Rhino ramps filled with structural foam?

[BMWTurboDzl]

I was thinking of buying some rhino ramps and filling the void with the foam used to set fence posts and other things like it. My intention is that it would add additional structural integrity to the ramps. My only problem is that I can't find the compressive strength of this type of expanding foam.

Good, bad, ridiculous idea?

 

[Dave Hess]

ZERO possibility I will use plastic ramps. Crazy dangerous.

I got 2 stage steel ramps for low profile vehicles.

 

[ClutchDisc]

I wouldn’t use plastic ramps and even more than that, I wouldn’t trust foam to add any structural integrity to something I am literally trusting my life to.

 

[billt460]

Home Depot... Cheap and strong.

 

[IndyIan]

Personally I think light weight, plastic ramps are ridiculous. Why do these exist? Do you need to bring them in your carry on luggage on a plane?
I don't like them for things like this, as you should test how the plastic reacts to the solvents in spray foam, and then the long term effects of the two materials being in contact for years.
I would rather use home made 2x10, 2x12's ramps, or good steel ramps, than have another piece of questionable origin degrading garbage plastic in my garage.... I understand how steel and wood react to almost any fluid put on them, or environments I can safely store them in.

 

[4wd]

I was thinking of buying some rhino ramps and filling the void with the foam used to set fence posts and other things like it. My intention is that it would add additional structural integrity to the ramps. My only problem is that I can't find the compressive strength of this type of expanding foam.

Good, bad, ridiculous idea?

I doubt it would have the required compressive strength and then I’d worry about degradation of the plastic …

 

[4wd]

Personally I think light weight, plastic ramps are ridiculous. Why do these exist? Do you need to bring them in your carry on luggage on a plane?
I don't like them for things like this, as you should test how the plastic reacts to the solvents in spray foam, and then the long term effects of the two materials being in contact for years.
I would rather use home made 2x10, 2x12's ramps, or good steel ramps, than have another piece of questionable origin degrading garbage plastic in my garage.... I understand how steel and wood react to almost any fluid put on them, or environments I can safely store them in.

PINE-O-RAMPS - Glued and Screwed !!!

 

[Sayjac]

I've owned my Rhino Max 16k ramps for many years and used them for many oil changes. Always stored in my garage. I've never felt the need to alter them in any way, nor felt unsafe. I expect no change to that. As for your idea, seems that implied in the idea is that you don't feel safe as they are straight from the store. If that is the case, likely best to choose another option. Besides their the convenience, weight, always like the nestable feature for storage. I think that would be lost with the idea.

 

[4wd]

Home Depot... Cheap and strong.

View attachment 333101

I go up 4 wooden ramps with 3 different vehicles - but I often use 2 - and even 1 - these are things I would not do with plastic

 

[jadmt]

I have steel and plastic and I use my plastic more than my steel even on my power wagon..been using both for longer than many posters here have been alive..I think I got the steel ones in the mid 70's

 

[football]

ZERO possibility I will use plastic ramps. Crazy dangerous.

I got 2 stage steel ramps for low profile vehicles.

Iver seen several sets of metal ramps collapse. Dangerous. I will never use them again.

I have never seen a plastic ramp collapse. They are far stronger in my opinion. I have seen a crack develop on an old first generation plastic ramp, which was a warning sign to replace it, and it was promptly replaced.

Rhino 16,000 pound ramps are excellent and much stronger than probably every metal ramp on the market. Use them with confidence.,

Inspect them. If you find a crack, replace them.

Edit - Those yellow steel ramps posted 1 post above are extremely dangerous. I have seen multiple of those collapse over the years. I will not use them, will throw them in the trash immediately if I find a friend using them.

 

[QwikKota]

How would the foam allow load to be applied to it when it compresses and the plastic doesn't yield? I have not had plastic ramps fail but have definitely seen them split due to garage temps in Houston. I stick with wood or jack stands.

 

[Zee09]

I never had an issue with them
I store them indoors out of the light.
Steel ramps can give way too...China is well know for their steel quality

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I've owned my Rhino Max 16k ramps for many years and used them for many oil changes. Always stored in my garage. I've never felt the need to alter them in any way, nor felt unsafe. I expect no change to that. As for your idea, seems that implied in the idea is that you don't feel safe as they are straight from the store. If that is the case, likely best to choose another option. Besides their the convenience, weight, always like the nestable feature for storage. I think that would be lost with the idea.

Ya, I do loose that storage feature but they scare the (blank) out of me. Especially when I see a lot of reviews where they're compromised after the first or second use.

I'm already on thin ice with this idea as my wife has a friend whose husband severely injured himself when a jack stand failed.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

I've used those Rhino 16,000 ramps for years on my Toyota, Duramax 2500HD and now on my Mazda without issue.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I have steel and plastic and I use my plastic more than my steel even on my power wagon..been using both for longer than many posters here have been alive..I think I got the steel ones in the mid 70's

View attachment 333102

Nice but a failure won't pin you under the vehicle.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

How would the foam allow load to be applied to it when it compresses and the plastic doesn't yield? I have not had plastic ramps fail but have definitely seen them split due to garage temps in Houston. I stick with wood or jack stands.

Foam of sufficient compressive strength adds structural integrity. I'm thinking of a spray foam type product which fills the voids and expands when poured into the ramp.

Think of it as a hybrid Race Ramp (expensive) which are themselves solid foam.

 

[robbobster]

If I feel the need to modify the thing that lifts my car, then I need to look at a better thing to lift my car

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

If I feel the need to modify the thing that lifts my car, then I need to look at a better thing to lift my car

Of course but I have some serious space and grade constraints which I can't get around

 

[Wylie6G72]

Never had an issue with my first set of Rhino ramps, but when they turned 15 years old, I tossed them for a new set. There was absolutely no cracking or buckling but I'm painfully aware that plastic ages in a hot garage.