Higher ramps?

[Mrmike]

I've been a mechanic all my life and have always done the oil changes on all my cars. Now that I'm 80 years old, and have a bigger tummy, I'm having problems. I have a really nice set of Rhino ramps that I use. The problem is they only lift the wheels 7" off the ground. It's getting harder to get under my OBX to change the oil and filter. Does anyone know of manufactured or homemade ramps that would give me some higher ground clearance?

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[Davexxxx]

A neighbor built some really nice ramps out of 2x10 scraps he had from a large deck project.

They were heavy to move around but about 1' tall and I wouldn't have been worried about being on them,

 

[Major Kong]

alternate route
floor jack / jack stands

 

[max the dog]

I've been a mechanic all my life and have always done the oil changes on all my cars. Now that I'm 80 years old, and have a bigger tummy, I'm having problems. I have a really nice set of Rhino ramps that I use. The problem is they only lift the wheels 7" off the ground. It's getting harder to get under my OBX to change the oil and filter. Does anyone know of manufactured or homemade ramps that would give me some higher ground clearance?

If you have the room get a single post lift. Works slick.

 

[Bill G]

Also might check out the folding ramps advertised at Harbor Freight and others. I’ve seen both pneumatic and electric advertised, and have seen one in use. Folds down flat and could be left under parked car.
IF I were planning to spend a lot of time under my BS I would check closer into them.

 

[Mrmike]

I think these are the answer. I can also use them for my snow thrower and John Deere Garden tractor.

Amazon.com: LARBANKE 2 Pack Car Ramps,5T 11000lbs Steel Automotive Hydraulic Car Ramps,Garage Car Lift Hydraulic Ramps with Night Warning Reflective Stickers,Home Garage Auto Oil Changes Lift Height 9.8"-15" : Industrial & Scientific

 

[Meanderthal]

I think these are the answer. I can also use them for my snow thrower and John Deere Garden tractor.

Amazon.com: LARBANKE 2 Pack Car Ramps,5T 11000lbs Steel Automotive Hydraulic Car Ramps,Garage Car Lift Hydraulic Ramps with Night Warning Reflective Stickers,Home Garage Auto Oil Changes Lift Height 9.8"-15" : Industrial & Scientific

You might want to watch this video.

 

[Mrmike]

Thanks for that video. Very eye opening. These ramps cost more than the ones shown and may be heavier material. I'm going to buy these ramps anyway. They will work great to get my snow thrower, garden tractor, and even my pressure washer up in the air where they will be easier to work on. At 80 years old it's harder to get down to ground level these days.

 

[Area 51]

I think these are the answer. I can also use them for my snow thrower and John Deere Garden tractor.

Amazon.com: LARBANKE 2 Pack Car Ramps,5T 11000lbs Steel Automotive Hydraulic Car Ramps,Garage Car Lift Hydraulic Ramps with Night Warning Reflective Stickers,Home Garage Auto Oil Changes Lift Height 9.8"-15" : Industrial & Scientific

These are pretty cool! The 11000lbs weight cap is impressive.
Thanks for sharing.
Steve
Area 51

 

[wireman]

I think these are the answer. I can also use them for my snow thrower and John Deere Garden tractor.

Amazon.com: LARBANKE 2 Pack Car Ramps,5T 11000lbs Steel Automotive Hydraulic Car Ramps,Garage Car Lift Hydraulic Ramps with Night Warning Reflective Stickers,Home Garage Auto Oil Changes Lift Height 9.8"-15" : Industrial & Scientific

Looks like a winner to me. Should meet your needs without issues.

 

[sajohnson]

Thanks for that video. Very eye opening. These ramps cost more than the ones shown and may be heavier material. I'm going to buy these ramps anyway. They will work great to get my snow thrower, garden tractor, and even my pressure washer up in the air where they will be easier to work on. At 80 years old it's harder to get down to ground level these days.

Hi Mike,

I hear ya about getting down on the ground -- not to mention back up.

I checked out the Amazon link. I've never seen ramps like that -- interesting design.

I noticed that they only have 4 ratings which is not enough to be very helpful.

Also, in the video Eric linked to some very similar ramps are shown tipping forward at about 12 seconds in:


The review of those ramps starts here:


Clearance to vehicle and ramp sliding are potential issues. We use thin rubber mats to prevent our RV ramps from sliding.

You might consider Major's suggestion -- "floor jack / jack stands." Here's a related thread:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/recommended-jack-stand-placement.7064/

Kent linked to this video about these ingenious jack stands that solve the problem of the jack and stands needing to be located at the same point. They're pricey, and not absolutely necessary, but a slick solution:


All of our previous vehicles have had a centrally located place to jack the front end up which makes life easier (jack it up once, place jack stands) but I'm not aware of a central jacking point on the BS.

 

[Mrmike]

Hi Mike,

I hear ya about getting down on the ground -- not to mention back up.

I checked out the Amazon link. I've never seen ramps like that -- interesting design.

I noticed that they only have 4 ratings which is not enough to be very helpful.

Also, in the video Eric linked to some very similar ramps are shown tipping forward at about 12 seconds in:


The review of those ramps starts here:


Clearance to vehicle and ramp sliding are potential issues. We use thin rubber mats to prevent our RV ramps from sliding.

You might consider Major's suggestion -- "floor jack / jack stands." Here's a related thread:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/recommended-jack-stand-placement.7064/

Kent linked to this video about these ingenious jack stands that solve the problem of the jack and stands needing to be located at the same point. They're pricey, and not absolutely necessary, but a slick solution:


All of our previous vehicles have had a centrally located place to jack the front end up which makes life easier (jack it up once, place jack stands) but I'm not aware of a central jacking point on the BS.

Sajohnson

Thanks for your response. Those jack stands are pretty cool but don't raise the car high enough for my purposes. The ramps I'm buying are not the ones in the video. The ones I am buying are made in America not China. I think that speaks for itself. Also, as I said, they will be great for cleaning and sharpening the blades on my John Deere Garden tractor. Changing the oil on my tractor, snow thrower, and pressure washer. If only I could balance my Kymco scooter on them for an oil change they would be perfect.

 

[sajohnson]

Sajohnson

Thanks for your response. Those jack stands are pretty cool but don't raise the car high enough for my purposes. The ramps I'm buying are not the ones in the video. The ones I am buying are made in America not China. I think that speaks for itself. Also, as I said, they will be great for cleaning and sharpening the blades on my John Deere Garden tractor. Changing the oil on my tractor, snow thrower, and pressure washer. If only I could balance my Kymco scooter on them for an oil change they would be perfect.

Sounds good! I didn't realize they are made in America -- that's great, and hard to find.

It's not that *everything* made in China is garbage, but much of it is. The inverse is true with products made in the USA -- most are good, but of course there is some junk.

<Later> I just checked the Amazon link (above) and it appears they are made in China:

Of course, as I said, that does not necessarily mean they are poor quality. I like like the basic design. Even though I have a 2-post lift in my garage, I'd like to have something like those ramps -- but I would want to see more than 4 reviews before buying, unless they were made by an established company with a good reputation.

One thought, regardless of where they are made, is that manual bottle jacks can be tedious. Pneumatic ones are much easier to use (but more $ of course). For occasional use manual jacks are OK.

At about -23 seconds in the short video on the Amazon page, a vehicle is shown rolling onto the platform, which tips forward significantly. That's to be expected since the only support is the jack in the center, but it doesn't look good.

They may be fine. I tend to be pretty critical.

On the jack stands, while I think ramps would work better for the uses you mentioned, the stands shown in the video above do have a max height of over 16", and of course the front end would be even higher. Here's an illustration with dimensions:
https://www.etamfg.com/shop.html?store-page=Rennstand-Each-1-Piece-p252276669

 

[ATLAS BLUE BADLANDS]

https://www.etamfg.com/shop.html?store-page=Rennstand-Each-1-Piece-p252276669

Those are genius. Personally I have gone to having my modern vehicles serviced at the dealer. I am a "car guy" and do have a floor jacked and jack stands for the classic cars when needed.

Here are the USA made jack stands I do use on those occasions - best ever.

 

[Dude]

Here are the USA made jack stands I do use on those occasions - best ever.

Those are heavy duty jack stands !!

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