homebuilt service ramps

[bsherrard]

I came across this link while searching for ways to work under my 986. thought others would be interested. (please forgive the vettes in the photos)

Corvette C3 Ramps - Build Home Made Car Ramps

[Doug&Julie]

Pretty cool!

"I sometimes attach a board to keep the ramps aligned when I drive up on them."

I would want to do more than just "sometimes attach a board". Maybe they're far more stable than they look, but I would want to a) tie them together a little more strongly and /or b) have a wider "foot" to the ramps.

Still...cool idea. I like the lights. I wonder if one could run fluorescents along the length of the ramps instead?

[JMatta]

Those look about as awful as the vehicles parked on top of them!

Not sure I'd feel entirely safe having the Box sitting on top of wooden boxes...and me underneath.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by JMatta

Not sure I'd feel entirely safe having the Box sitting on top of wooden boxes...and me underneath.

I agree. While I find these interesting with the lamps underneath, there's no way I would get underneath those to work on the car. At the German Autofest in the past, I used to do something similar with my car. Everyone asked "how did you get it up those ramps". Duh... (floorjack). The nice thing about this is that the car's suspension isn't hanging when it's up in the air, and it looks "correct". I still wouldn't work under a car elevated like that without some backup jack stands.

-Wayne

[Doug&Julie]

What are your concerns? If you can insure their stability, why is this any different than an oil change pit?



Obviously, you wouldn't work on anything suspension related, but most everything else..

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Doug&Julie

What are your concerns? If you can insure their stability, why is this any different than an oil change pit?

I personally prefer steel to wood when supporting cars, particularly here in earthquake country. Even with steel, I would place some additional jack stands under the car.

In the first example, the article shows the construction of these with sheer plates made out of engineered wood. This stuff is made from leftover wood chips that are glued together and then cut into sheets. It's really cheap stuff, and certainly not what I would use for the sides of the ramps. The lifting / driving ramps for this project are attached to the edges with what looks like a 1/2 to 1 inch lip - super easy to fall off (I've had metal ramps without hooks on the end do that). The footprint for each support is very small, and doesn't make me comfortable that it would be safe. Putting a thin tiny spar across the two supports to hold them when the car is being driven up seems flimsy.

The second guy's iteration with the lamps seems much better built, but I still would want to see some steel reinforcement plates inside in order to make me feel comfy about being under the car. It's just not worth the risk.

-Wayne

[bsherrard]

As an architect, we design with wood for structures all the time. We build bridges out of wood. Building a diapraghm structure using 2x's with either plywood or engineered wood is a sound structural system used all the time. Obviously, the 2x's need to located a reasonable distance appart for a structurally sound diaprahgm. When you look at the actual loads at each tire for a boxster, they are pretty small.
That being said, any homebuilt system is limited to the experience and expertise of the person designing and constructing it.

[Doug&Julie]

I definitely agree about the ramps...way to flimsy for my tastes. I would build them with the same structural integrity I'd build into the platforms...which would be significant.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by bsherrard

As an architect, we design with wood for structures all the time. We build bridges out of wood. Building a diapraghm structure using 2x's with either plywood or engineered wood is a sound structural system used all the time. Obviously, the 2x's need to located a reasonable distance appart for a structurally sound diaprahgm. When you look at the actual loads at each tire for a boxster, they are pretty small.
That being said, any homebuilt system is limited to the experience and expertise of the person designing and constructing it.

Yup, I like wood too. But there's a time and place for everything, and I like big factors of safety. There's just something about that setup that doesn't seem very inherently safe to me - I cannot put my finger on it.

I designed and built this deck out of wood, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable parking a car on it and getting underneath:

Wayne's Crazy Deck Project - DONE!!!

-Wayne

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

I designed and built this deck out of wood, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable parking a car on it and getting underneath:

I'd do it with a Boxster. A Cayenne...not so much. Cool deck BTW.