Driving up on 2x8s

[dishdude]

I needed a little extra room to get under the car to change the oil, and a 2x8 under each tire did the trick. It was tight, but a little more room would have been nice. I'm thinking of doubling up next time so there are two under each tire. Do I have a death wish or should I stick to one?

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Use two of them screw them together and cut a 45 on them for a drive up ramp. They work just fine been there done that.

 

[Dyusik]

I have a stack of 4x12s just for that.

 

[JamesBond]

I use 2-3 different size, shape mis-matched boards for this stuff. The boards were just what I had on hand at the time and I've been using them for years.

I always set the parking brake and chock the front and rear of a back wheel. To me it feels safer than ramps or even jack stands.

Plus it's lower than ramps so there is less fluid splash and it's less likely to be blown by wind.

 

[craigq]

Screw and glue, you'll be fine, chemical and mechanical bond. Just watch for the wood splitting over time.

Edit: with wide tires like that maybe consider 2x10's or 2x12's ?

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by dishdude
I needed a little extra room to get under the car to change the oil, and a 2x8 under each tire did the trick. It was tight, but a little more room would have been nice. I'm thinking of doubling up next time so there are two under each tire. Do I have a death wish or should I stick to one?

a death wish driving up on 3.5" of wood? Dramatic much?

 

[JLTD]

Originally Posted by craigq
Screw and glue, you'll be fine, chemical and mechanical bond. Just watch for the wood splitting over time.

Edit: with wide tires like that maybe consider 2x10's or 2x12's ?


Yup; I'd be using 2x12s, stack them 3-4 high. Easy to make a gradual slope that high but might as well get some ramps at that point!

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted by philipp10
a death wish driving up on 3.5" of wood? Dramatic much?
Wouldn't that be 3" of wood?

Just make the next two 6 inches longer than those and make them the bottom. A layer of plywood between when you screw them together will keep everything together if any crack. Nothing unsafe about solid wood.

 

[Linctex]

My grandpa made some wood ramps back in the 70's out of 2x12's.

They weigh about 80 lbs each, but will hold a 20,000 lb truck.

Google "wood car ramps" and you'll find all kinds of fun stuff

 

[Danno]

2 - 3 stacked would work fine, wood compression strength is "huge" for what you're doing.
I would add a 2"x3" stopper block at the front edge so you know when you're far enough.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Make yourself some Pine-O's.

 

[PimTac]

I do exactly that with our vehicle. I have two 2x12 slabs screwed together.

I'm not sure what you mean by death wish. Do you think the wood is going to collapse?

Cut the ends with a 45 degree angle as JJ mentioned.

 

[4WD]

I started with 3 layers … but added two more …
Glued and screwed in this case is gorilla glue and 3" screws …
I don't use treated lumber for best bond …

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by AZjeff

Originally Posted by philipp10
a death wish driving up on 3.5" of wood? Dramatic much?
Wouldn't that be 3" of wood?

Just make the next two 6 inches longer than those and make them the bottom. A layer of plywood between when you screw them together will keep everything together if any crack. Nothing unsafe about solid wood.


lol...I'm old. 2 x 4's used to be 1 3/4" thick Sonnyboy

 

[PimTac]

I would make the bottom board longer so it extends forward. That will prevent the boards from kicking up if you drive forward too far.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted by philipp10

a death wish driving up on 3.5" of wood? Dramatic much?


I've never had to raise a car up to change oil, but that chin spoiler only has 7" of ground clearance and to reach the drain plug and rear fasteners for the splash shield I was pretty far under the vehicle and it was right on my chest. My concern is the second 2x8 splitting, but with pre-drilling the screws and being careful not to split the wood I'm thinking I'll be good to go. I was checking out these race ramps, but they are probably overkill.

 

[benhen77]

I've got a set of Race Ramps and love them. Feather light, don't slide around (as long as you sweep the dirt out from where you put them). I don't worry about getting my head crushed when I'm changing oil. Wood ramps work fine, they're just more of a hassle to lug around the extra weight.

 

[Hall]

Even if (and that's a big "if") the wood splits, so what ? It's not going to explode outward and allow the car to drop .... a whopping 1.5" down.

 

[supton]

Can you get a floor jack under the car? If worried, just lift and set down on a stack of boards, under the frame or other good location. That is what I've been doing lately, I have several pieces of 2x8 that I zipped into foot long pieces, and use as cribbing instead of jack stands.

 

[4WD]

Ok for motor oil but differential and transfer case fill ports might not agree ...