels secure on them and they're easy to use. My only criticism is that there are only three heights you can set them at, sometimes you have to raise/lower the car slightly more than you'd want. The ratchet type of stand presumably don't have this problem. But yes, those stands are fine.
The jack looks very similar to mine, although mine is Clarke. Again, it's a good jack - portable, raising the car is effortless. However if I was buying it again I'd spend a little more on one which lifted higher. For instance, my jack can't lift the car high enough to fully extend the axle stands unless I put a pretty big piece of wood between the jack and the chassis.
The jack looks very similar to mine, although mine is Clarke. Again, it's a good jack - portable, raising the car is effortless. However if I was buying it again I'd spend a little more on one which lifted higher. For instance, my jack can't lift the car high enough to fully extend the axle stands unless I put a pretty big piece of wood between the jack and the chassis.
ymwoods said:
The axle stands are fine, but those jacks are fiddly to use, don't lift high enough and (mercifully) don't last more than a couple of years. The main problem is the weedy little handle - it fits into the jack with a loose bayonet fitting which makes the thing rather inconvenient to position under the car partly because the jack is surprisingly heavy in relation to its size. The valve for letting the jack down will also make you swear a lot - you need to remove the handle from its bayonet and refit it to the tiny t-shaped thing just visible in the picture on this side of the pump mechanism.
It'll probably be good enough to get you started, but I guarantee you'll be wanting to upgrade after using it 3 or 4 times and assembling a collection of various sized wooden blocks to extend the stupid thing's lifting capabilities. Lifting a car with a proper jack is just so much easier.
I've seen this Clarke trolley jack recommended in another forum.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
And Clarke stuff does seem to have a good reputation.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
And Clarke stuff does seem to have a good reputation.
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