car ramps

Rakem · 11-03-2009, 07:19 PM

Im looking into getting some car ramps so i can get easy access to my diff to change the oil.

Just wondering if other people find car ramps to be a good, and safe way to get under the car...

And is it easy to reverse up them?

Cheers.

platinumXR · 11-03-2009, 07:40 PM

Yes they're ok, as long as you can stop the other wheels from being able to move (brake, chock etc). Just as good as a decent pair of ratchet stands or the like.

Buy as good as you can afford...the ones from HAIGH through Autopro, Autobarn or whoever I believe still come from Stanfred (Aussie made) and are priced well.

I usually just use mine as another pair of stands...that is I just jack up and put under wheels in situ. But I have a good jack. Reversing up can be a bit tricky and bumper or other clearances can be an issue depending on vehicle.

Six of one...half a dozen of another...

XR6_190 · 11-03-2009, 08:09 PM

I've never used them myself, but I'm curious, and this might sound like a really stupid question, but when putting the car on the ramps do you need to secure them in place first, or do they keep themselves still when you are driving up them?

**Peuty** · 11-03-2009, 08:12 PM

They keep themselves still. Car ramps are great, but not so great when your car is lowered. As platinum xr said, jack the car up and use them as stands if your car is lowered. It usually helps to have someone else keeping an eye on clearances too.

**Falcon Coupe** · 11-03-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_190

I've never used them myself, but I'm curious, and this might sound like a really stupid question, but when putting the car on the ramps do you need to secure them in place first, or do they keep themselves still when you are driving up them?

No, they can slide a little (with front wheels going up) but mostly they stay put.

Safety note: When under the rear wheels of a hypo V8 with a large stall converter come down very gently.

I was coming down with a cold engine and it went to stall, i used a little to much throttle and she came to life, the end result was two metal ramps fired out the garage door at speed, thankfully no one was behind the car. :togo:

platinumXR · 11-03-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

They keep themselves still. Car ramps are great, but not so great when your car is lowered. As platinum xr said, jack the car up and use them as stands if your car is lowered. It usually helps to have someone else keeping an eye on clearances too.

Yep good advice but then again..invest in a GOOD JACK, ratchet or screw stands and be done with it.

But don't get a $29.95 1.5t jack...spend a bit more on a floor jack ($170 maybe...)

https://ishop.gasweld.com.au/ishop/stock/item/533876

https://ishop.gasweld.com.au/ishop/stock/item/533598

**Silver Ghia** · 11-03-2009, 08:38 PM

Ramps are absolutely hopeless IMO especially with the modern cars being so low in the front and back. I did see a set advertised recently made for lowered cars which had a more gradual ramp-up, not sure if they would be much better.

Stands are much better, suggest also invest in one of those race jacks that only need a couple of pumps to raise the car. Get the stands that have the pyramid shaped supports like in platinum XR's link rather than the post type.

**DJR-351** · 11-03-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

No, they can slide a little (with front wheels going up) but mostly they stay put.

Safety note: When under the rear wheels of a hypo V8 with a large stall converter come down very gently.

I was coming down with a cold engine and it went to stall, i used a little to much throttle and she came to life, the end result was two metal ramps fired out the garage door at speed, thankfully no one was behind the car. :togo:

Same happend to a mate going UP, reckons the car stopped just over half way up, gave the throttle a blip and shot clean over the the back of em, made a hell of a mess to the rear of the sills.

Personally i dont use them and use stands instead.

**Peuty** · 11-03-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

also invest in one of those race jacks that only need a couple of pumps to raise the car.

They are a good investment, however, they won't raise the car in a few pumps. Thy will go to full height with no weight on it, but once the jack is loaded up it will jack in a normal fashion.

Stefan · 11-03-2009, 08:56 PM

I honestly can't believe car ramps are still legal, they really are an accident waiting to happen. Yes they slide on any half smooth concrete surface if driving up, if you reverse up and you give it a bit too much there is the potential to over shoot the ramps. when driving down they can shoot out the back.

Buy a decent jack and stands and be done with it, it is not worth frigging around with $29.99 ramps, if an accident happens hopefully its only a bit of bent metal not a bent human.

MrEL · 11-03-2009, 09:02 PM

I much prefer stands and a good jack.
Besides the obvious points above I find ramps really get in the way getting stuff in and out from under the car and moving around.
They are a pain to change diff oil with as the diff doesnt hang low enough to get good access. Remember a car on ramps will act like the suspension is fully loaded sitting on the ground , not hang free.
You need a jack and stands to do any suspension work , exhaust work anyway so why have ramps as well.
Just more clutter to try and store.

msman · 11-03-2009, 10:02 PM

for your xrt and f6 ramps are worthless as the standard ones will be, 1. too high and car will scrape 2. not wide enough for your alloys.
you will need to get ones which are suitable for lowered cars and ones which are wide enough, these are available just need to search a little.

getting a car up them is easy, although i do it every week almost.
i left foot brake and slowly feed the throttle.

mrel don't think diff hang is a problem for op if hes doing the b-series.

also very important only use ramps and jack/stands for that matter on good level concrete.

Rakem · 11-03-2009, 10:28 PM

ok well its going to be for an 2003 BA Xr6T. I want to change the diff oil. I know the diff is hard to get to, so i just want to make it as easy as possible

I was originally thinking of getting a good jack and some stands. Is it ok to have two stands at the back and just leave the front on the ground? I'm guessing some type chock would be necessary for the front wheels.

I do like the idea of the jack and stands option better than the ramps....

**Silver Ghia** · 11-03-2009, 10:32 PM

^^^ you need the car level to get the oil at the correct level in the diff. Recommend getting four stands.

Rakem · 11-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

^^^ you need the car level to get the oil at the correct level in the diff. Recommend getting four stands.

ok that makes sense.... So a nice trolley jack and four stands would make the job a lot easier then...

Should you jack up the front or back first?

And from what i have read XR6Ts weight about 1600KG, some a jack and stand rated to about 2000KG would be the way to go right?

Gaz · 11-03-2009, 11:30 PM

i'd put it more towards 1700kg.

the stands are normally rated per stand IIRC - in that case 4 of those would hold 8t :P Please correct me if I'm wrong.

and remember - don't jack it by the diff on an IRS sedan.

Thats a plus for ramps i guess - don't have to contend with getting the thing off the ground one side at a time.

greenfoam · 12-03-2009, 12:20 AM

I've got ramps but man...... It's easy to reverse onto them but seriously going forwards is an issue:P. Some days they are so hard to get the car on, took me more than half an hour once slipping and sliding and rolling back down the ramp sideways with the back wheels turning lol. I ended up having to get a fair run up then braking to stop on top of the ramp, what a rush. Other days they will just slide forward all the time. Some days I have no problems at all, just depends where abouts you are using them. I've never been able to get the car on them in the shed, they slide too easy on the concrete

mik · 12-03-2009, 01:32 AM

i had some timber ramps ...much better than the commercial steel ones , not too hard to make with a bit of imagination.

Rakem · 12-03-2009, 07:34 AM

So what's the best jack points for raising the front and back to get the car on stands?

Fev · 12-03-2009, 08:51 AM

i love my ramps - purely just to make it so much easier to service the car! mine will scrape on them but i just put a brick in front of the ramps - about an inch infront and it clears it easily..

the ones i have scrape on XR's too but the brick will sort it out still

msman · 12-03-2009, 10:19 AM

here you go for the wooden ramp idea
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/...amps/index.htm

probably work out the same cost wise but well worth it.

JMO · 12-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Thanks for the link msman. Might make myself a set.

FPV+fteT3 · 12-03-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msman

here you go for the wooden ramp idea
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/...amps/index.htm

probably work out the same cost wise but well worth it.

These ramps are a good idea, project for the weekend would make life easier for servicing the FPV. Thanks mate.

BlackLS · 12-03-2009, 04:26 PM

I've made a set for the Focus similar to the above over time, using offcuts of MDF slowly building up the ramp. I'd image MDF is suited better for the job.

bob^ · 12-03-2009, 09:28 PM

I made a small set from LVL timber. It's used for joists on your house.
I want to get a big length though and make some the same as the ones under the Mustang.

dave351cid · 12-03-2009, 10:25 PM

those timber ramps look a simple and effective idea. and you could make four of them, one pair just high enough to clear under the sills for the trailing end of the car (front wheels if your reversing or rear wheels if your going forward), and the other pair as high as you want, just need to make them longer if you want to get higher.

the standard steel ramps you buy are a bit dodgy.....i used(swore at) a set for years until one day i`d had enough and went and bought a decent 2.5T floor jack and some ratchet style car stands to match. definitly a good investment.

Rakem · 13-03-2009, 01:15 PM

Will a jack rated to say 1200KG and stands rated to 1200KG be ok for an XR6T?

DBL15 · 13-03-2009, 08:24 PM

stuffed around with all different types of ramps

the GT-P got up none of them and my lowered XR8 ute didn't do very good either so i bit the bullet

:

: touch of a button and woohoo

http://www.bendpak.com/products/auto...ifts/lr-60.php

mik · 14-03-2009, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakem

Will a jack rated to say 1200KG and stands rated to 1200KG be ok for an XR6T?

yeah it will do the job, but many people have died from cars falling on them, this is one area i would spend a few bucks extra for some heavy duty items that will more than likely last longer anyway, playing home mechanic can be dangerouse! .... i might also add some of the cheaper variety of jacks have been known to fail in some conditions .

msman · 14-03-2009, 08:22 AM

get as a minimum,
2t jack with a long handle
3t stands

i was able to pick up these two items for $200 last year.
you can walk into any tool store and get name brand items for $300 all up, $100 for stands and $200 for jack.

i would not even think about getting under a car especially a falcon with only 1200kg stands holding it up.