Is This Ramp Configuration Safe
- Thread starter JerryBob
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Also should ask if it's legal in your locality. Some places here it's illegal to block the sidewalk w/ a vehicle....
I would not feel safe with this setup. Instead, I'd reverse the orientation with the front of the car in the driveway facing the house (and out of the sidewalk as the previous poster mentioned). That way, if the car happened to slide away from the ramps, it would be moving away from you, not over you.
I realize this leaves you with less room underneath to move around, but at least you don't have to worry about the car rolling over you.
Just my 2 cents...
I realize this leaves you with less room underneath to move around, but at least you don't have to worry about the car rolling over you.
Just my 2 cents...
Further back not blocking the sidewalk and you would be good. At least you have a paved driveway, I don't!
Better yet: Park, set the parking brake, chock the rear wheels and use a floor jack and some jack stands. That minivan won't be hard to raise. Your driveway is paved so it will work fine.
I guess I like to live on the edge. Other than the previously mentioned sidewalk observations I think it's fine. My driveway has a steeper slope than that and using ramps in that manner gives me room to work while having the car itself almost level.
My ramps are metal and have sizable front lips.
My ramps are metal and have sizable front lips.
I don't like it at all. The ramps are pointed downhill so the front wheels which carry the majority of the weight will want to roll downhill over the bump at the end of the ramps. The bump stops them, but with a lot less room for safety than on level ground.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
It's probably not as dangerous as it looks. Chock both back wheels and good parking brake, it's not going anywhere.
Legality and those [censored] ramps are another story.
Legality and those [censored] ramps are another story.
Exactly. A little extra clearance under the car is not worth your life. Don't risk it.
Originally Posted By: yonyon
I don't like it at all. The ramps are pointed downhill so the front wheels which carry the majority of the weight will want to roll downhill over the bump at the end of the ramps. The bump stops them, but with a lot less room for safety than on level ground.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
Originally Posted By: yonyon
I don't like it at all. The ramps are pointed downhill so the front wheels which carry the majority of the weight will want to roll downhill over the bump at the end of the ramps. The bump stops them, but with a lot less room for safety than on level ground.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
Kestas
Staff member
I agree with reversing the vehicle. The attitude of "it's fine... nothing will happen" and the complacency that goes with it only lasts so long. Horrible accidents typically happen with a combination of unlikely events.
JHZR2
Staff member
I don't like the ability of the ramps to flip forwards down the ramp. In reality they would jam under the van and probably stay elevated, but I'm not interested to find out that dynamic.
No thanks.
No thanks.
Originally Posted By: yonyon
I don't like it at all. The ramps are pointed downhill so the front wheels which carry the majority of the weight will want to roll downhill over the bump at the end of the ramps. The bump stops them, but with a lot less room for safety than on level ground.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
+1000 I wouldn't.
John
I don't like it at all. The ramps are pointed downhill so the front wheels which carry the majority of the weight will want to roll downhill over the bump at the end of the ramps. The bump stops them, but with a lot less room for safety than on level ground.
Turn the van around so that the ramps are on a lesser slope and if it rolls it rolls back towards the street instead of dropping right onto you.
+1000 I wouldn't.
John
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I don't like the ability of the ramps to flip forwards down the ramp. In reality they would jam under the van and probably stay elevated, but I'm not interested to find out that dynamic.
No thanks.
You raise a good points about those terrible ramps.
Ramps should be used on level ground. I doubt the thing is going anywhere as I stated, but I don't trust those ramps.
Come to think of it, I would never to that with my Race Ramps!
I don't like the ability of the ramps to flip forwards down the ramp. In reality they would jam under the van and probably stay elevated, but I'm not interested to find out that dynamic.
No thanks.
You raise a good points about those terrible ramps.
Ramps should be used on level ground. I doubt the thing is going anywhere as I stated, but I don't trust those ramps.
Come to think of it, I would never to that with my Race Ramps!
Just turn it around and chock it. I won't go under a vehicle without at least two wheels chocked, not interested in getting killed.
Not safe.
I wouldn't block the sidewalk.
I wouldn't block the sidewalk.
What about moving the car back towards the house so that the ramps are not on the driveway apron, but on my driveway itself?
I don't want to face the car towards the house because then I'll just accentuate the incline even more.
Maybe I should just cut a 2x12" about 18" long, and drive up on those, facing the street. The extra 1.5 inches will help.
I don't want to face the car towards the house because then I'll just accentuate the incline even more.
Maybe I should just cut a 2x12" about 18" long, and drive up on those, facing the street. The extra 1.5 inches will help.
IMO. chock front and back of BOTH tires on the ground. and try pushing it by hand.
Me, I like it, if the law doesn't forbid it I'll go for it, now I'll move it back a bit to have the ramps over the flat and level sidewalk, chock rear wheels front and aft, parking brake and go under, I agree that at first it doesn't look right but it's actually quite right I think, the potential forward motion generated by the driveway should be neutralized by the chocks and parking brake, what I mean is the rear tires have to loose grip for the van to move forward while the ramps as long as they are in the flat sidewalk will get even more weight down reducing even further the possibilities of a slide. I think I'll try it next time I have to go under the car, it will be level for once.
This will give you more motivation to flip it around and be safer: your driveway slopes towards the street; with the front raised facing the other direction, the engine/oil pan will have even more inline angle and more oil will drain out.
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