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Here is a couple photos of a set I saw here on the forum a couple of months ago.
I figured they look plenty safe but I would build them slightly taller and a little wider.
As nice as these are, I thought they could be bolted to the garage floor and park on them year round so storing them wouldn't be an issue.
Last edited by OldCarBum; Jan 9, 2020 at 01:34 PM.
Mine is an air over hydraulic but they do electric versions. I recall mine was £1,100.00 thereabouts and it's paid for itself in a couple of years. The only drawback is it came with a long handle, bent at one end that locates into a hole and lets you lever the end up so it rolls on wheels mounted at the other end. Mine soon snapped so I rigged up a double 90 bracket and use a floor jack which is easier than the tool it came with. When down you can leave it under the car unless you're super low..
Stephen, you can get one of these portable lifts for the same costs and whereas the QJ looks to be limited to 20" of lift give or take an inch, these raise much higher as you can see. Mine uses compressed air but they do electric versions as well.
I would lean away from this just because you are blocked from getting under the car almost entirely. My Quickjack blocks the sides but I can get under the length of the car from the front or the rear. Getting under it on the sides would be better of course, but I can roll around on my creeper to just about anywhere I need.
Also, returning to the OP's question(s), my Quickjack also stores underneath my car. Not sure where you'd put that wood ramp when done.
I picked up a ez carlift a few years back and it allows work under the car. Not cheap and you have to have a good electric drill, but it works and it can roll away and be out of the way. www.ezcarlift.com The video shows it all.
I picked up a ez carlift a few years back and it allows work under the car. Not cheap and you have to have a good electric drill, but it works and it can roll away and be out of the way. www.ezcarlift.com The video shows it all.
This design looks like it solves the access issue with the QJ. Seems expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for. Can it be stopped at any height?
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Safety is all in the engineering. The plywood facia adds a ton of stabilty to a sturdy frame. If there are any home builders here they can testify to a 2x6 wall strength vs the same wall with plywood attached. Just because you see the end product doesnt insure the overall underneath construction. The only thing I would be weary off is if I was driving the car up the ramps. I would want spotters and would attch the ramps so they wouldnt slip. I would actually build some sturdier ramps but thats just me. I had my car up on 4x12 planks sitting on cinder blocks. that was very sturdy. I had them set up next to a hill and drove out onto them to eliminate the ramp issue. Now I have quick jacks and make sure they are in one of the locked positions when I use them.
The most dangerous thing we do is jacking up the car and puttingone end on stands, then jacking the other, thats when stands slip
Safety is all in the engineering. The plywood facia adds a ton of stabilty to a sturdy frame. If there are any home builders here they can testify to a 2x6 wall strength vs the same wall with plywood attached. Just because you see the end product doesnt insure the overall underneath construction. The only thing I would be weary off is if I was driving the car up the ramps. I would want spotters and would attch the ramps so they wouldnt slip. I would actually build some sturdier ramps but thats just me. I had my car up on 4x12 planks sitting on cinder blocks. that was very sturdy. I had them set up next to a hill and drove out onto them to eliminate the ramp issue. Now I have quick jacks and make sure they are in one of the locked positions when I use them.
The most dangerous thing we do is jacking up the car and puttingone end on stands, then jacking the other, thats when stands slip
NEVER, NEVER EVER USE CINDER BLOCKS TO SUPPORT YOUR VEHICLE.
Google it and you will find horror stories of using cinder blocks. Be safe, your life is worth more than the cost of any safety equipment ! = Right tool for the right job, correct ?
You dont get a second shot when youre pinned down by a car and cant breathe. Id drive it off the side anyways thats narrow
As pictured in post #1, the ramps are questionable, but the platforms should be fine (but can't see inside, so who knows). I built a set of these, and absolutely love them. The first time I put the vette on it, I did a bunch of test 'pushes' to see if they were unstable - there was absolutely NO rocking or movement of the platforms. I built mine with 2x12's, and put the inside verticle 2x12's every foot. I used exterior grade screws instead of nails. I've even had our full sized Ford Expedition up on them. The ramps I built are similar to those in post #22 - I braced them with 2x10's sitting on edge, screwed to the 2x12 ramp. I also used hooks to attach the ramps to the platforms so that they couldn't slip away from each other.
As for being narrow - I do usually like have somebody guide me up, but I've done it many times alone, and never had an issue.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
You have to use them correctly not on their sides. Like I said, you have to understand how things are engineered to hold weight. Cinder blocks hold up walls, ceilings, roofs, etc. OSB is oriented strand board and its stronger than plywood when used appropriately and as its intention. If you dont understand construction, then dont build it.
And I agree, i would drive off the side of something narrow as well.
Stephen, you can get one of these portable lifts for the same costs and whereas the QJ looks to be limited to 20" of lift give or take an inch, these raise much higher as you can see. Mine uses compressed air but they do electric versions as well.
I'd want some outriggers on that thing to keep it from accidentally tipping over.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by bradleyb66
As pictured in post #1, the ramps are questionable, but the platforms should be fine (but can't see inside, so who knows). I built a set of these, and absolutely love them. The first time I put the vette on it, I did a bunch of test 'pushes' to see if they were unstable - there was absolutely NO rocking or movement of the platforms. I built mine with 2x12's, and put the inside verticle 2x12's every foot. I used exterior grade screws instead of nails. I've even had our full sized Ford Expedition up on them. The ramps I built are similar to those in post #22 - I braced them with 2x10's sitting on edge, screwed to the 2x12 ramp. I also used hooks to attach the ramps to the platforms so that they couldn't slip away from each other.
As for being narrow - I do usually like have somebody guide me up, but I've done it many times alone, and never had an issue.
The big issue I have at my age is the weight of these things and the size of them for storage. I guess one could put collapseable wheels on them that retract under weight but that leaves storage. THe quickjacks are heavy but easily hang on the wall for storage
While I agree, a lift takes the price a bit higher. I plan on getting a 4 post lift but bought my Quickjack as I plan to get my lift. I first have to have my garage door re-arranged to hug the ceiling. Right now it is almost 2.5 feet below my ceiling in my garage. That, from the quote I got, was about $1500, and the lift I quoted was about $3000... plus the lift cannot be delivered to a residential address, so I'd have to rent a trailer to go get it from one of the drop off points. So, my plan slowly unfolds.... LOL.
was doing a search for homemade ramps, and came across this
There's nothing inherently wrong or unsafe about using wooden ramps like this as long as they are properly engineered. Personally, I don't like the inclined ramps on this particular design. Look kind of sketchy to me. I like the ramps in post #22 much better.
There are threads about ramps like this all over the internet at various forums. Many are well thought out and designed properly. Some have removable middle sections to make access a little easier and to facilitate moving and storage. Some have built-in lights and electrical outlets. I nearly went down this road but finding a place to store them stopped me. I ended up getting a QuickJack which I can lean against a wall when not in use.
DC
Last edited by DC3; Jan 11, 2020 at 08:38 PM.
Reason: Typo
I would do a little re-engineering, and make it in three sections, so the center section could be removed. Be able to get under and work on the driveline and such. Probably add a couple safety features in the design while I'm at it.
Three pieces would be easier to move and store.
also make the ramps 9in two pieces) as solid as the parking platform/bolt the ramps securely to the 3-piece platform
Stack the sections out of the way when not being used.
I can assure you, it isn't going anywhere.
