In a message dated 2/3/01 8:22:02 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
>
> Hello List,
> A simple question I hope. I need to get some ramps so I can get under
> the
> car to do work. I am getting way to much hassle from my significant other
> about being under the car. Does anyone have any suggestions about ramps
> that
> will hold a 2 ton car. I need two tons because I have a heavier car as well
> as my Sentra. Anyway any help on helping me make a choice is appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Marcus
>
>
Marcus:
Tell you what I've done, I had some lumber just laying around that I didn't
have any use for and I needed some ramps also. So I got out my table saw and
cut the boards up using my table saw to fit the tires of my autos and truck,
I cut the boards down to fit the widest tires I had and them added about 2
inches wider than the tires, I made the bottom one about 3 and a half foot
long and cut a 45 degree angle on one end of it then cut the next one about 3
foot long and then cut a 45 degree angle on that one also and just kept
cutting the lumber (stacking one board on top of the other) until I ended up
with the top board being about 10 inches long (just enought for the tire to
rest on with an inch or so left over on each end where the tires rested on
the top board) and cut 45 degree angle cuts on each board until I ended up
with about 1 foot of clearence from the ground when the cars or truck are on
the top of the ramp. I them drilled counter sank holes on the top board and
the bottom board and drilled holes thur the other boards to line up with the
other top and bottom boards and put some carrage bolts thur all the boards
and put some wood glue on the boards and bolted all the boards together until
the wood glue started to come out between the boards. By counter sinking the
top and bottom bolt/nut holes the bolts and nuts do not touch the tires or
the ground and hold every thing together, I also added a tire stop to the
ends of the ramp that were cut straight up and down and also cut a small
channel into these boards and ran some rope I had laying around and put a
not(spelling error) in the end of the rope that ran thur the tire stops and
put some wood glue on these boards and put a few wood screws into the tires
stops to hold them into the ramp and this way I could drag the ramps around
to where ever I wanted to use them. Now I'm sure you have seen this type of
home made car/truck ramp before as they have been in use for years by others.
I made mine about 3 years ago and have not had any problems with them and it
took me about 1 hour or so to cut the boards up and glue and bolt every thing
together and my cost was next to nothing as I had the lumber and nuts and
bolts just laying around in my junk piles. I don't know just how much weight
they would handle but I've had all my cars up on them at one time or another
and my truck and my motorhome which I know weighs about 26,000 pounds
unloaded and I've never had any problems with them breaking or felt unsafe
while using them.I just eye balled every thing and kept it simple and cheap.
I know if you don't have any lumber just laying around or a saw of some type
you could'nt make use of this idea but if you do why not just make some up
and save your self a few bucks.This way I can just drive my car/truck up on
the ramps and do an oil change or what ever needs to be done, but I also have
jack stands if I need to get the tires up off the ground while working on the
cars/truck.
Ron
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