Backing onto Ramps?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Tipp City Ohio
Backing onto Ramps?
I've got an 88 Convertible, plan on changing out the exhaust this weekend (catback).
I've got some new Rhino Ramps (12000lbs jobs) and would like to back the car up onto them to gain clearance for the job. Will this be a problem? Any issue with the front of the car hitting the ground?
I've got a low profile jack but afraid to jack it up in the center of the rear, specifically due to the exhaust in the way.
I've got some new Rhino Ramps (12000lbs jobs) and would like to back the car up onto them to gain clearance for the job. Will this be a problem? Any issue with the front of the car hitting the ground?
I've got a low profile jack but afraid to jack it up in the center of the rear, specifically due to the exhaust in the way.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 182
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I've backed my '96 up on ramps.
Then jacked the front up to put on jack stands, so the car was level.
Did this to change the transmission fluid, as it needs to be level.
The front air dam might scrape a little, but it's flexible and won't hurt anything.
Then jacked the front up to put on jack stands, so the car was level.
Did this to change the transmission fluid, as it needs to be level.
The front air dam might scrape a little, but it's flexible and won't hurt anything.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,264
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
If you're changing the exhaust anyway, you can put a board on your floor jack, for a little more suport area, and just lift it with the exhaust pipes. It won't crush them, believe me they're plenty strong enough to lift the rear of a C4, I've done it. The worst that will happen is it might make little marks on the top of the pipes where it touches the iron case of the diff.
I saw a guy try to back onto some of those plastic type ramps on a slick grage floor. Half way up the ramps one of them shot forward and up under the car. Didn't hurt anything, just a little scarry. Had to use a floor jack to get the car back on the ramps. Be careful with your traction!
I saw a guy try to back onto some of those plastic type ramps on a slick grage floor. Half way up the ramps one of them shot forward and up under the car. Didn't hurt anything, just a little scarry. Had to use a floor jack to get the car back on the ramps. Be careful with your traction!
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 55
From: Philadelphia PA
Calculating clearance under front of car.
The Rhino Ramps are only 6.5" high. Your wheelbase is 96". So, when the rear tires are 6.5" off the ground, a point 48" in front of the axle will be 3.25" lower, and a point 32" in front of the axle will be about 2.15" lower than when on level ground.
I don't hear anyone on the forum reporting the front touching the ground when they are using 8" high or 10" high Race Ramps, so, you should be okay with the lower platform height of 6.5".
I don't hear anyone on the forum reporting the front touching the ground when they are using 8" high or 10" high Race Ramps, so, you should be okay with the lower platform height of 6.5".
I've got an 88 Convertible, plan on changing out the exhaust this weekend (catback).
I've got some new Rhino Ramps (12000lbs jobs) and would like to back the car up onto them to gain clearance for the job. Will this be a problem? Any issue with the front of the car hitting the ground?
I've got a low profile jack but afraid to jack it up in the center of the rear, specifically due to the exhaust in the way.
I've got some new Rhino Ramps (12000lbs jobs) and would like to back the car up onto them to gain clearance for the job. Will this be a problem? Any issue with the front of the car hitting the ground?
I've got a low profile jack but afraid to jack it up in the center of the rear, specifically due to the exhaust in the way.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 3
From: Wichita Kansas
You could also put 2X10 or 2X12 flat behind the front tires so that when you back onto the ramps with the rear the fronts roll up on top of the 2X's giving you another inch and a half clearance in the front.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I saw a guy try to back onto some of those plastic type ramps on a slick grage floor. Half way up the ramps one of them shot forward and up under the car. Didn't hurt anything, just a little scarry. Had to use a floor jack to get the car back on the ramps. Be careful with your traction!
Easy way to prevent this....get some good rope and tie the back of the ramps to something sturdy....like an eye bolt into a stud in your garage...that way they can't shoot under the car.
My old man taught me another trick for getting ramps under the front wheels without the ramps sliding....tie long pieces of rope to the front of the ramps, and run the rope such that when your front wheels contact the ramps, the rear wheels are on top of the rope. No sliding.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Why not just go down and get a good jack and jack stands????
You know your are going to do a lot more maintenance on the car
Trust me on this
You know your are going to do a lot more maintenance on the car
Trust me on this
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 55
From: Philadelphia PA
Race Ramps "barn find"
If you don't want to fool around with workarounds for slippery ramps you can always get a set of Race Ramps. If the cost of new Race Ramps is more than you can handle, the next best thing is a set of used Race Ramps.
Race Ramps have been on the market for six years and I am sure there are a plenty of Race Ramps kicking around garages that are no longer used for a variety of reasons. Either the owner sold the low ground clearance car, or no longer does his own maintenance, etc.
Just today, I stumbled across a set of RR-56 one-piece ramps that have never been used. The box is a little tattered from dragging it around the garage but the ramps are fine. $160 delivered to anyone who is interested.
Easy way to prevent this....get some good rope and tie the back of the ramps to something sturdy....like an eye bolt into a stud in your garage...that way they can't shoot under the car.
My old man taught me another trick for getting ramps under the front wheels without the ramps sliding....tie long pieces of rope to the front of the ramps, and run the rope such that when your front wheels contact the ramps, the rear wheels are on top of the rope. No sliding.
Race Ramps have been on the market for six years and I am sure there are a plenty of Race Ramps kicking around garages that are no longer used for a variety of reasons. Either the owner sold the low ground clearance car, or no longer does his own maintenance, etc.
Just today, I stumbled across a set of RR-56 one-piece ramps that have never been used. The box is a little tattered from dragging it around the garage but the ramps are fine. $160 delivered to anyone who is interested.
Easy way to prevent this....get some good rope and tie the back of the ramps to something sturdy....like an eye bolt into a stud in your garage...that way they can't shoot under the car.
My old man taught me another trick for getting ramps under the front wheels without the ramps sliding....tie long pieces of rope to the front of the ramps, and run the rope such that when your front wheels contact the ramps, the rear wheels are on top of the rope. No sliding.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
There are many ways to keep the ramps from sliding. Rubber footings, the rope method as FF described. I put mine on the edge of the garage floor, where the drive meets the garage. I have a little lip there that holds them in place.
Once, in the garage, I had my wife hold them in place with 2x4's. Or you can get 2x4's and set them against the wall of the garage and the ramps.
Use your imagination.
Once, in the garage, I had my wife hold them in place with 2x4's. Or you can get 2x4's and set them against the wall of the garage and the ramps.
Use your imagination.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
I saw a guy try to back onto some of those plastic type ramps on a slick grage floor. Half way up the ramps one of them shot forward and up under the car. Didn't hurt anything, just a little scarry. Had to use a floor jack to get the car back on the ramps. Be careful with your traction!
driveway, not a slick garage floor. If anybody want's those ramps, come
and get them.
Last edited by Chuck Tribolet; Jun 24, 2011 at 02:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 50
From: Westmont Il.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 55
From: Philadelphia PA
The RR-56 ramps were sold to a CF member. But there are plenty of new ones available.
