Trust Rhino Ramps?

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actionstan

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Hello All,

I have been considering getting a set of the 16,000 LBS rhino ramps to do oil changes on my forte/saturn.

I was curious if any of you use the newer ones on a regular basis? (I think the designs have changed a few times in the past.) I like the ramps for the ease of use when doing oil changes, but have a hard time getting under a 2000+ vehicle that is supported by plastic, IF I did get a set I would still most likely position jack stands under the car somewhere, just in case they did collapse.. A car can be fixed or replaced if the worse happened.. I on the underhand not so much....

Currently I use a Walmart floor jack that i got for under 20 dollars, and 3 ton jack stands that seem pretty sturdy from tractor supply.. But with my current jack I dread doing oil changes, I am not the smallest person in the world, and a 13~inch lift makes it just big enough so I can drag myself under the car.. and it takes forever to get the oil changed, getting out for tools, getting back under.. ect ect.. and I always have some nice driveway rash to show for it.


So what say you bitog? Get some ramps, or stick with the stands?(I could also see how stands could fail easily IF the weld wasn't done properly, so I am kind of torn on this subject.)
 
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I use metal ramps to do my oil changes, each rated at 2 tons or 4400lbs. Most cars get up them OK but my Scirocco and other low cars need to use wooden planks to lessen the approach angle and avoid crunching the bumper/splitter/fropnt panel when driving up them.

We have something similar to Rhino Ramps in the UK called Race Ramps, plastic blocks you rive up onto with a little depression in the horizontal so once you're up on them the wheels drop down into the epression and stop the car rolling back or forward. I know people who use them an I've never heard of a set failing but personally I don't trust them simply because they're made of plastic.
I wouldn't care if they were a Carbon Fibre/Titanium/Kevlar composite rated to 100,000 lbs - if they look like plastic I aint getting under anything that drives up on them, give me metal ramps and/or metal axle stands or I'm not going under the car. Metal is reassuring and heavy and it just *feels* safer.

But with your plan to use the ramps AND axle stands you'll be absolutely fine
smile.gif
 
Not to mention the bad weather in Ohio half the time. For $20 with coupon I bring my Toyota to the local Ford dealer and watch them do it. MC syn-blend oil with filter and no appt. needed. I live in a townhouse which kind of limits things.
 
I have set of the Rinos. For about a year I have been using them under my Mustang and my girls' cars. They work great for me. Much better than the flimsy cheapy stamped metal ones that I had before.
 
Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Not to mention the bad weather in Ohio half the time. For $20 with coupon I bring my Toyota to the local Ford dealer and watch them do it. MC syn-blend oil with filter and no appt. needed. I live in a townhouse which kind of limits things.



Yes, I am also just considering this, If i can find a place with decent oil filters.. I always have a tire discounters coupon for an oil change for 20 bucks, for valvoline maxlife, not sure what kinda filter(but for 3 dollars I can bring a motorcraft/purolater so this is somewhat trivial).. I may just turn to this in the winter....
 
My neighbor gave me a set of them a few months ago. I was wondering how much they hold as I couldn't find any rating on them, but it says on line 12,000 lbs. I was wondering about he genuine plastic construction for my '02 Explorer, and haven't tried it yet for that, But they worked fine for my wife's '00 Kia Sportage. My metal ramps were starting to bend a bit with the weight of the Explorer. I doub't they would sell a product that couldn't hold the advertised weight.,,
 
Originally Posted By: ddtmoto
I have set of the Rinos. They work great for me. Much better than the flimsy cheapy stamped metal ones that I had before.
+1

I've had mine for years and I use them without a second thought.
 
I have a set of plastic Rhino ramps that I've been using for almost 10 years. They are very sturdy and I am completely confident in them. Even after all this time there is no sign of cracking or stress lines.
 
I bought a set earlier in the year and have used them about a half dozen times. No concerns whatsoever. I would trust them a lot more than a $20 Walmart floor jack.
 
I use the 12000's and trust them. In fact I trust them more than the jack stand setup I did this summer where I was in a bad spot and the vehicle started swaying towards me because I was doing something stupid. That could have gone really bad and put the fear in me.

A car is quite stable on the rhino ramps and you are only going to be loosening a filter and drain bolt. If jack stands + the ramps makes you feel better, go for it.
 
Originally Posted By: jhMalibu
.

A car is quite stable on the rhino ramps and you are only going to be loosening a filter and drain bolt. If jack stands + the ramps makes you feel better, go for it.



Thats the big thing for me, I think Ramps would be WAY more stable than stands, and better in every way, AS LONG as they wont crack from the stress, but there are still a time and place for jack stands. (When a tire has to come off)
 
I'd still use jackstands and keep the phone near me. (or use a spotter) Just because they're a ramp doesn't mean they can't fail.
 
I've been debating building wooden ramps from a couple of 2X10s because of the same question. I just don't like the idea of being under plastic (though I know I'm probably over worrying).
 
Rhino Ramps are so strong, I believe, because of all the plastic webbing underneath them. Turn one over and it's apparent that you could back a bus onto one and it'd probably hold it. I have a pair of 12,000 pound Rhino Ramps that I've used for over a decade now and have complete confidence in them.
 
Originally Posted By: NateDN10
I have a set of plastic Rhino ramps that I've been using for almost 10 years. They are very sturdy and I am completely confident in them. Even after all this time there is no sign of cracking or stress lines.


Same here. Two compacts, mini-van, and my truck. No problems thus far.
 
Originally Posted By: Wheel
I'd still use jackstands and keep the phone near me. (or use a spotter) Just because they're a ramp doesn't mean they can't fail.


Of course, I am a big fan of redundancy, and I wish I could make getting under a car 100% safe, which is impossible in my opinion, but I will definitely do all I can to give myself the best chance possible.
 
Originally Posted By: Keith_Stone
Originally Posted By: NateDN10
I have a set of plastic Rhino ramps that I've been using for almost 10 years. They are very sturdy and I am completely confident in them. Even after all this time there is no sign of cracking or stress lines.


Same here. Two compacts, mini-van, and my truck. No problems thus far.



Thats good to hear, I could also change the oil on my moms van then, My current equipment just cant handle her vans size.
 
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