Comparison

[The Critic]

This versus a set of $20 Rhino Ramps from Walmart. This is assuming that I'll be using them to change oil only on passenger cars.

TIA

 

[racer12306]

i would think the jack and jackstand set. then you can use it to do things other than oil changes. but if you were looking at oil changes only nothing else, i would go for the ramps.

 

[The Critic]

Well actually...I should say, its more of a question regarding safety/durability...which is one is superior?

 

[racer12306]

as long as you stay under the weight ratings i dont see why either would crap out early.

 

[1sttruck]

Unless jack stands are thick milled or rolled or formed or forged metal I don't trust them, as poor castings and thin metal can fail 'catastrophically'. Plastic ramps can be durable, but they can also exhibit porosity and fail badly, and chemical resistance might be a problem (what did you spill on the them the last time you used them ?)

I'm still using wooden blocks, and while I'll use my jack stands once in awhile I don't trust them and won't crawl under the car when they're the only thing holding the car up. This last summer we had a huge piece of machinery fall off of a truck and block I84 for awhile. The company that managed to lift back on a truck seemed to in part use lots of big wooden blocks.

 

[1sttruck]

Note that wood can fail badly too, as if you don't orient the grain properly and don't spread the load you could be making a deadly wood splitter.

 

[Al]

Can't beat Rhino Ramps

 

[Shannow]

Whatever you do, stay away from concrete block (cinderblocks ?) or bricks, like I see oh too many people do.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

The Rhino ramps gives you good clearance but unless you're an experienced driver then I wouldn't bother. I had a little mishap with them. Of course I'll admit it was due to my own inexperience but I overshot them and my car cracked them. I'm using jackstands right now and they're easy to use but the thought of two metal pieces that's barely a fraction of the size of my car holding it up scares me. And I would have to say that Blitz is a great company. If I were ever reconsidering using ramps again I would buy the Rhino ramps.

 

[greenjp]

Rhino Ramps, no doubt. For doing oil changes or other stuff where you just need to get under the front of the car, they are the easiest/cheapest/safest way to go.

I've got a jack and stands, which I'll use for jobs that the Rhino Ramps aren't suitable for. But for oil changes, it's the ramps all the way.

jeff