Trust Rhino Ramps?

[supton]

I think I spent more time cleaning up the oil catchpan and waste oil bottles after an oil change this weekend than actually doing the change... What a mess!

On my Camry I used my cheapo jack under a subframe bolt, then put a jackstand under the factory lift point. IMO that pinch weld is pretty flimsy BUT the factory says it's meant for it... I left my jack under the bolt, and lowered the pinch onto the jackstand. I have no idea how much weight was on each but the jackstand sunk down enough. Only needed one corner up to do the job (thankfully).

Ramps would have not have worked, or I would have had to turn the car 90 degrees for space. Add in the approach angle and I'm not so sure I want a set. Might be nice tho, as I look at the spindly jackstands I have and wonder if I would really trust my life to them. I mean, jack a vehicle up, place onto 4 stands, and remove all four wheels: it just don't look as stable as 4 tires!

 

[bigt61]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
I trust my Rhino ramps more than the metal ramps they replaced, and they are definitely more stable than jack stands.


Amen. +1 Rather than get road rash from a driveway, lay down some old cardboard box leftovers - makes sliding under much easier and the cardboard will soak up oil splash pretty well. Even some old carpet at the front of the car is a lot more comfortable than asphalt. Make a list of what tools you need (drain plug socket size, filter wrench size) for cars you change regularly and this will cut down on your "slide unders". A short pencil beats a long memory. Keep the notes in your toolbox.

 

[jcwit]

I've HAD MY Rhino ramps for 10/12 years now and trust them completely. As far as something going wrong while under a car, anything's possible. We had an Amish girl who got hit by a bullet while going down the road in a buggy a few years, so just about anything is possible.

As far as putting something down to slide around on, I've found a 3/4 sheet of printed paneling such as used in bathrooms works very well, slippery than cardboard.

 

[dparm]

No concerns with my ramps, but I add jack stands as a fail-safe.

 

[Rolla07]

I love mine! Made changing oil a breeze. I did put jackstands underneath just in case anyways. Redundancy i like!!

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: theKman
I would trust them a lot more than a $20 Walmart floor jack.

+1 on that!

I have the 12k lb ones from about 10 years ago, and have used them for a full sized SUV and a Chevy 2500 pickup and have never felt unsafe.

 

[nitehawk55]

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.


That doesn't make and sense....

 

[nitehawk55]

"any" sense .

 

[Donald]

I have 2 sets of Rhino ramps and both are fine. One I even ran over sideways.

 

[actionstan]

Originally Posted By: theKman
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.


To be fair, I support the car with stands, not the jack, the walmart floor jack is just for lifting and has done a good job so far, its range just isn't high enough for me.

 

[Donald]

A jack and jack stands seem a hassle when you can drive up on ramps and have little in your way.

I suck it in a little and can then get under both of my vehicles to change the oil with them being on the ground.

 

[kkreit01]

My vehicles are twice the weight of OPs, and I use the 12000 ramps with confidence. I've always used ramps.

 

[cptbarkey]

i've used my set of rhino 12k's for 10 years now with no issues. i think its time to get a new set though.

 

[Woody71]

Bought a set of 16Ks last winter. I've used them for about 5 oil changes. I trust and will continue to use them.

 

[lyle]

I bought a set of the 12000 Rhino's, don't care much for them. When I try to drive a car up on the ramps, they slide forward on my concrete garage floor. I have to place a piece of old carpeting underneath the fronts of them to keep them in place. The little rubber plug keeps falling out and leaves skid marks on the floor. The second dislike is that they only lift about 6 inches. It gets really tight underneath there. Those of you who lay on the ground may have enough room, but I use a mechanics creeper and it's tight. I finally had enough after 2 changes and bucked up and bought a set of welded aluminum ramps that lift 10 inches.

 

[BHopkins]

Floor jack and jack stands for me. Lift the front end with the floor jack. Position the jack stands on each side, lower the car and slide the floor jack out of the way. Takes about 2 minutes. Super quick. And I have never, ever felt that my life or safety has been at risk.

I can't say the same for ramps. Ramps scare the living h#@@ out of me. First, there is the problem of having them slide out from under the tires, when you first approach. From comments above, I am not the only one that has that experience. Then, there is the worry that the spacing and approach is correct, so that the tires will be well centered, once on top of the ramps, so as to assure that the ramp will not pop out from under the tire. Then, there is the worry about going over the far end.

For me, using ramps was always a two man job, requiring a spotter to guide you and signal when to stop. That is not always convenient. The final straw was when I had a couple cars that had a long approach, and I couldn't use ramps. For me at least, ramps tend to be in the way too much. They take up so much floor space. Plus, with ramps, you can't rotate wheels, change brake pads, or access areas behind wheel well liners. With jack stands, you can do all of this, plus work under the car.


I admit that I have never used Rhino Ramps, and they do appear to have a good design. But claims of jack stands being unsafe are like claiming guns are dangerous. Both are dangerous only when not handled and used properly.

Count me as a jack stand fan. At least until I can budget in a two post lift.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: actionstan
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.)


None of the above. I have a KwikLift that I use-when it's down it provides enough height to comfortably do oil changes, and when it's up it's high enough that I can sit under a car/pickup and work on something without laying on my back. All the while the vehicle stays level.

I also don't have to worry about plastic ramps.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: actionstan
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.)


None of the above. I have a KwikLift that I use-when it's down it provides enough height to comfortably do oil changes, and when it's up it's high enough that I can sit under a car/pickup and work on something without laying on my back. All the while the vehicle stays level.

I also don't have to worry about plastic ramps.


What about if you need to remove wheels on an axle to do suspension work?

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: actionstan
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.)


None of the above. I have a KwikLift that I use-when it's down it provides enough height to comfortably do oil changes, and when it's up it's high enough that I can sit under a car/pickup and work on something without laying on my back. All the while the vehicle stays level.

I also don't have to worry about plastic ramps.


What about if you need to remove wheels on an axle to do suspension work?


Put the centerlift bridge in place, and use a bottle jack along with jackstands. Or, if the vehicle has suitable jacking points, use a bottle jack directly on the ramp, along with jackstands.

The ramps give you a perfect place to sit while working on suspension or brakes when a wheel is off.

 

[Sayjac]

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

Go for it. Though I currently have a set of metal Ultra Ramps that I've used since the late 90's with excellent results, if I was in the market now the 16k Rhinos would be my choice. I'd have complete confidence in them. Currently on promo at Advance for ~$45 with solid reviews. Once they go off promo you might be able to do better using an AAP $20 off $50 online code. Great choice for oil changes.