Ramps or jacks?

[zerosoma]

What do you use when you change your oil.

I use ramps as they are easier, you just drive up on them, no need to place jackstands or worry about a jack. I just set the E-brake once on the ramps and crawl under. I used to put wheel chocks behind my rear wheels but I learned that it's not really ncessary and usually does more harm than good because I forget they are back there... usually means I reverse and the wheel chocks go flying out and hit something! Haha! I have one out of a pair left now.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thankfully, on our current cars I use neither. Both get their filters and oil changed with an oil extractor from the top.

On our old Jetta I was using ramps.

 

[eljefino]

Ramps all the way. I don't like chipping the paint on my pinch welds for stands or even the perception of twisting the body lifting one corner at a time then lowering on an unnatural resting spot.

 

[HerrStig]

Driving an front wheel drive up a set of ramps can be tricky. I actually sprinkle a little sand on mine.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

A KwikLift. I drive onto it, raise the vehicle, and it's high enough so I can sit on the floor under a car.

 

[bigjl]

I use axle stands and a jack most of the time. I don't have a drive just a parking space by my garage otherwise I would use ramps, with something permanently in the ground to stop the ramps sliding when driving up.

I should perhaps look into buying better ramps to stop that.

If the car is going to be in the air for more than an oil change i will put the ramps up in the car park space by my rear fence as then I can wedge the ramps against a small kerb.

I am trying to convince the wife to let me put a hard standing in the garden, that would make my life much easier.

I used to work with a bloke who bought a house and when he was moving his junk into the garage be found it has a fully lined out inspection pit in the garage, with a proper cover aswell.

He always was lucky like that!

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Driving an front wheel drive up a set of ramps can be tricky. I actually sprinkle a little sand on mine.


Really? I just back up 6 or 8 feet and give 'er one good gas and usually it's up on the ramps. I've only went over the ramps once or twice.

 

[matt922]

My car is kinda low and i needed a good floor jack anyways. You can do everything with a jack, but a set of raceramps is kind of specialized and $$$.

my car has a beefy front subframe that i can use to jack the whole front end up anyways.

 

[MrQuackers]

Lumber.

 

[KD0AXS]

For cars I use ramps, but with my truck I don't need anything. More than enough room to get under there without lifting it up.

 

[randomhero439]

Two jack stands up front and two floor jacks in the rear, i rotate my tires while my oil drains.

 

[KrisZ]

One floor jack and one jack stand. That's all I need for an oil change. I used ramps before and I don't like them.

 

[electrolover]

I have a pit in my drivway. Just like the jiffy lubes!

 

[JHZR2]

I like ramps. No excessively large thing like a lift, nor something that has less stability and potentially damages the underside/coatings of the vehicle for something as benign as an oil change...

 

[robshelton]

Floor jack and stands all the way. There is always a good place to jack the vehicle up, not using the pinch welds as mentioned above. However, if you use ramps, a neat trick to keep them from slipping on the floor is to use old rubber floor mats from the car under the ramps.

 

[rich mds]

Used to use just ramps until I epoxy my floor. So I have had to resort to floor jack and ramps as my jack stands.

 

[mmack66]

Rhino Ramps.

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Driving an front wheel drive up a set of ramps can be tricky. I actually sprinkle a little sand on mine.


I wouldn't think that sand would offer extra traction for an application like that.

 

[LeakySeals]

Floor jack, no stands. Leaks a little. Not lifting the thing off the ground, just enough to reach the bolts and filter. Somebody gave me rhino ramps, they slip on the concrete here. Another guy gave me some steel ramps from the 1970's. They weigh over 50lbs a piece. A little rusty but going to try them.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Jeep - doesn't need a ramp / jack.

Focus I use large wood blocks and wedge shaped blocks to get on them. More stable than the ramps.

 

[Hyde244]

Jacks and chocks for the wheels on my Focus.