Rhino Ramps [Archive] - Team Camaro Tech

: Rhino Ramps


dschribs
Jun 7th, 10, 10:12 AM
Anyone use these ramps?? Wondering how they compare in terms of safey versus metal/steel ramps.

The fact that Wal-Mart sells them sort of worries me to a certain extent. Also, they don't look like they lift the front end a whole lot.

http://www.rhinoramps.com/8000.html

Are there better choices out there? The higher the lift the better for me.

Also, if I drive up the front of the car on ramps, could I then jack up the rear end and use jack stands under the axle to raise the entire car??

DjD
Jun 7th, 10, 10:48 AM
They work fine... The fact that Walmart sells them is not an issue. They work perfect for oil changes, with the angle of my driveway I can drive onto them and the car is level. Yes you can drive onto them and then jack up the rear and place it on stands.

The only issue I have had is in my garage the concrete floor is real smooth and sometimes the stands will scoot forward as I try to drive onto them.

The height is what it is and makes for easy oil and filter changes. Almost anything else I would need the front end up for would require the suspension to be hanging.

My car sits too low for the floor jack so I drive onto 2 stacked 2x6s then get the jack under the car and raise it. I have thought of using the ramps but don't think my floor jack could get the car up high enough to hang the suspension and hold the tire off the ramp.

Dayton68Z28
Jun 7th, 10, 12:41 PM
I like these. They weigh 10 lbs. Easy to move.

Tom P
Jun 7th, 10, 02:04 PM
They work fine... The fact that Walmart sells them is not an issue. They work perfect for oil changes, with the angle of my driveway I can drive onto them and the car is level. Yes you can drive onto them and then jack up the rear and place it on stands.

The only issue I have had is in my garage the concrete floor is real smooth and sometimes the stands will scoot forward as I try to drive onto them.

The height is what it is and makes for easy oil and filter changes. Almost anything else I would need the front end up for would require the suspension to be hanging.



Agree, I've had a set of Rhinos for a long time.

keypilot
Jun 7th, 10, 02:26 PM
Check out discountramps.com

Steiner
Jun 7th, 10, 06:37 PM
Also, if I drive up the front of the car on ramps, could I then jack up the rear end and use jack stands under the axle to raise the entire car??


That's what I do all the time. I've found that's also a safer way to get the car even higher in the air if you're going to jack it up since you are jacking the front up with it already at a higher point so there's not so much imbalance between sides with one side way up in the air. No issues with mine for years even when using them with an '05 Hemi Durango that's pushing three tons.

Gary L
Jun 7th, 10, 07:01 PM
....
Are there better choices out there? The higher the lift the better for me.

Also, if I drive up the front of the car on ramps, could I then jack up the rear end and use jack stands under the axle to raise the entire car??

I bought the steel ones from NAPA. I like them because they stack. I put he rears on the ramps and jack the front. I am not sure the front spoiler would clear the ramps.

68 Ragtop
Jun 7th, 10, 07:59 PM
Also, if I drive up the front of the car on ramps, could I then jack up the rear end and use jack stands under the axle to raise the entire car??

This is not recommended. When you drive up the ramp, part of the weight is supported by the ramp and part is transferred to the opposite end of the car.
If you jack up the opposite end you transfer the weight back to the ramp and could overload it.
Sure, people do it all the time, but people get crushed by falling cars all the time too.
If you do jack up the opposite end, put some jack stands under all 4 corners before you get under there.

Steiner
Jun 7th, 10, 08:43 PM
Rhino makes two sets of ramps that are readily available. One set is rated at 8000 lb gvw and the other is 12,000 lb gvw or 4000/pr and 6000/pr. Either is sufficient to hold up a Camaro while jacking. There is no danger in jacking up the rear end with the front on ramps as there is no more than approximately 50% of the weight on the front end until the rear end starts to be elevated above the front, or the car centerline begins to shift beyond parallel. Even with the lower rated ramps they are not overloaded with a Camaro if you stood the car on its nose on them.

DjD
Jun 7th, 10, 09:04 PM
This is not recommended. When you drive up the ramp, part of the weight is supported by the ramp and part is transferred to the opposite end of the car.
If you jack up the opposite end you transfer the weight back to the ramp and could overload it.
Sure, people do it all the time, but people get crushed by falling cars all the time too.
If you do jack up the opposite end, put some jack stands under all 4 corners before you get under there.

Not sure I grasp this as the ramps are rated for combined weight of 4000lbs so even if the entire weight of the car could be loaded onto the front tires balanced on 2 ramps you are not exceeding the limit unless the car weighs more than 4000 lbs...

I understand on an incline some weight will transfer to the lower end of the object but going back to the ramp rating they are designed to carry 4000 lbs in pairs... You would have to jack the rear up real high to take and transfer say 25% of the cars weight and place it on the front of the car. That would still be well within the load limits if the car weighed 4000 lbs.

At that I will agree if someone isn't comfortible with the safety aspect it never hurts to take additional safety measures. I always buy jacks, stands and ramps with a higher weight limit than what I feel is safe for the use.

Think about all this with stands too, if you put the front on stands and jack the rear it's no different than doing it with ramps up front...

68 Ragtop
Jun 7th, 10, 10:42 PM
Not sure I grasp this as the ramps are rated for combined weight of 4000lbs so even if the entire weight of the car could be loaded onto the front tires balanced on 2 ramps you are not exceeding the limit unless the car weighs more than 4000 lbs...



Its not my recommendation, its the manufacturers.

http://www.rhinoramps.com/safety.html

It probably has something to do with safety factors and product liability.

Gary L
Jun 8th, 10, 07:55 AM
With all due respect to Rhino, this set of instructions looks like a lawyer wrote it. It is ridiculous to think a weight rating is any different if the car is on an incline or not. The rating is the rating. The only way the rating could be exceeded is for one end of the car to be higher than the end using the ramps. Ramps are more secure than stands. I woul personally buy the heaviest rated set.

Dayton68Z28
Jun 8th, 10, 08:28 AM
You can also build your own ramps....
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp64/ddsayeriv/th_ramp01.jpg (http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp64/ddsayeriv/?action=view&current=ramp01.jpg)

rj68RS
Jun 8th, 10, 12:13 PM
I too have a set of the Rhino ramps. Use them for the Camaro and for my sons' Focus. One thing I do is put a piece of 1x6 x24" long in front of the ramps in order to clear my front spoiler. My Wal-Mart didn't carry them so I got them off eBay for ~$35.00 including shipping.

I really liked the 2pc race ramps but can't justify their platinum plated price for $20.00 worth of injection molded plastic.

dschribs
Jun 8th, 10, 04:48 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I'll grab the heavy duty set just for the extra piece of mind.

musclecarjohn
Jun 9th, 10, 03:57 PM
I have a set of those I use for my DD Focus,works out perfectly for oil changes.

Speedjester
Jun 9th, 10, 04:13 PM
I have a set.. I love them.. they are great for low cars.. and can handle some weight... I use them to work on my Ram2500... I know I like the extra room:D