Car Ramps: Your Guide to Safe Vehicle Lifting

When it comes to performing maintenance on your car, having adequate clearance underneath is often essential. Whether you're changing the oil, inspecting the exhaust system, or tackling brake repairs, getting your vehicle safely off the ground is the first hurdle. While hydraulic jacks and jack stands are common tools for this task, automotive ramps offer a compelling alternative. Used correctly, ramps can be a faster, easier, and often safer method for lifting your car, especially for those with lower-slung vehicles where jack points can be tricky to locate. This guide will walk you through the process of using car ramps effectively, ensuring you can get your vehicle up and ready for work with confidence.

Why Use Car Ramps?

Car ramps provide a stable and elevated platform for your vehicle. Unlike jacks that require precise placement on designated jack points, ramps generally allow for a more straightforward approach. You simply drive your car onto them. This can be particularly advantageous for:

• Low-profile vehicles: Sports cars and other vehicles with minimal ground clearance can be difficult to get a jack under without damaging the bodywork or undertray. Ramps offer a gentler incline.
• Ease of use: For many, driving onto ramps is more intuitive and less physically demanding than jacking up a car.
• Speed: In many cases, it’s quicker to position a car on ramps than to jack it up and secure it with jack stands.
• Safety: When used correctly, ramps provide a broad, stable base, reducing the risk of a vehicle falling compared to a poorly placed jack.

Choosing the Right Ramps

Not all ramps are created equal. It's crucial to select ramps that are appropriate for your vehicle and the tasks you intend to perform. Consider the following:

• Weight Capacity: Ensure the ramps have a weight capacity that significantly exceeds your vehicle's gross vehicle weight (GVW). It's always better to err on the side of caution.
• Material: Ramps are typically made from heavy-duty plastic (polyethylene) or metal (steel or aluminium). Plastic ramps are lighter and often more affordable, while metal ramps are generally stronger and more durable.
• Height: Consider how much clearance you need. If you're just changing oil, standard ramps might suffice. For more involved work, you might need higher ramps.
• Length and Incline: Longer ramps with a gentler incline are better for low-clearance vehicles to prevent scraping the front splitter or bumper.
• Width: Ensure the ramps are wide enough to comfortably accommodate your tyres.

Preparing to Use Your Ramps

Before you even think about driving onto the ramps, proper preparation is key to a safe operation. This includes:

1. Choose a Level Surface

This is paramount. Never attempt to use ramps on an uneven or sloped surface. A flat, solid surface, such as a concrete garage floor, is ideal. Any incline, however slight, can cause the vehicle to roll off the ramps or become unstable.

2. Gather Your Tools and Safety Gear

Beyond the ramps themselves, you'll need:

• Wheel Chocks: These are essential for preventing the rear wheels from rolling.
• Gloves: To protect your hands.
• Safety Glasses: To protect your eyes from debris.
• Jack and Jack Stands (Optional but Recommended): Even when using ramps, having a jack and jack stands as a backup safety measure is highly advisable. If you need to perform work that requires the vehicle to be much higher, you may need to use these in conjunction with or instead of ramps.

3. Position the Ramps

Place the ramps directly in front of the front wheels you intend to drive onto them. Ensure they are aligned straight with the direction of travel. Most automotive ramps have a slight dip at the top, or a bump stop, or both, to help stabilize the vehicle with the wheels in the correct position. Make sure the ramps are fully extended and seated correctly on the ground.

Driving Onto the Ramps: Step-by-Step

This is the most critical phase. Take your time and proceed with caution.

1. Secure the Rear Wheels: Before driving forward, place sturdy wheel chocks firmly behind the rear wheels. This is a crucial safety step to prevent the car from rolling backward once the front is elevated.
2. Engage the Parking Brake: Put your vehicle in Park (or first gear if you have a vehicle with a manual gearbox). Firmly engage the parking brake (handbrake).
3. Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Approach the ramps at a slow, steady pace. Your goal is to drive the vehicle smoothly up and onto the ramps without any sudden acceleration. Aim to position the front wheels so they rest against the top stop or bump stop on the ramps. Most automotive ramps are designed with a slight dip or a raised stop at the top to ensure the wheels are correctly positioned and stabilized.
4. Spotter Recommended: If you have a friend or family member available, have them act as a spotter. They can stand outside the vehicle and guide you, watching the tyres' position on the ramps and ensuring you don't overshoot or miss the ramps entirely. This is especially helpful if you're doing this for the first time.
5. Gentle Throttle Control: When doing this for the first time, be prepared to stop quickly in case you accidentally apply too much throttle. Either keep one foot on the brake pedal, or one hand on the e-brake lever. If your car has a manual transmission, use your left foot to feather the clutch pedal. The key is to use just enough power to get the car up the ramp without spinning the wheels or lunging forward too quickly.
6. Confirm Wheel Placement: Once the vehicle is on the ramps, ensure the front wheels are resting securely at the highest point of the ramps, against the stop. Check that the tyres are centred on the ramp surface.

Securing the Vehicle on Ramps

Simply driving onto ramps isn't enough for safety. You need to ensure the vehicle is immobilised.

• Engage Gear and Parking Brake: With the car on the ramps, ensure it is still in Park (or first gear for manual) and the parking brake is firmly engaged.
• Insert Wheel Chocks: If you haven't already, ensure wheel chocks are securely placed behind the rear wheels.
• Consider Jack Stands (Highly Recommended): While ramps provide a lift, they are not a substitute for jack stands for certain types of work. For maximum safety, especially if you'll be working under the vehicle for an extended period or performing heavy-duty tasks, place jack stands under the vehicle's frame or designated jacking points. You would typically use a jack to lift the vehicle slightly more, position the jack stands, and then lower the vehicle onto the stands. This creates a much more robust safety system. If your ramps are designed to also support jack stands, ensure you use those features.

What to Do If You Don't Have Ramps

If you find yourself needing to lift your car and don't have ramps, you'll need to use a different method. If you'd rather raise your car or truck using a hydraulic jack and jack stands, follow this guide instead. This involves identifying the correct jacking points on your vehicle's chassis, carefully lifting the vehicle with the jack, and then placing jack stands securely under the frame to support the weight.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a straightforward tool like ramps, mistakes can happen. Be aware of these common pitfalls:

• Using Ramps on Uneven Surfaces: As stressed earlier, this is a recipe for disaster.
• Driving Too Fast: This can cause the car to bounce, miss the ramps, or damage the ramps or vehicle.
• Not Chocking the Rear Wheels: A vehicle can easily roll off ramps if the opposite end isn't secured.
• Overshooting the Ramps: Driving too far up can cause the front wheels to go over the end of the ramps, which is extremely dangerous.
• Using Damaged Ramps: Always inspect your ramps for cracks, breaks, or excessive wear before each use.
• Relying Solely on Ramps for Heavy Work: For tasks requiring significant force or where you'll be spending a lot of time under the vehicle, always supplement ramps with jack stands for maximum safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use car ramps on gravel?

It is strongly advised against using car ramps on gravel. Gravel is an unstable surface that can shift and cause the ramps to move or sink, compromising safety. Always use ramps on a hard, level surface like concrete or asphalt.

How do I know if my car will fit on the ramps?

Check the specifications of your ramps, particularly their weight capacity and width, and compare them to your vehicle's specifications. Also, consider the ramp's incline angle and your car's ground clearance to ensure the front bumper or splitter won't scrape.

Is it safe to work under a car on ramps?

When used correctly and with proper precautions (like chocking wheels and engaging the parking brake), ramps can be safe for basic maintenance. However, for enhanced safety, especially for longer jobs or those involving significant force, it is highly recommended to use jack stands in addition to or instead of ramps. Always ensure the vehicle is stable before going underneath.

What if my car is very low to the ground?

For very low-profile cars, you might need specialized low-profile ramps that have a shallower incline angle. Alternatively, you can use a low-profile jack to lift the front of the car just enough to place wooden planks or blocks under the ramps to increase their effective height and reduce the approach angle.

Conclusion

Car ramps are an invaluable tool for any DIY mechanic, offering a convenient and often safer way to gain access to the underside of your vehicle. By understanding how to choose the right ramps, preparing your workspace meticulously, and following the correct procedure for driving onto them, you can confidently tackle a wide range of maintenance tasks. Remember, safety should always be your top priority. If in doubt, always opt for the most secure method, which often involves using jack stands in conjunction with your ramps.