Drive on ramps--plastic vs. steel

[deepNdirt]

I don't really like the idea of Plastic holding a vehicle up while I'm underneath, But thats just me, However I do like the full ground contact they have, the car is supported throughout the ramp, rather than like a bridge from the front to rear of a traditional steel ramp, I've been using a set of stamped steel ramps for 30+ years and trust them more so than when using hydraulic jacks, although when I do have need to get the car higher I'll use my Jacks in combination with Jack stands for an extra safety precaution,
I've seen the folks using the plastic ramps at cars shows to raise the car enough to display the underside with mirrors etc,etc, so if they trust them enough with their classic cars I suppose they should be safe enough,

 

[JDgreen227]

I don't really like the idea of Plastic holding a vehicle up while I'm underneath, But thats just me, However I do like the full ground contact they have, the car is supported throughout the ramp, rather than like a bridge from the front to rear of a traditional steel ramp, I've been using a set of stamped steel ramps for 30+ years and trust them more so than when using hydraulic jacks, although when I do have need to get the car higher I'll use my Jacks in combination with Jack stands for an extra safety precaution,
I've seen the folks using the plastic ramps at cars shows to raise the car enough to display the underside with mirrors etc,etc, so if they trust them enough with their classic cars I suppose they should be safe enough,

BUT, do the classic car owners get UNDER the vehicles to WORK on them....I personally don't care of a ramp fails as long as I am not under it at the time....I am going to Menards in a half hour, will look at the plastic ones then.

 

[Baby Grand]

I've looked at these, too. My concern would be temperature and UV exposure effects. They might be OK when new, but fail as they age.

I don't really like the idea of Plastic holding a vehicle up while I'm underneath, But thats just me, However I do like the full ground contact they have, the car is supported throughout the ramp, rather than like a bridge from the front to rear of a traditional steel ramp, I've been using a set of stamped steel ramps for 30+ years and trust them more so than when using hydraulic jacks, although when I do have need to get the car higher I'll use my Jacks in combination with Jack stands for an extra safety precaution,
I've seen the folks using the plastic ramps at cars shows to raise the car enough to display the underside with mirrors etc,etc, so if they trust them enough with their classic cars I suppose they should be safe enough,

These two sum it up for me. If I have doubts about the steel I can always weld some more to it to stiffen it up. Plastics products that I've used in the past have had a nasty tendency of deforming under load and/or getting brittle as they age.

 

[deepNdirt]

BUT, do the classic car owners get UNDER the vehicles to WORK on them....I personally don't care of a ramp fails as long as I am not under it at the time....I am going to Menards in a half hour, will look at the plastic ones then.

Yeah I doubt many of them actually wrench on their own cars
I guess while new modern cars are being build with more plastic, someone thought all would be required is a lighter weight ramp built from plastic as well I remember back when I was young broke & foolish using 8" cinder block with a length of 2x10 to hold up a '63 1/2 galaxie and I lived through that

 

[JDgreen227]

Yeah I doubt many of them actually wrench on their own cars
I guess while new modern cars are being build with more plastic, someone thought all would be required is a lighter weight ramp built from plastic as well I remember back when I was young broke & foolish using 8" cinder block with a length of 2x10 to hold up a '63 1/2 galaxie and I lived through that

From what I saw of the ramps at Menards, I might use them for my 3000 pound tractor but my 6000 pound truck...nope.

About weight of new cars...I had a 1970 Mustang Mach 1, with a full tank of gas it weighed almost 3500 pounds. That was with a 4 speed and no AC. My current '04 Lesabre is only about 300 pounds heavier with a full tank. You would think that with all the plastic and thinner steel they put in today's cars they would weigh less, but with all the options (AC, power windows, seats, locks, etc) and all the safety gear (airbags, stability control, big bumpers, etc) built in really add up the weight despite the lighter, cheaper materials. Compare the inside rearview mirror on the 1970 Mustang to the one on my Buick, which has Onstar, auto/dimming/compass/etc built in.

 

[George2615]

BUT, do the classic car owners get UNDER the vehicles to WORK on them....I personally don't care of a ramp fails as long as I am not under it at the time....I am going to Menards in a half hour, will look at the plastic ones then.

I do work on my classic cars but no longer use ramps. As I got older I got tired of laying on my back on the ground to work on cars that were up on ramps. In 2002 I built my garage and made it high enough for a lift. A few years later I sold one of my motorcycles and bought a 2 post lift for the garage.

When I did have ramps I used steel ones that had extra cross bracing.

I haven't really looked at the plastic ones to see if they look strong enough.

 

[JB4310]

From what I saw of the ramps at Menards, I might use them for my 3000 pound tractor but my 6000 pound truck...nope.

I wont try to talk you into the plastic, but I am more comfortable with them compared to the metal. The rating is the rating, not sure what the average cheap metal ramp is rated at. But even if they were rated the same, IMO the boxed construction of the plastic one pretty much eliminates a catastrophic failure, like one of those metal ones could possibly experience.

The metal ones rely on those side braces and and a couple of small screws that hold them together, that's where a serious failure could occur IMO. Plus as someone mentioned much more ground contact area with the plastic.
As soon as I saw them I felt more comfortable about using ramps again.

I would definitely get the 12K ones, cost 20 bucks more maybe but are rated 3K each. Half your truck should be around 3K so you would have a 2x safety factor plus whatever the safety factor of the ramp is.

Like Diamond P mentioned I don't need ramps for my truck, but have been using them with the old mini van, the Jeep and my Subaru.

Another good thing is they don't make that horrible sound when you move them around on pavement or concrete and the stand up nicely for storage.

I've only had mine for a month or so but so far I would recommend them....

Well I guess I am trying to talk you into them

JB

 

[mbrule]

I don't like the plastic or metal. I use progressively shorter 2x8s stacked and nailed like a set of stairs, cheap and I find them easier to get a vehicle on without a help as I can count the "steps" on the way up and know when I am on the top.

 

[flusher]

I think they are talking about ramps to drive a car onto to get under it (like this) rather than ones to load something with.

Aaron Z

Yep. That type also comes in aluminum.

RV & Semi Truck Wheel Risers

 

[JB4310]

Yep. That type also comes in aluminum.

RV & Semi Truck Wheel Risers

I like the 10" lift on those, but a little pricey.

JB