Ramps

[mjb]

Someone once told me on here that you wouldn't get a 406 onto a pair of ramps due to the hooge overhang. Well it seems he might have been wrong. Halfords own brand ramps (£31/pair) JUST fit. There's going to be minor scrapage putting the front wheels up as the tyres compress over the first rung (next time i'll over-inflate the front!), but as long as you remove any mudguards, it's lovely for taking the back up.

It seems my egg sauce is all ok after all! (MOT booked for the morning - eek)

The thing to remember though, is when you take the back up and chock the front wheels, you need to remove the chocks before burning your clutch running over them, destroying a nice fold-flat pair in the process

Oh, and I really hadn't expected it to be so difficult to back the car onto a ramp! Burnt clutch and about 5 attempts with some frantic handbrake application

[V6Exec]

A short length of old carpet works wonders for getting onto the ramp.

[teamster1975]

That's good to know! I borrowed a mates ramps when I had to do the header pipe clamp on the 1.8 & I ended up having to take the bumper off to get the car on them

[mjb]

A short length of old carpet works wonders for getting onto the ramp.

Any more ideas for ramp extensions? Something I might have?

OOH! Finally I think I've thought of a use for the Yellow Pages!

[steve_earwig]

In the Autobahstormers someone was selling ramp extenders for this sort of thing, I think they were an extra bit of ramp that hooked on so they don't start so steep.

There's going to be minor scrapage putting the front wheels up...

I reckon my D9 would be ok but the D8 wouldn't make is with it's saggy springs.

OOH! Finally I think I've thought of a use for the Yellow Pages!

Don't forget your papier mache axle stands
I have some ramps but they're back in the UK and my brother would rather bring a change of clothes really. They've got platforms on the top that are on screws, so once it's up there you can raise the car even further. They still scare the hell out of me though, I had a couple of nasty experiences (e.g. ramp shoots out from under wheel and jams half way along Austin 1100 sill...) so not keen on using them on me tod.

[mav]

what bout using axle stands?
jack each side up to required height, slot in said axle stand, and robert is very much your mothers brother!

well, it works for me anyways!

[steve_earwig]

Me too but ramps are much quicker and, so long as the car's on them squarely, it's not going anywhere if you need to do anything violent.

[mjb]

They don't force me to take painkillers for a month due to a bad back either! Plus they give you about 9" of lift combined with your existing 9" ground clearance, which is a lot of lift for very little money. I wish I had these things when I did my exhaust

[Welly]

ramp shoots out from under wheel and jams half way along Austin 1100 sill

Hahahahaha......me and my mate did this on his RWD Opel Kadette

We were reversing uphill to get the rear up the ramps! we were only 17 so I suppose dd not think that all the weight would be down the other end, leaving he ramps a bit "free" his Dad freaked out when he saw it, I went home shortly afterwards

[DaiRees]

I made some wooden "half-ramps" to lessen the angle (so you don't twat the bumper ) and they prevent the ramps from shooting out from under wheel as you drive up.

You can see one in this pic...


I actually have 4 ramps, and sometimes put my Zook up on all 4, no half ramps there though, place a ramp in front of each wheel (there's plenty of clearance under the sills) 4WD Low and up she goes

[mav]

Good point. i suppose i can say that being a young'un, still able to use the jack without clearing out the local boots for painkillers!
They also eliminate burning out clutches when the arse end needs to go up, and lot less chance of embedding into them in the sills of other motors, and no need to line up, just lift.
Just my tuppence worth mind!

[mjb]

Good point. i suppose i can say that being a young'un, still able to use the jack without clearing out the local boots for painkillers!

My back started playing up when I was about 22!

Besides, the best thing about ramps is the height - they lift the car MUCH higher than most jacks can

[steve_earwig]

Except mine

I'm afraid I just joined the bad back club, the usual L5/S1 squashed disk, arthritis, schlerosis, etc. etc. etc Oh, and my hips are wearing out too, just to add to the fun. It's been playing up for a few years but a few weeks back I could hardly walk so I had some polaroids done.

And at 1 o'clock we're off to the vets and guess who'll have to lift the squirming 50kg golden retard onto the table

[Welly]

Me too - A prolapsed disc (the full monty) at age 26, chronic sciatica, still suffering lower back pain 10 years later

Just also been told I have a "rotator cuff" injury to my left shoulder

Generally for me, bad back = don't mess around with cars, ramps, jacks, pushing, pulling, etc etc. I just either leave it or pay someone when it *really* needs doing (must get the oil done soon).

[mjb]

I've recently found out mine's muscular pain as opposed to skeletal, which is good since I may be able to ease it in the long term by losing weight and regularly doing specific exercises. It's bad because it took them years to diagnose and the pain's just as cripping at times (unable to get out of bed or out of a seat etc). At least I've got a pile of various strong painkillers at home, in the car, and in my desk draw at work just in case

Unfortunately with my finances being what they are, I have to do as much car work as possible myself