Car Ramp hack (or terrible idea)???

[GRW]

Ok... I have a decent set of wide, shallow(ish) sloping drive-up car ramps. Even though they are better than most basic ramps - they'll still "push" away instead of let the wheel climb.

It's a PITA finding ways to chock/brace that's reliable.... so I've had an idea that I've not heard if anyone doing (but seems obvious & a "good idea" once its dawned on you.... but is it?).

I've thought to attach something to each ramp base, that can be run out so both sets of wheels run over them, and so the weight of the van anchors the ramps, preventing them from moving away from the wheels you want to raise. Using 2 ratchet straps hooked onto the ramps & run out flat seem like an ideal piece of kit to make the anchors.

Any thoughts anyone? I can't see why it'd not work... but am I missing something fundamental here? I don't want to go wrecking something.

TIA, G.

 

[bourbon]

Rubber belting, folded over the bottom 'rung' of the ramp and extended so you drive on that first.

 

[Kram]

I can imagine it being difficult to get the straps the same and so one will push forward more than the other.

Drill a pair of 16mm holes in drive for each ramp and drop a pin to stop it pushing forward?

I was given a pair of old ramps but they are too narrow for any car in the last 40 years.

 

[OJCar]

I used two 2m lengths of poly rope, tied to the bottom rung at the middle of the rope.
As rope is same length from ramp to front tyres you start climbing the ramps at the same time.

 

[mr haynes]

I tend to use like big axle stands. Jack up a side and place under wheel. Saves trying to figure out where you are

 

[Agroshield]

You are re-inventing the spades used on Scammell and AEC army recovery trucks.

If you did not want to drill into your driveway, a sheet of ply, 400mm longer than the ramp (so the car wheels are on the ply before the tyre touches the ramp) and a 4" x 2" stop block well-screwed to the ply at the back would do the job.

 

[GRW]

You are re-inventing the spades used on Scammell and AEC army recovery trucks.

If you did not want to drill into your driveway, a sheet of ply, 400mm longer than the ramp (so the car wheels are on the ply before the tyre touches the ramp) and a 4" x 2" stop block well-screwed to the ply at the back would do the job.

I tend to find the ramps skid away on the concrete when the wheel is on the upslope - hence the thought that anchors that were under the other axle would arrest the skid at the critical point.

 

[colnerov]

It depends whether it's front or rear wheel drive as to the length of the addition to go under the driving wheels. Lengths of chain, strap, carpet or anything else similar.

 

[GRW]

I just tried this out (I've some work to do, maybe removing the very heavy & not-needed towbar amongst a couple if other things) - using my one ratchet strap and a length of blue nylon twine on each ramp.
Backed straight up first time with zero slippage or drama .
(It's made easier by having a nice pair of ramps with a smooth surface and a longer shallow(er) incline. I picked these up for £30 a few months back off FBMP).

 

[8ob]

I've thought to attach something to each ramp base, that can be run out so both sets of wheels run over them, and so the weight of the van anchors the ramps, preventing them from moving away from the wheels you want to raise. Using 2 ratchet straps hooked onto the ramps & run out flat seem like an ideal piece of kit to make the anchors.

That works, so does rope, a roll of carpet, conveyor belt rubber or chain. RWD motors are worse, FWD less so.
Beaten to it by @colnerov
Bob

 

[Migmac]

I was thinking a bit of rope would be good

 

[bourbon]

Nick mead at Tanks a lot uses a chain when they do the car crush with a tank. the tracks roll onto the chain and that holds the car in place so the tank can climb up onto it

 

[Keithmac]

I'd go with the plywood.

I've jacked all sorts up on 18mm Marine Ply with no issues.

 

[Agroshield]

It depends whether it's front or rear wheel drive...

...and which axle you are putting on the ramp. In that respect, every vehicle is both front and rear (or both) drive.

 

[Robotstar5]

My dad used offcuts of carpet folded round the bottom "rung" of the ramps.

 

[PhillipM]

I just have a flip out bit of sheet attached with two little hinges either side so they fold away when not using the ramps, drive on the sheet, weight is on the ramp, ramp can't get pushed.

 

[GRW]

This is what I did earlier with the fwd Renault Master (with a length of light nylon rope on the other side, but I think 2 ratchet straps would be easier as I can just run under my ramps and hook on to the folded lip on top at the back).
The ramps are much better (bigger & wider and a proper surface) than the angle-iron ladder basic ones I had before. They were too small, too steep and a royal PITA to get a vehicle on.

 

[frank horton]

I just attached a piece of plywood to the bottom of the ramps same'ish width BUT around 300mm longer than the ramp......
that way the wheels are on the plywood before the tyres hit the ramps....

 

[gaz1]

oh i dont like yours they are way too short at the flat edge

i dont drive up them any more its far easier to jack with a hydraulic trolley jack and put the ramp under the wheel tyre instead but it needs a double lift on one of the wheels first and thats easy enough done with some wood blocks to go half the height of your ramp

then its jack the other side up to the full height of your ramp fit it under the wheel tyre and lower it down then fully lift the other side to the max height and do the same with that one

 

[GRW]

oh i dont like yours they are way too short at the flat edge

Sorry gaz1, but I don't follow what you mean there. "The flat edge"??