Ramps or Jack Stands

[RKS]

What do you prefer for oil changes and other basic maintenance that requires you to get under a car?

 

[DJK Frank 16]

Jack stands, no particular reason, just always used jack stands.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Jack stands, I've tried using ramps. Not that useful.

 

[TheHashmaster]

ramps, less likely to die, and easier to put up

 

[Unheard]

Ramps get in my way when I'm moving around under the car. Jacks all the way.

 

[Vette73]

Ramps use to work better but with cars as low as they are I had to buy a new low jack just to lift them. Not to many cars can use regular ramps today.

That and I have seen people drive over ramps before or one ramp clip while the other held. Funny but jackstands and a good jack just work better IMO.

 

[T2urtle]

i like jackstands. everything is subject to failure but i jackstands makes more sense and less risk. Plug what marlin said about ride height.

ramps can move when trying to pull up on them. Might be a little off one way or the other and might not give you enough clearance and always the risk it them breaking or cracking.

Jack and jackstand. Jack seals can collapse whenever. 2 jackstands and having a floorjack as a 3 stand is how i normally roll.

 

[kornphlake]

I prefer ramps whenever I can get by using them. I feel safer working under a vehicle on ramps because the ramp has no moving parts or pins like a jack stand. It takes so little time to get the car on ramps too, convenience is a huge plus for little jobs like oil changes. My vehicles don't have ground clearance problems and my driveway is rough enough to keep the ramps from slipping, it is always a little stressful getting up onto the ramps no matter how many times I've done it I always fear I'll roll off the end and tear up the wheel well or rocker panel. I have no problem getting out a jack and stands if the job requires it. More often than not I've got to remove a wheel to get access to a component through the wheel well. I miss working on my 65 rambler with a straight 6, you could literally stand inside the engine bay and work on it.

 

[ShawnD1]

Ramps use to work better but with cars as low as they are I had to buy a new low jack just to lift them. Not to many cars can use regular ramps today.

?
I do oil changes at my parents house where my dad still has some ramps that are about 25-30 years old. Every car we've tried to put up there goes up easily. Ground clearance of my car (2010 corolla) is ~6 inches.

 

[Vette73]

?
I do oil changes at my parents house where my dad still has some ramps that are about 25-30 years old. Every car we've tried to put up there goes up easily. Ground clearance of my car (2010 corolla) is ~6 inches.

I need a low level jack for Corvette, CTS, Audi A4, STS, Camaro, and my old Saab 900.
The only cars/trucks I work on now that ramps will/might work are the Corolla, B4000 truck, and the Rav4.

Most cars are much lowwer to the ground now and then the lowwer body panels as well.

 

[alfa147x]

Tried to get my car up on a set of ramps once but my car is too low. :\

 

[vi edit]

?
I do oil changes at my parents house where my dad still has some ramps that are about 25-30 years old. Every car we've tried to put up there goes up easily. Ground clearance of my car (2010 corolla) is ~6 inches.

It's not just ground clearance, it's also how long the hood sticks out. FWD cars can get really long in the snout and combining that with a front lip spoiler and a lower stance and your bumper is hitting the ramp before the tire gets there.

 

[NutBucket]

Prefer ramps unless the wheels/suspension need to come off.

 

[skyking]

I use lumber to make a short lift for that kind of stuff. chunk of 2 x 6 and a chunk of 4 x 6.
small blocks like that present no hazard if you run off them, and 4" lift is plenty for my car.
I drive up on the 2 x and then onto the 4 x Put in park, lock brake, block wheels, whatever floats your safety boat.

 

[fbrdphreak]

If using ramps is feasible, I will. But if one of my cars is going up in the air, I tend to need to need to pull a wheel, so they can't be used.

It also depends what I'm doing. I can get the car higher in the air with my jack + stands, which is requisite some times.

 

[RKS]

I have found the plastic Rhino Ramps are pretty sturdy and also work for low-clearance cars. For jack stands I had to buy a couple hockey pucks (and carve slits in them) so I wouldn't crumple the jack areas on the car.

 

[alfa147x]

For jack stands I had to buy a couple hockey pucks (and carve slits in them) so I wouldn't crumple the jack areas on the car.

Good idea !

 

[kami333]

Jack stands.

I don't use either for oil changes though, easy access is one of the requirements when I look at a car.

 

[BlackTigers]

i have five sets of jackstands and no ramps, you tell me

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I have some one to do this absolutely dirty job.

 

[zerocool84]

I have found the plastic Rhino Ramps are pretty sturdy and also work for low-clearance cars. For jack stands I had to buy a couple hockey pucks (and carve slits in them) so I wouldn't crumple the jack areas on the car.

I have plastic Rhino ramps as well but I'm very careful with my cars so going up the ramp by yourself is tricky.

 

[Castiel]

No "Lift" option?

 

[Meghan54]

Our truck....don't use anything usually. Will drag the ramps out sometimes, esp. if it's nasty outside and I want more room underneath.

Other than that, anytime the truck's in the air, it's on stands.

BTW.....the ramps I have include a flat pad that attaches to the end, allowing the vehicle to sort of pin the ramp in place before actually rolling up the incline.....so no ramp scooting out of place. But I do prefer jack stands for any real work on a vehicle....just a pain to get the floor jack out, stands out, position both, etc., etc., when all I want to do is change the oil.

 

[Howard]

I've always used jack stands, so I can't really talk about ramps. Gotta love that my current car doesn't need to be lifted to change the oil, though.

 

[helpme]

Jack stands