Cracked Rhino Ramps

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: nyr197
I'm sorry to hear that. Details on the types of ramps that failed?


I'm interested in hearing more details too. I feel much safer with my car on metal ramps than jack stands. My dad once had a jack stand break under his Suburban. I don't know the details, but he wasn't under it. I'll ask him about it sometime.

 

[Herz]

Originally Posted By: tgferg67
Consider DIY solid wood ramps . They cannot fail, you don't need extra stands fot safety and they give you piece of mind while under the vehicle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/tgferg67/diy_ramps004.jpg

I used (2) 2" x 10" x 10' that cost me $22 at Lowes.
The bottom board is 34" and each board is 5 1/2" shorter, the last one being 12".


great idea, will be building one soon. +1

 

[Chris B.]

I use pressed steel ramps and they don't even flex under the weight of my car. No way they will fail. The plastic ramps I would not trust.

 

[cjcride]

Sorry guys, I heard of a metal one collapsing. The guy said he had a 60's car on it,was standing in his garage fetching tools heard a weird creak, then one ramp collapsed. Scared the heck out of him.

 

[Sayjac]

First I'll say anything is possible. That said, I've owned and used the same set of metal Ultra ramps for ~15 years. They are rated at 6500 lbs and I posted a comment and pics in this thread. Before the Rhino's, Ultra's used to be all they sold at places like Advance and Walmart. I also bought the extenders for low profile vehicles, and highly recommend for all apps. For my pc uses they've been great. They also make a 9000 lb model for heavier vehicles like trucks.

Mostly now though, they must be ordered online (with shipping), though some places like Blains F&F, and Northern T may stock the ramps alone. If you're looking for an alternative to the Rhino's, the Ultra's have been a durable product for me. Just my .02.

 

[meep]

I had metal ones collapse years ago. BUT, they were not on an even surface and one started to fold. I rolled out before it got me.

If it's a wheel-off job, I usually shove the wheel beneath the car. It's stronger than my ribcage.

M

 

[cchase]

I think any time you lift a vehicle and go underneath it, there's a chance that the support will fail. I refuse to believe that plastic ramps (quality ones) are substantially less safe than anything else out there. In the off-chance a ramp fails, you'd have to have a pretty low profile car or be a pretty big guy to actually be crushed by the falling car (which would likely only fall on one side). Not saying it can't happen, but if I inspect the ramps regularly, I have bigger things in my life to worry about. Personally, jack stands frighten me a lot more than ramps.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
First I'll say anything is possible. That said, I've owned and used the same set of metal Ultra ramps for ~15 years. They are rated at 6500 lbs and I posted a comment and pics in this thread.


They look like they'd be easy to drive onto, but I don't like the lack of cross-bracing.

I think I'd go with wood if I ever needed to replace my ramps.

 

[infecto]

Originally Posted By: cchase
I think any time you lift a vehicle and go underneath it, there's a chance that the support will fail. I refuse to believe that plastic ramps (quality ones) are substantially less safe than anything else out there. In the off-chance a ramp fails, you'd have to have a pretty low profile car or be a pretty big guy to actually be crushed by the falling car (which would likely only fall on one side). Not saying it can't happen, but if I inspect the ramps regularly, I have bigger things in my life to worry about. Personally, jack stands frighten me a lot more than ramps.


I tend to agree. Even if the ramp fails it will most likely not crumble into dust so there will probably be a good inch or two under the tire holding it up. Along that note, the car is not dropping far so should still have plenty of clearance to be ok. The only time I triple check is when I am taking wheels off.

 

[Sayjac]

To each their own, but in ~15 years they've never let me down, or perhaps, never let down on me. lol. I check them before/after each use, and have been very satisfied for all my pc apps. Pretty solid. Compare very favorably with the Rhinos, just heavier. Oh, I never use them on a non level surface.

fwiw, the more expensive 9k lb Ultra Ramps do have the extra cross bracing. I just have never had that need to this point.

Back to the topic, if I were to consider the Rhino's I would pay the extra and get the 12k heavy duty ramps.

 

[AuthorEditor]

I think I've mentioned on BITOG the reliable ghetto method, which is to drive one end or the other, or even just one side of the car, up onto the curb on a quiet street. Pretty reliable and safe, and curbs are everywhere in the city.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I've been "hosed" by the Ghetto method, I was repairing a van on a curb and some guy down the street turned on his water!

Working in a small creek is not recommended!

 

[morris]

sorry i dont have the information about the brand. but i think it was metal. what happened was he drove the front wheels on the ramp. put the trans in park. then went under the car, took the drive shaft out, which allowed the rear wheels to turn and the car rolled off the ramp, crushing him.

 

[AuthorEditor]

Quote:
which allowed the rear wheels to turn and the car rolled off the ramp, crushing him.


That's a terrible way to go, but it wasn't the ramps' that caused the problem. Any tool is potentially dangerous if misused. When I use ramps I put the emergency brake on, keep the car in Park, and I also chock both rear wheels too. I'm contemplating also putting a jackstand or two under there after reading this thread.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: tgferg67
Consider DIY solid wood ramps . They cannot fail, you don't need extra stands fot safety and they give you piece of mind while under the vehicle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/tgferg67/diy_ramps004.jpg

I used (2) 2" x 10" x 10' that cost me $22 at Lowes.
The bottom board is 34" and each board is 5 1/2" shorter, the last one being 12".


You've inspired me to make a trip after work to pick up the wood. I plan to make mine a bit longer, probably at 48" overall with each other board 8" shorter , ending with a 16" landing, and adding a 2" stop block to the top. I can do this with 2 2x12x10' boards and 1 2x12x8' board for a cost of less than $30. If I decide to get fancy, I might round off the corners or angle cut them.

Thanks for posting the picture of yours. I think 5 boards high is plenty and should be a 7.5" lift. More than my Rhino ramps.

 

[The Critic]

As trollish and off-topic as this may be, seriously guys, use a floor jack, wheel clocks and jack stands instead.

 

[SteveSRT8]

It's not trollish, it's good sense.

Ramps are a shortcut. I work under 9000+ pound vans all the time, I won't even begin to think about ramps.

3 points of support MINIMUM.

 

[rpn453]

I don't understand how ramps are more likely to fail than jack stands, if both are properly designed for the same load. And why wouldn't they be? The ramps are far more idiot-proof, and there's no way the vehicle would roll off my ramps - where the wheels sit in a cradle and require a good bit of throttle to get down.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
To each their own, but in ~15 years they've never let me down, or perhaps, never let down on me. lol. I check them before/after each use, and have been very satisfied for all my pc apps. Pretty solid. Compare very favorably with the Rhinos, just heavier. Oh, I never use them on a non level surface.

fwiw, the more expensive 9k lb Ultra Ramps do have the extra cross bracing. I just have never had that need to this point.


They could be stronger than mine. I just have more faith in cheaply manufactured items that depend more on tensile loads than bending moments. Much simpler to get right!

Mine look just like these, except the cross brace is bolted at each end. I also have extensions. I wouldn't fully trust the welds on the ones in the pic. I have much more faith in a bolt that I've hand-torqued.

 

[Sayjac]

Jack and jack stands, thanks but no thanks. I'll stick with ramps. Looking at a set of the Rhino Ramps for my sons G37, but am only considering the 12k ramps. Funny thing is, at Amazon the 12k are $1 cheaper, and only a ~$1 more at Advance.

Still like my durable metal Ultra ramps, but the Rhinos are more readily available and less expensive and that's what he wants. He's finally discovered how much money he can save with DIY as compared to Infiniti dealer.