Engine Cleaning and Detailing?

Are there any top notch jacks out there good enough to safely eliminate the need for jack stands? I'm extremely nervous about lifting a car; especially after hearing my friend was almost killed doing so. :scared
 
Bill D said:
Are there any top notch jacks out there good enough to safely eliminate the need for jack stands? I'm extremely nervous about lifting a car; especially after hearing my friend was almost killed doing so. :scared
Click to expand...



No, NEVER get under a car without jack stands. :nono Ramps I would say are the safest.



Wayne B
 
Guess I'll continue to twist and turn my way into the spots I want to get at with the car parked like normal. I stay away from jacks and jack stands entirely. I can do most of the exhaust system and I have a variety of long handled brushes to use. Also specifically got large wheels with wide spaces in between spokes so I can easily get my hand through them to wipe them down :)
 
Bill,



Get Rhino ramps. They are pretty light (made of fiberglass composite) and super strong. They are rated at 12,000 pounds. I use them all the time for oil changes and other things I don't feel like dragging the jack out for. I've had my Town Car and Explorer up on them more times than I can remember, never had a single problem. You can pick up a set at AutoZone for about $30. I think WalMart carries them as well.
 
I think those were the kind my car slipped off of. The car also made a big gash in the ramp that slipped.Are the Rhinos black plastic ramps? I did get those at Walmart. If I ever use ramps I have heavy, sturdy metal ones. So far, haven't really needed to use ramps.
 
How could your car possible have slipped off Rhino ramps? They are pretty wide (my big SUV tires fit no problem). Only problem I can think of is you didn't have the tire centered properly, or you turn the wheel or something.



They are black, and made of fiberglass composite. Metal ramps are more dangerous, and very prone to slipping. :nono
 
I have some 2 x 10s that I have cut in 5ft. 4 ft, 3 ft, 2 ft, and 1 ft lengths. The 1 ft. has two wooden stops on each side to keep it from rolling. I feel safer driving up on these than ramps. It works good with lower cars too.
 
Could have something to do with my driveway being slightly slanted. Who knows. Beforehand, I used them on a totally flat driveway with no problem. The one ramp was damaged so I had to get rid of them. I can detail fairly decently without them for now.
 
Bill D- Do whatever YOU feel comfortable with, but, IMO, IF you use a GOOD jack and GOOD jackstands, you can get the car up with complete security and safety. Just get a jackstand under a good, secure point as soon as the car is up high enough to fit it under there.



FWIW, Chuck Mallett's shop ONLY uses jacks and jackstands because HE considers LIFTS to be too dangerous! I know that many might :rolleyes: about that (he and I debated it at length; I had a lift in my old shop and I trusted it completely), but Chuck is a very smart and safety-conscious guy who spends a LOT of his life under cars.
 
Bill D said:
Are there any top notch jacks out there good enough to safely eliminate the need for jack stands? I'm extremely nervous about lifting a car; especially after hearing my friend was almost killed doing so. :scared
Click to expand...



These lifts look safe click here.



If you want something custom made a member of a forum I belong made this one



:xyxthumbs
 
Fidelfs,



Thank you very much for the links. I saved them on my list of favorites. :xyxthumbs
 
Wow. Those DIY ramps are pretty ingenius. I'm surprised there isn't anything commercially available like that. Thanks for the link.
 
ramps.jpg
lo profile ramps



link
 
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