7.5 degree ramp

[RobinB5]

For those, like me, who aren't fortunate enough to have a ramp or any other method of lifting her up sufficiently to work under her, short of jacks and axel stands, I've been thinking about a simple low cost approach.

For an S4 (maybe S4s and GT3?) the angle between the bottom of the front wheel and the foremost front side of the plastic lower bumper trim is 7.5 degrees:

I'm thinking a solid wood ramp made to this angle could be secured to a garage floor and the car driven up this ramp. A stopper of some sort at the front edge of the ramp put in to ensure it doesn't go too far. Once driven up there, the rear could be jacked up and static wooden stands placed under the rear wheels to the same height. Point being that the car would be level and, with a front ramp length of ~1m, the raised height would be ~ 15 cm. Longer the ramp, greater the height. Not rocket science. Gets round the hassle of jacking up the front if you don't have a very long nosed jack.

I'm hoping that the standard 15cm height  + another 15cm would be enough even for the most portly of people to slide under and e.g. remove the oil filter.

Think I'll give it a go unless someone points out the utter ludicrousy of such an idea!

[Barrykearley]

What about a couple of nice sleepers

[RobinB5]

Yep, could carve the necessary gradient out of them. Or to be safe bolt 2 together for each side!

[Barrykearley]

Could they be used on a Porsche?

[Chillidoggy]

I bought some off E-bay to get the car up onto my scaffold boards. Search for plastic car ramps.

 

 

[RobinB5]

Thanks Ian. Should have figured such a thing is a thing already!! Will try to find a pair with a low enough angle but high enough step.

[Chillidoggy]

2 hours ago, RobinB5 said:

Thanks Ian. Should have figured such a thing is a thing already!! Will try to find a pair with a low enough angle but high enough step.

 

I use these, although I got a better deal off EBay for four of them.

https://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=24849

 

[MJON]

5 hours ago, RobinB5 said:

Thanks Ian. Should have figured such a thing is a thing already!! Will try to find a pair with a low enough angle but high enough step.

Yep, you’ve just invented low rise car ramps 😖 they are even cheaper on Amazon app £27 and a lot lighter than a pair of sleepers 👍

[RobinB5]

But only seem to go up to 70-80mm. For 150mm will have to make my own, with a somewhat longer length!

[Barrykearley]

3 seconds in - I’m sure that’s an esprit 🤭

[Escape]

Before we had the workshop rebuild I just drove my Esprit on a set of blocks if I need to get underneath to change the oil or such. So it will definitely work, just make sure the ramps/blocks can't move as you drive onto them (fine on a coarse surface, not on a smooth garage floor). 8cm was plenty for me to get underneath with the oil pan.

[snowrx]

If you have scrap plywood about, its a simple matter to stack progressively shorter pieces to get the slope and height you need. I bolted a piece of angle iron to the end as a stop to prevent rolling too far.  I just need a few inches to get my floor jack under the car with this set, but you could go higher as needed.

[RobinB5]

@snowrx, what a simple great approach!

[philcool]

Or a pair of steel 4x2 painted channel with white paint mixed with sand on the top for grip and cut out to hook straight on to the ramps and can be lifted out the way once up.

Just remember to replace before driving back down nearly happened 😅

[DaKa]

I like your design more that mine as it appears more secure with the slots.

 

[exeterjeep]

5 minutes ago, DaKa said:

I like your design more that mine as it appears more secure with the slots.

Also looks to be quite narrow so more difficult to ensure that you are  lined up ok. Made some for my evora from some staggered  lengths of chipboard and their width is close to the width of the tyres.

[drdoom]

and . . . in any case when reversing off the ramps be sure to proceed slowly so as not to bottom out the airdam.

Cheers

[philcool]

Yes they are a bit narrow but all I do is place them in the middle of the tyre and line them up and back you go.

They are a bit heavy duty but nice and stable and easily lift off the ramps once up and also fit the Halford ramps as well 

[Paul93Lotus]

Race Ramps in the USA sell some great low profile ramps - they are plenty wide and made of some aerospace polymer.  They have a texture on them similar to truck bed spray on the outside to keep them positioned/stop sliding.  Esprit readily backed on to them to do a oil change.  Coming from the front may be a slightly more challenging - angle of attack is really tight with the front lip.  They come in two pieces so you can remove the front portion and have more room to slide underneath.

At first I was hesitant about the price, but now that I have them oil changes go real quick and no drama with a jack.  Wish I had bought them sooner.  Also they are relatively light - so no heavy wood or metal to drag around.

www.raceramps.com