Hello All,

Whilst contemplating changing my oil yesterday, I couldn't help but feel the job would be a whole load easier if I could get the car onto some ramps. The two set I have currently are:

a) Too narrow, the tyres take a beating when at the top
b) Angle too deep (Unless I remove the bumper)

I've searched and searched but they all seem to be similar in design. I'm aware of: http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/ramps?opendocument&part=3 which are very nice, however at £250 I can't help but feel they are slightly too much I even have difficulties getting my 306 onto the ramps and thats not a particulary low car

So, does anyone know of any decent alternatives? I know someone on here made a adaption to their existing ramps with MDF I think. I'd like something I could literally just pull out the garage and use.

I have a MIG welder here, and I'm temtped to try and make some up myself, however, would I trust my own welding? (Complete amateur)

Thanks all

Ben

mate, i would just use a good old fashion jack and axel stands.

old school is still the best option!

Please don't do that Benje, I've attended far too many fatalities caused by cars falling on people over the years
Even lost a friend of mine the same way many years ago, although he had tried balancing the car on bricks

I have been thinking about this ramp issue for sometime.Axle stands are the safe option for sure.
On the more expensive side i am thinking about buying a ex garage set of Hydraulic car lifts.I have the room,so maybe i will.They are cheap at the mo

I changed my oil the other day with the aid of one jack and an Axle stand underneath the driver side.

That's all you need.

i use a scaffold board that i cut in half
i then use each half on each ramp lesening the angle

dont use mdf of any sort it wont be strong enough

I have the ultimate alternative. On Saturdays my favourite garage have more ramps than mechanics so I borrow one, for a fee.


edit I see that you found ezups already


http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/imgpages/ramps_Fiatcoupe20v.jpg/$file/Fiatcoupe20v.jpg
http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/ramps?opendocument&part=3
or the full 12 foot system.

I got a set of caravan levelling ramps and they perfect for low cars...all for the bargain price of £20

Thanks all for the replies, looks like I may hsve to get off my ar$e and get the axle stands out:)

Stan - Advice taken, probably one of my worse ideas.

Cheers all

Ben

P.s I'll check the caravan ramps out.

just a tad off topic i remember back in the 80s i used to work a lot on my cars...underneath a xr2 changing zorst......axle stands at each corner jack still in place safe as houses well it was a hot day & the stands began to sink into the hot tar :o,now i'm not exaggerating when i say i couldnt breath....the little lady comes out with a coffee, pump up the jack i tell her why whats wrong ffs pump up the jack. well I'm here to tell the tale, but you cant be too careful

This is EXACTLY what i have. I'm gonna check my shed when i get home, you been thieving?

Have you got any pictures of your setup in operation Truffle, please?

Not right now, i'm at my parents this Xmas. Might be able to take some photos next week tho.

Cheers Truffle

We've a set of these at home but modified them slightly to take lower cars.

http://buycarspares.co.uk/shop/images/Tools/CAR2000.V2.jpg

We use a shelf section of a metal cage out of an old truck, about half way up the ramp just cut a grove on both sides and the end of the shelf slots into it so it can't move, that way the ramps aren't actually modified really when the car is fully up on them. I'll get a picture later.

Thanks all for the replies, looking forward to some photos for inspiration.

I think I may try the scaffold board idea, need to find one though!

benje why dont you use some wood to make the angle shallower on the ones you have?

Thats what I'm planing now, off to B&Q tomorrow to get some decent timber, then will knock something up. Hopefully it will just hook onto my existing ramps

another here with scaffold board / ramps combo!!!

where can i get a scaffold board from ? I need to drive onto boards just to get the trolley jack under !

wander along to a local building site, sure you'd find one on some wasteland as well............

either that, or go to jewsons or similar and just buy a suitable size plank of wood.

my bits of wood are about 3 1/2 foot long or so, and fit nicely onto a rung of my ramps.