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Vehicle maintenance ramp

simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
edited December 2001 in General Discussion
I want to build a ramp to drive my vehicles onto so that I can change the oil, etc. without having to low crawl on my back.I was thinking about two railroad ties as runners and telephone pole sections as the main support. Then use 4x4s as cross members.Any better ideas?
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Comments

  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    go to wally world,$19.99
    when all else fails........................
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How high are you planning on getting the vehicle? And, if I understand correctly on your idea of building it, you dont have anything to keep the tires centered other than you, which, if you're going high, isnt a good idea, I'd hate to see you hurt yourself or the vehicle. And if you've got a heavy vehicle, consider the weight on the frame of your ramp, and how stable is the ground, do you need to put in concrete footings? Wet weather can be hell on an otherwise stable structure, especially if you drive on it when the ground is saturated. Just my 2 cents worth of thought.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • Matt45Matt45 Member Posts: 3,185
    edited November -1
    If you have the time and $$$, you can build a "hot-pit". Simply put it is a concrete trench about 5 1/2 Feet deep. Big Bucks though.
    Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!!
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  • REBJrREBJr Member Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most everyone around here has one. Mad of RR ties and power poles like you said. just find a dropoff or short bank and go for it. no more than about 3-5 feet though. I'm sure youll hear everything on here, but who changes oil in the damn rain anyway. and the 20 dollar walmart ramps will get ya killed boys, dad just had a set where one krelled over.
    Nothing very, very good or very, very bad lasts for very, very long.
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Simon, I'm not refuting Reb's opinion of changing oil in the rain, I dont either, but a lot of people will do what ever they please the day after the rain came, and the ground may be thoroughly saturated the day after, which is why I stated what I did. I am always looking after the other guy, I'd really hate to see anyone get hurt due to a senseless accident, just be careful, especially under your vehicle. Once you've had a close call, you wont take it for granted anymore, and I've had one, and I am MR. SAFETY, but everyone screws up. Good luck.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the concern Sarge, I know what you're sayin'. The place I'm thinking of building is off of a gravel road that goes from the house to the shed. Its a bank exactly like what Reb is talking about. I use those little ramps from Wal-Mart now. They're not high enough for me.I was planning on putting the poles about two feet in the ground with Quickcrete. With the ramp coming off the bank, there won't be much of an incline, but I will still chock all four tires in both directions. I haven't thougt about the sides though, any suggestions for that?
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    1 4x4 attached to each side of the ramp, above the ramp, so the entire 4x4 is going to cause the tire to bump against it, letting you know you're too far left or right, the bottom of the 4x4 would be flush with the top of the ramp, and the top of the 4x4 would be above the level of the ramp, follow me? The 4x4 would run the entire length of the ramp, how you attach it is only limited by your imagination, you can also use something else other than the 4x4, but I would go with something along those lines.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
    edited November -1
    I'm trackin', sounds good, thanks.
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  • bartobarto Member Posts: 4,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    PLEASE use treated wood (ground contact).otherwise use concrete.remember, it might be your grandchildren using it when tour gone (heaven forbid).
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