Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,

Would you put your van on these and lie under it:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... ink:top:en

Or, could you recommend an alternative, please?

Am I right to look at 2.5T ones (1.25T per ramp) or would 2T be fine (panel van tin top with just a RnR bed in it)?

Thanks,
Stu

Neither of them are strong enough.

You need to look for ramps that are each rated to carry the whole weight of the van on their own i.e. 3T per ramp. Then if one of them fails while you are underneath the other one will continue to hold the van up.

clift_d wrote:Neither of them are strong enough.

You need to look for ramps that are each rated to carry the whole weight of the van on their own i.e. 3T per ramp. Then if one of them fails while you are underneath the other one will continue to hold the van up.

Thanks.

Unladed weight is 1320kg according to this:


Given some of that will be at the front wheels on the floor (accepting that the van is rear-biased in the weight distribution), I'm not sure you'd ever need 3T per ramp. I don't think I've ever seen 3T per ramp ratings - do you know who makes them?

Cheers,
Stu

you asked for a personal opinion, so yes I would be happy to use the 2,5 t ones.

The way I think about it this, you are not supporting the total weight of the van.... on each wheel you support a percentage of it, the front to rear isnt divided 50-50 so you cant just divide the weight by 4.

Tyres arent weight loaded for the whole van so why should a ramp need to be. If one ramp collapses then that wheel is now resting on the ground, so the other one isnt taking the whole weight now either , in fact is never will.

I would however be careful who makes them, and only buy from a known manufacturer , better than some chinese unknown,

Just my opinion, make your own mind up when it comes to safety !

Don't think I've seen them either - most ramps are max 1250Kg each. I prefer to use axle stands instead - you can get a pair rated at 3T per stand i.e. 6T per pair of stands for around £30 on fleabay - Sealey for example. If you use them, don't forget to properly chock your other wheels before you go underneath.

Belt & braces me. If I run the van up on the ramps, I put axle stands under (depending on the work) as well. I really can think of better ways of dying than being crushed by the van.

Thanks All. Totally agree re belt and braces approach to such things. I have axle stands already so will use them as well. Regards, Stu

Ian and Lins wrote:Belt & braces me. If I run the van up on the ramps, I put axle stands under (depending on the work) as well. I really can think of better ways of dying than being crushed by the van.

Same here and big "feck" of tree stumps wedge under it too.

I prefer blocks of wood but I do use standard ramps as said its only taking less than half the total weight and more stable than axle stands
I jack the van and lower onto the ramps one in each direction so its never rolling off

i made made my own ramps same as in pic but more heavy duty and higher,have have served me well for 25 years.

fill the center of the ramps with timber to make them solid when being used

Let's be honest though, with the ground clearance on these vans, if a ramp did fail, you still wouldn't get squashed!

DavidPallister wrote:Let's be honest though, with the ground clearance on these vans, if a ramp did fail, you still wouldn't get squashed!

you say that, but I have eaten A LOT of pies !



I do agree though.



I am quite safety concious, and always use axle stands and chock the wheels, but the other weekend I nearly rocked a car off the stands whilst fitting an exhaust... scared the bejesus out of me... I hadnt chocked the wheels both ways... just against the slope of my drive. lesson learnt!

These look the nuts... eyes angle iron prices...

http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thegasman2000 wrote:These look the nuts... eyes angle iron prices...

http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They do look great, though sadly at a price