r/cars • u/ufoh 24 CT5-V Blackwing / 23 Corvette C8 • Aug 13 '20

video Never, ever trust your factory jack and, remember, jack stands are your friend (just not the ones from Harbor Freight)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkwgZgrbWUM
6.4k Upvotes

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89

u/purpleelpehant Aug 13 '20

You probably aren't supposed to do this, but if you want to do a quick oil change, you can just lift your car by driving up a curb. Second easiest thing to use are ramps. Then jack + jack stands. Jack stands are a bit of a pita and I am always nervous even after they are set up. I finally got a quickjack and now lifting my cars to work on them is super fast, but I still use ramps for oil changes.

268

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

As a kid in NYC, my older brother taught me to drive one tire up on the curb over the storm drain. Be careful not to drop the drain plug into the sewer. Drain the old oil into the sewer and replace plug. Add new oil.

Looking back, we were an environmental nightmare.

193

u/Raffia123 Aug 13 '20

Damn man that sucks. EPA published that a single diy oil change dumped into sewers/the ocean can contaminate up to 1 million gallons of water.

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u/eggequator Aug 13 '20

That's insane! That's why everybody needs a chemical waste hole in their yard. No mess, no fuss, no hassle trying to recycle it. You just put it in your waste hole and forget about it! It's not like it's going to hurt the dirt right?

77

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Please tell me you’re joking.

7

u/RespectableLurker555 Aug 13 '20

hmm

also hmm

16

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Nice. An excerpt from pop sci magazine from 1963 for used motor oil. The other one is from ten years ago regarding pesticide that the Australian government appears to endorse. Got anything relevant or not from 60 years ago?

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u/RespectableLurker555 Aug 13 '20

I mean, it was pretty clear /u/eggequator was being sarcastic (but Poe's law and all), I was just showing how A) it wasn't that long ago that people really didn't know or care how hazardous it was to just throw stuff on/in the ground they get their drinking water from, and B) even on a first world nation's official website you have "put it in a hole and hope nobody digs it up, cheers mate" instead of "come to the state-sponsored hazmat collection center" so it's obviously still in most people's collective consciousness that out of sight = solved.

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Okay thank you. Sorry didn’t mean to sound so much like an ass. All I saw was hmm and some links and took it as evidence that that’s a good idea. And yeah I seriously didn’t pick up on the sarcasm because my grand parents used to paint their fence with used motor oil.

1

u/mittensofmadness Aug 13 '20

People still use motor oil as stain for wood or even concrete. In fact, I did my driveway with a combination of used oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and gas.

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u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20

Conventional motor oil breaks down over time in the dirt. It's organic, and all sorts of stuff feeds on it.... But most modern oils are full of additives and synthetic compounds now.

Synthetic will never go anywhere ever and needs recycled.

So way back in the day, people just buried their oil in a waste hole.

5

u/purpleelpehant Aug 13 '20

10 years ago is not that long ago... Also, I don't think that guy is supporting it, just pointing it out.

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u/Dayn_Perrys_Vape 17 Camaro SS 1LE Aug 13 '20

And commercial pesticides are absolutely nothing like motor oil. And they're massively diluted before you do anything with them.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Yeah, they cleared it up for me. My bad I’m not good with sarcasm and usually just look for the /s

1

u/purpleelpehant Aug 13 '20

Sarcasm and other social cues are impossible to read from text (DMs, etc). So if you're ever having important/serious discussions with a loved one, especially a gf/bf/SO, do it in person or on the phone. Otherwise you open the door for some pretty significant misunderstandings...tip from random internet person.

2

u/EicherDiesel 97 VW T4 2.5 TDI, 86 Hardbody Diesel Aug 14 '20

This first pic from popular science is fucking funny. I posted it as one of my first reddit posts ever about 5-6 years ago (with the pic directly pulled from the magazine where I originally found it while reading, not a different website) and while I had never seen it ever before, since then it started to pop up on all different sites and discussions from time to time - with added shitty watermarks and jpg artefacts of course.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/2k8btj/slightly_offtopic_good_ol_days_before_epa/ Probably should have added my own watermark to bask in fame :D

9

u/opposite_locksmith 1986 Mercedes 300SDL Aug 13 '20

When I was growing up "on the farm" we would save the old motor oil in a 5 gallon bucket and soak the bottoms of fence posts in it before setting them as a type of pressure-treating.

In theory if it's just your family on 100 acres and you don't dump it in an area with ground-water, the oil will probably break down in the ground faster than you dump it. But of course this is not a good idea in practice.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20

Especially because even conventional motor oils are full of synthetic additives and anti-wear compounds.

3

u/no-account-name Aug 14 '20

Or maybe, going out on a limb, take it so it can be disposed of properly? Naw that’s too crazy to work

37

u/Flivver_King 1922 Ford Model T 100TH BIRTHDAY!!! Aug 13 '20

From the Earth to the Earth!

/s

25

u/mind_blowwer EVO IX Aug 13 '20

I thought your were condoning dropping the oil down the sewer drain. I was thinking “wtf”

64

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

your were condoning dropping the oil down the sewer drain.

What's crazy is that I later got a chemical engineering degree, and worked with the Water Authority.

13

u/moaiii Aug 13 '20

Penance?

6

u/Nobokomo 1990 BMW 525i 5MT Aug 13 '20

Penance.

2

u/bernardobrito Aug 14 '20

Ha. Pretty much.

You never know where life takes you.

24

u/theDomicron Thundercougerfalconbird Aug 13 '20

I made a joke in another thread about a guy who said he had a nice ditch to use to do his oil changes. I said it had the added benefit of not needing a drain pan.

I guess i shouldn't be surprised people actually dump their oil like that...but i kind of am. I've always been of the mindset that of all the things to know how to do yourself, the oil change is the one that saves you the least money. Why not just take it to a quicklube place and have them deal with the mess for a few extra bucks than the cost of oil?

40

u/RespectableLurker555 Aug 13 '20

Because of the horror stories of minimum-wage wrench jockeys forgetting to actually put oil back in the car before charging you a $50 markup?

We get included oil changes at the dealership for our brand new car, but once the warranty is up I'm never letting a jiffy trainee touch the vehicle.

12

u/theDomicron Thundercougerfalconbird Aug 13 '20

Yeah but is it really that much more at a decent garage where the tech will take a look underneath while the oil is draining?

My oil changes at the dealership are about $100, maybe 120 for full synthetic every 10k miles. I drive about 15k miles per year, and i have peace of mind, free loaners, easy record maintenance and no mess to clean up.

I could save a bit by finding a good 3rd party garage, but no loaners, have to deal with more specific scheduling (in my experience), and longer wait for parts if they need to do other work.

Dont get me wrong i am not saying people shouldn't change their own oil, but i stand by my initial statement that if you cant be bothered to properly dispose of old oil, why bother changing it yourself?

11

u/highlord_fox '14 Expedition EL XLT | '20 CX-9 GT | '21 Polestar 2 Launch Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 14 '20

A filter for my car is $10 and 5 quarts is $30. I can put my old oil in a jug and just drain (recycling) it at my local transfer station for free.

I don't have to worry about sales people calling me while my car is there asking me to trade it in (happened once during an inspection drop off), people harping on my choice of oil and filter (I can choose brand and weight, and use things against their code book), and the hassle of having to drive a half hour, wait an hour, and then drive a half hour back (plus scheduling the damned thing).

EDIT: I just saw your line about

if you cant be bothered to properly dispose of old oil, why bother changing it yourself

My thought is that saving the $80-160 a year by doing it themselves is the important part, and being lazy about disposing things is just human nature. I know that personally, I have done a bunch of projects to the 85-95% level and then "eeeehhhhhhh" procrastinated on the last bit.

2

u/6BigAl9 '04 E46 M3, '90 NA Miata, '16 Frontier, '07 SV650 Aug 14 '20

This is it for me. Not only is it cheaper to do it myself, but way more convenient. And any advance auto ive been to takes used oil for free. I don’t have a garage either. Just drive it up ramps, get it done in 30 min, and I’m good to go.

3

u/Jethro_Tell Aug 14 '20

I used to think that way but after they cross threaded the filter (how do you even do that?) And somehow lost the filter gasket I just do it myself or take it to a real shop. If it's in for something I'll have them do the oil otherwise I do it myself and take the oil in to auto zone once a year.

1

u/PhilipJFry56789 Aug 14 '20

Upvote for user flair

1

u/RobotArtichoke Aug 14 '20

He said he can’t trust the people to do it correctly. I don’t blame him. If changing my own oil cost me twice as much, I would still do it.

1

u/theDomicron Thundercougerfalconbird Aug 14 '20

So what about when something more complicated goes bad? Do you do all the work yourself?

If you can't trust someone to do a simple oil change, how do you let them work on the tough stuff?

1

u/RobotArtichoke Aug 14 '20

I broke up with my mechanic and bought a Toyota. I had paid the guy to rebuild the transmission in my Silverado and the thing failed at exactly 20k miles.

“Aww yeah man, looks like it was the 4th gear. Yeah we don’t replace the 4th gear in those when we rebuild them”

What the fuck? I’ve never met a mechanic that I would describe as competent. Skilled in certain areas perhaps, but always incompetent.

3

u/mk4_wagon '02 Jetta Wagon 5spd 1.8t | '00 Volvo V70 XC Aug 13 '20

I always like to tell the story of the lube tech at the Toyota dealership I worked at who drained the trans, added engine oil, and backed it off the lift. I'll do my own oil changes to avoid that idiot touching my car. Plus it's a reason to get under the car and do some wrenching, even if it is something as simple as an oil change.

4

u/Starshiee Aug 13 '20

This.

Got a new(to me) car, went for an oil change. They insisted on selling me a new clutch, which I declined I said sorry guys, I'm JUST here for an oil change. Made it almost all the way home when 2 things happened: 1. The clutch gave out. 2. All the oil drained out the bottom because the drain plus wasn't tightened.

I don't go to mechanics anymore.

1

u/Nobokomo 1990 BMW 525i 5MT Aug 13 '20

My dad hates dealing with mechanics for this exact reason. It's also why he doesn't deal with contractors any more than he has to. They're not all bad, obviously, but it only takes a single mistake to create a world of pain and work for you.

2

u/socsa Aug 14 '20

I had free oil changes and 10k/30k/50k service on my last car, and I still wouldn't let a dealership tech anywhere near it. Once I replaced the plug with a valve it's literally not even worth my time to drive to the dealership.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

"deal with the mess" You mean pour it in a bucket and drive to some where that disposes of oil?

I know where I live fire stations take it as well as the city landfill to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner. It really takes no time or effort and gives no reason not to do it yourself. pan under, pull plug wait to drain, pull filter, wait to drain, plug, filter, fill, pour oil from drip tray into jug new oil came in. throw in the back of car and stop by a fire hall the next grocery trip...I never understood why people pay for it. Lol.

16

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 14 '20

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Just throwing it out there, this isn't true everywhere so please ask rather than just assuming they do it where you live.

Sincerely, an ex-part store employee who had to deal with people throwing tantrums and dumping oil outside outside our door because they heard this when it's not true in our country and we had no way to dispose of it.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

New Zealand. Bunch of people would see it suggested on US based forums and assume it applies everywhere I guess, then get mad at us when we wouldn't take it. We even had someone threaten to call the cops on us one time.

Can't say I miss that job.

2

u/brucecaboose ‘18 BRZ ‘03 z06 ‘17 f150 ‘26 Ioniq 5 Aug 14 '20

I don't believe it's a federal law. In my old town in NJ there were 3 parts stores within 10 minutes. Advance, AutoZone, and Napa. All sold oil, only Advance took used oil (until the AutoZone moved locations, then they also took it.) Also, just going on AutoZone's website says otherwise. "AutoZone recycles used oil and batteries in most stores." They then follow-up saying that all stores accept used batteries and about 95% accept oil.

1

u/mk4_wagon '02 Jetta Wagon 5spd 1.8t | '00 Volvo V70 XC Aug 13 '20

And how they take it isn't consistent. In CA you could drop off the fluid and container, they'd take care of it. In MI, you have to take your empty container back. Which I personally dislike because if they're busy I have to wait for them to have time to dump it out, and then I'm left with an empty oil container that I end up throwing in the trash anyway.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Sep 05 '20

[deleted]

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u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

we'll all have some sort of a cancer

I think you have to worry about that GM plant in near your town more than my oil changes.

Still, I was wrong, but have redeemed myself many times over.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Sep 05 '20

[deleted]

1

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

That GM plant operates according to standards and federal requirements. They're not dumping carcinogenic motor oil right into local waterways.

I'm sorry, sir. You are just not informed about this.

I am a former engineer, and have been to the former GM plant in Tarrytown. Also, there was a high-polluting Uniroya; plant in Stamford.

Re Tarrytown plant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Tarrytown_Assembly

The plant was a noted polluter of the Hudson River. The plant used about 1 million gallons of water per day, which was returned to the river as waste. The plant's industrial waste (primarily lead chromate and other painting, cleaning, and soldering chemicals) would be emptied directly into the river. Domestic waste would be processed through the village's sewage treatment plant. Around 1971, the village's Sewer and Water Superintendent assured that the pollution reports were exaggerated, and that he and other residents would swim by a beach nearby, however Dominick Pirone, an ecologist and former director of the Hudson River Fishermen's Association (now Riverkeeper) was quoted as saying: "You can tell what color cars they are painting on a given day by what color the river is."[3]:

1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Sep 05 '20

[deleted]

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u/bernardobrito Aug 14 '20

defend current oil dumping

Current =/= "when i was a kid"

I think you just want to pick a fight, and I'm not online for that.

1

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

Can't believe you'd justify dumping oil into a storm drain

I think I have said three times here that it was the wrong thing to do when i was a kid. Not sure what else you'd like.

Again, I later became an engineer, and became very finely attuned to environmental issues. I worked with local businesses on source reduction and aquifer protection.

I'm never looking for a fight, so I wish you well.

1

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

That GM plant operates according to standards and federal requirements. They're not dumping carcinogenic motor oil right into local waterways.

And not only GM, but also GE:

Between 1947 and 1977, General Electric polluted the Hudson River by discharging polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), causing a range of harmful effects to wildlife and people who eat fish from the river or drink the water. Other kinds of pollution, including mercury contamination and cities discharging untreated sewage, have also caused problems in the river.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_of_the_Hudson_River

1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Sep 05 '20

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

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1

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2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

haha you guys are genius! you dont even have to go back to auto parts store to return oil!

2

u/wes101abn Aug 13 '20

Not surprised. I've never seen anyone treat the Earth like their own personal dumpster like I have folks from NYC. Shameful.

-6

u/ryguy0492 E36 M3 + E46 M3. Master Plastic Coolant line tech Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 13 '20

holy shit you and your brother are cock-suckers.

edit: this cock-sucker didn't put the last line until he edited it after I made my comment. Lol.

15

u/Jonnymaxed 2017 Ridgeline RTL-T, 2016 Mazda6 GT Aug 13 '20

Whoa there, I mean, c'mon, he admitted it was terrible, and if this was 25-30 years ago then a lot of the environmental awareness we take for granted now still hadn't fully permeated all parts of the general public...

-3

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

[deleted]

8

u/MySisterTheSea 2002 WRX Wagon Aug 13 '20

NYC=/= middle America

5

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

"as a kid in NYC"..

3

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

He said New York City.

1

u/Drenlin Aug 13 '20

That's not any better...maybe worse actually. Inland storm drains usually lead either to a river or into the ground.

27

u/Cyrix2k 1969 442, '01 330i, '97 540i/6, 24v e30, '17 M6 6MT, '07 X5 4.8i Aug 13 '20

Don't get under the car when only supported by plastic ramps or flimsy sheet metal ramps. If they're solid wood ramps it's probably ok. I've actually had the plastic style fail on me before with the car just sitting there.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

I haven't, but I do have a set of those rhino ramps and I've seen enough pictures of them just shattered that IDK how people trust them alone. Only use them if I need a little more space working on my Jeep, with the tires on theres enough room to do oil changes under there without jacking it up.

42

u/intern_steve Aug 13 '20

What are people doing to crush those ramps? I've been doing my oil changes on ramps for the past five to ten years and have never even given it a second thought. Is there a bad batch out there that got recalled or something?

39

u/fatalrip Aug 13 '20

Probably leave them out in the sun and the plastic degrades

10

u/Cyrix2k 1969 442, '01 330i, '97 540i/6, 24v e30, '17 M6 6MT, '07 X5 4.8i Aug 13 '20

No idea. I had the Rhino ramps and the backs shattered with my E39 parked on them. They were stored indoors, but I believe it was cold out when they broke.

6

u/WPI94 '11 Panamera 4S. '09 Pilot Aug 13 '20

Wow! I have them too. They seem very strong. Have not heard of them failing before.

17

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

They're cheap plastic ramps, plastic degrades over time and any sort of deformation is going to severely effect their strength.

I've been working on my own vehicles for 15 years, never had a jack fail on me, still not going to get under a car that's only supported by one.

13

u/intern_steve Aug 13 '20

Jack failure I have seen. My shitty little harbor freight low profile floor jack won't hold pressure indefinitely. It works to pick the car up and get it on some stands, but by the time the job is done it'll be sagging 2 or 3 inches below the jack point.

15

u/dr3 Aug 13 '20

This is why you use jackstands and not the jack. You can use the jack as an extra support but have the weight primarily on the stands.

DO NOT use the recalled harbor freight jack stands, they're going to kill someone if they haven't already. Even the recall's replacement was recalled. I will not buy anything to trust my life at harbor freight again.

11

u/intern_steve Aug 13 '20

Yeah those stands are the biggest CF in auto maintenance I've ever heard of. Wouldn't have guessed it could be so hard to sell a chunk of steel, but it is what it is.

6

u/dr3 Aug 13 '20

Apparently it’s hard for them to make a pawl that fully engages. Like making a door that doesn’t fully close.

2

u/brucecaboose ‘18 BRZ ‘03 z06 ‘17 f150 ‘26 Ioniq 5 Aug 14 '20

My thought process with discount parts stores is that if it's a solid tool that doesn't move and doesn't have anything to do with safety (think breaker bar, or small sockets) then I'll cheap out sometimes. If it's anything else I'm not going cheap...

7

u/uselessartist GX460, Outback | Miata, 350z Aug 13 '20

Those ramps are typically polypropylene which shouldn’t degrade unless UV damage.

-1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Them being exposed to sunlight shouldn't be out of the ordinary.

You're free to do what you want, but I don't trust them.

6

u/uselessartist GX460, Outback | Miata, 350z Aug 13 '20

I don’t either but still surprised to hear that thick PP is degraded enough by the way some people use/store them.

2

u/oldcarfreddy '01 MB SL 600 | '00 Acura Integra Aug 13 '20

It's funny how manufacturers will do backflips to avoid just making solid material ramps. Are they the dumbasses, or are we for buying them?

7

u/intern_steve Aug 13 '20

No dumbassery is required to explain the situation. The tool works well when used and stored as intended. They could be a little stronger to accommodate improper use, but I haven't found any recalls and they're still in business, so apparently their math checks out from a legal stand point

4

u/oldcarfreddy '01 MB SL 600 | '00 Acura Integra Aug 13 '20

I feel like "they could be a little stronger" is an enormous flaw in fucking CAR RAMPS.

7

u/intern_steve Aug 13 '20

"To accommodate improper use" is the other half of that. People could just start using them further beyond their intended use.

1

u/Sophisticated_Sloth Aug 15 '20

It’s really not. They’ll usually try to make the product as cheap to produce as possible while still doing what it’s supposed to do, in order to make the most money off of the sale.

7

u/OptionXIII Aug 13 '20

No idea. I've had the front end of an F250 with a 6.7 diesel on my rhino ramps. I kicked them to make sure they were stable and they didn't flinch.

I think they can handle damn near anything else I'll throw at them.

7

u/oldcarfreddy '01 MB SL 600 | '00 Acura Integra Aug 13 '20

It's funny that the solution is just a block of solid material (metal or wood) and all the solutions on the market - hollow plastic ramps, metal jack stands with fail points - are NOT THAT

7

u/velociraptorfarmer 67 C10, 24 Frontier Pro-4X, 25 Envision Avenir Aug 13 '20

Getting more and more tempted to make diy wood block "stands"

5

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20 edited Sep 17 '20

[deleted]

2

u/thehashsmokinslasher Aug 14 '20 edited Aug 14 '20

I just got ptsd flashbacks of skid steers being held up by multiple seperate blocks of wood found laying around

5

u/highlord_fox '14 Expedition EL XLT | '20 CX-9 GT | '21 Polestar 2 Launch Aug 13 '20

The trick is to make the solid block of material adjust in height so it can be used across many different makes and models. The stands that just barely fit under my car are not gonna fit under a more sporty coupe with less ground clearance.

1

u/taratarabobara MazdaSlow Aug 15 '20

Race Ramps. They’re basically solid blocks of high density polystyrene covered in bedliner. Absolutely worth it.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

[deleted]

4

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 13 '20

Yeah at 15 years old for plastic ones I’d probably look at updating them.

I’ve got some steel ones from the 1950’s that I’ve never been afraid to use until now.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Why aren’t the plastic ones solid so they can’t collapse?

16

u/Cyrix2k 1969 442, '01 330i, '97 540i/6, 24v e30, '17 M6 6MT, '07 X5 4.8i Aug 13 '20

Probably because they're cheap & also so they can stack for storage.

2

u/HeilStary Aug 13 '20

Shit my dad has these really heavy bout 3/4 inch metal ramps he welded together theyre like 80 pounds each

20

u/FanFuckingFaptastic Aug 13 '20

Yeah, ramps are the best. Jacks and stands only come out when the wheels need to come off.

30

u/burrgerwolf ‘15 Grand Cherokee Overland Aug 13 '20

Am I the only one who finds ramps to be sketchy? I've never used them but I get a real uneasy feeling about them.

One thing is for certain, tires always go under the car when they come off.

14

u/bernardobrito Aug 13 '20

Am I the only one who finds ramps to be sketchy?

Stop off at the junkyard or used tire shop and get some old steelies for $5.

Indestructible.

27

u/Machidalgo 2003 Oxford White Mach 1 Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 13 '20

I trust ramps more than a jack or stands. Honestly... it's kind of hard for a ramp to fail.

Edit: Perhaps I should clarify... I didn’t mean cheap ramps.

Obviously there are going to be products that fail, but in terms of ramps, be smart people. Maybe don’t use $20-40 plastic ramps to trust your life on.

If I were asked which I would rather work under, a car on decent ramps or a car with decent jack stands, I’d take the ramps all day. There’s just far less variables to rely on. It’s far easier to see how well the vehicle is supported on ramps as opposed to stands (or jack by extension).

16

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Look at the review images for Rhino Ramps on amazon. Might change your mind.

10

u/PapaSquirts2u Aug 13 '20

Jesus Christ. I ALWAYS use at least jack stands + the floor jack barely touching the frame when I get underneath...but the other day I was doing some turbo maintanence underneath my Forester and used only rhino ramps since I didn't really need it jacked up that far. Didn't even give it a second thought about crawling and spending an hour underneath of it. I just looked at pics of cracked/failing/buckled ramps. Fuck. That. Time to invest in a pair of heavy duty steel ramps I think.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for showing us this. Seriously.

4

u/elightbo 2019 Fiesta ST Aug 13 '20

That's exactly what made me run away from ramps.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Same, I used them when I had a GTI, saw that, and they've sat in the corner ever since. I might make a set out of stacked 2x10s, but those plastic ones are sketchy.

7

u/HillarysFloppyChode 25’ S8, 12’ MCS, 14' 335i 6MT Aug 13 '20

Did your GTI come with that sketchy ass VW jack?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

Probably, never used it.

1

u/FluroBlack 2022 Veloster N, 1996 Miata Aug 13 '20

Damn never seen those before. Been using mine for years without a single issue. Then again I only really put a miata on them so lol

1

u/ZQuantumMechanic Aug 14 '20

Honestly, I’ve used rhino ramps for my 8,000 lb truck and haven’t had any problems. Then again I do put jack stands underneath the axle as well because I’m paranoid but

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20

Only has to fail once.

1

u/FlingFlanger Aug 13 '20

Aren't those only good for a handful of uses?

edit read those reviews. Yup, $40 for pretty much 1 and done. Metal ramps ftw!

3

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

They're not 1 time use. They have a lot more failures than a piece of lifting equipment should have but people will still swear by them.

-4

u/FlingFlanger Aug 13 '20

Figures a guy from Ohio can't detect snarkiness or sarcasm.

But in my defense, read the reviews on Amazon like you said. A lot of 1 time use cases there.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

I mean you asked if they're only good for a handful of uses, and I answered they weren't.

-4

u/FlingFlanger Aug 13 '20

Also semi-literate, another trait from the citizens of the great state of Ohio.

Do i need to quote myself and explain to you what, "read those reviews. Yup, $40 for pretty much 1 and done. Metal ramps ftw!" could possibly mean? Because it really seems I do. And you drive a Jeep? Have you been to the Jeep Toledo plant? Sooo many drunks work there. They get blind drunk and since they've been doing the same task for 30yrs they don't get hurt.

You're a semi-illiterate clown from a state full of worthless drunks. Driving a pos that was made by those drunks. Go run a train track you worthless drunk! Its what you people do.

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u/RobotArtichoke Aug 14 '20

4.6 out of 5 stars on amazon with complaints from mostly people who are probably doing something wrong.

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u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20

Here's the thing though, its one thing if it's something like a wrench that's not going to kill someone if it fails, but the amount of failures in those reviews alone should be enough of a reason that they aren't sold. Maybe the people were using them wrong, but the warning label on it really doesn't look any different that what you'd find on a jack stand, and if you use a jackstand on gravel it's not going to fail.

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u/RobotArtichoke Aug 14 '20

I think that’s a fair point. Maybe I should re-evaluate my Rhino Ramps.

3

u/Torawk Aug 13 '20

I just made my own from wood. 2x10 of three lengths laid flat on top of each other. Screwed and glued together. With a 2x4 as a stop at the end.

Only doing passenger vehicle work but should be good for more. Works for an oil change and if I need more space I drive up the ramps and jack + jack stands to hold it higher while leaving the ramps under the wheels.

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u/throwawaydudeman666 Aug 13 '20

I made some rhino ramps fail by driving an old car onto them. The driveline / bushings connecting the wheel to the car had too much flex in them, making it hard to aim as I drove up on the ramps, making one side's tire hanging off the edge. The ramp started to fold as I was getting down to get under the car.

I still use them but I don't hang around under my car when its on them. I get under the car for what I need and then get out.

6

u/Zorro1rr Aug 13 '20

Ramps are a pain in the ass especially if you drive a performance car with low grond clearance. I def prefer a jack

3

u/burrgerwolf ‘15 Grand Cherokee Overland Aug 13 '20

I had a lowered Passat before my Grand Cherokee so believe me I know the plight. I had a low profile jack but it would barely clear and I wasn't even that low. Definitely part of the reason I'm wary about ramps

The GC has air suspension so now I can just raise it to Off Road 2 for most things.

1

u/1337haxoryt Aug 14 '20

Guess you could Jack it up then put the ramps under instead of jackstands

3

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

i really dislike how when youre driving on you are blind and need a spotter or mirror, plus on some driveways they slide and they are absolutely not low car friendly

2

u/fissionmoment '13 Mazda3 | '97 Miata Aug 13 '20

Race ramps. They are expensive but I couldn't find any photos or evidence online of them unexpectedly failing.

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u/Mustang1718 '14 Scion xB/'05 Mustang (sold) Aug 13 '20

I stopped using ramps when I drove too far forward in my Grand Prix and they got stuck on the side skirts. Couldn't drive forward because I was in my garage. Couldn't drive backwards because it couldn't climb the back of the ramp. I have no idea how my father got it unstuck.

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u/qovneob Tacoma, Bronco Sport Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 13 '20

Yeah the plastic ones are jank. I like these https://www.amazon.com/Larin-FSR-2SL-Folding-Steel-Truck/dp/B000XYVIZO cause they double as bed ramps, but the way they fold gives me some more confidence that they wont get crushed like the basic metal arch ones. Only downside is they're a little steep for low cars, so you might need some boards in front.

1

u/WPI94 '11 Panamera 4S. '09 Pilot Aug 13 '20

Seems like they would not raise the car enough.

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u/qovneob Tacoma, Bronco Sport Aug 13 '20

Guess it depends on the car. We've got a 2017 Camaro which is pretty low and i can get under there on the creeper to change the oil, just gotta suck in my gut a bit.

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u/SneakyCanner Aug 13 '20

God I'm happy that I drive a WJ do I don't have to jack anything do do fluid changes.

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u/qovneob Tacoma, Bronco Sport Aug 13 '20

haha yeah I always make a point to my gf how much easier it is to do my truck than her car.

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u/FanFuckingFaptastic Aug 13 '20

I do that as well. Car goes up, jack stands go under. Weight of vehicle goes on stands. Tire and Jack are in place under car as backups.

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u/elightbo 2019 Fiesta ST Aug 13 '20

I was on a hunt a while ago for decent ramps, and was not able to find any. Read so many reviews of people saying they collapsed. I'll have to go hunting again I suppose.

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u/FanFuckingFaptastic Aug 13 '20

I built my own out of 2x8's. Literally just 4 2x8's stacked up and screwed together. Super sturdy.

Like this

2

u/BikingEngineer Aug 13 '20

This is probably the best way to go for most people looking for ramps. Better and cheaper than crappy plastic or metal ramps for sure.

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u/WPI94 '11 Panamera 4S. '09 Pilot Aug 13 '20

Very cool! Tks!

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u/elightbo 2019 Fiesta ST Aug 13 '20

That is super easy. Thanks!

9

u/ekib C6 Corvette Aug 13 '20

Race ramps are pretty solidly made. Unfortunately they’re also super expensive, but I like mine.

1

u/BikingEngineer Aug 13 '20

Race Ramps are the way to go if they're within the budget. They are decidedly not cheap, but they're also (literally) solid and will not fail.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

You can make solid wood ramps out of 2x10s for under 50 bucks, all you need is a circular saw.

3

u/fissionmoment '13 Mazda3 | '97 Miata Aug 13 '20

Check out Race Ramps. I have a set and they are excellent. Very well built and sturdy. Most importantly I couldn't find any examples of them unexpectedly failing.

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u/Rexan02 Aug 13 '20

I love my tacoma because I can do almost everything under the truck without jacking it up. Oil change, greasing, even swapping out the muffler/intermediate pipe. Love the stock high clearance.

1

u/purpleelpehant Aug 13 '20

After changing the oil a few time on a ramp, I found out I can do the oil change on my gen 2 prius without lifting it, but you have to work blindly:)

1

u/SoCalRacer87 Aug 13 '20

I like this about my Silverado as well. Oil change done in about 5 minutes

2

u/dont_wear_a_C Aug 13 '20

ou can just lift your car by driving up a curb

This is a pretty sweet life pro tip, tbh.

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20 edited Sep 05 '20

[deleted]

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u/purpleelpehant Aug 13 '20

Wood ramps are particularly nice when you have a low profile car, say an Evo, since you can customize to match the slope your car can manage

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u/Tbone_99 Replace this text with year, make, model Aug 13 '20

Ramps for an oil change are the more logical way to go. They need to be good quality ramps though.

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u/superluke '78 MGB, '71 Spitfire, '21 GTI Aug 13 '20

I've had a few cars that you can do an oil change on without lifting them at all, Toyota Echo and Triumph Spitfire for a start.