So i lowered my car and now i need a mini ramp

[T2urtle]

I installed my coilovers this weekend, i thought my floor jack was good enough on its own. being i think its 3.75 inches but i guess not. because my pinch weld is lower then the body of the car about an extra inch or so. I needed to get the scissor jack to lift my car off my floor jack so i can pull it out.

So anyways i was looking for what a decent size strip of wood would be needed. I'm not really going to make a ramp. Well maybe i can but right now i'm thinking just lay 2 peices of wood to run over in the front and jack it up. Maybe i might need 4 peices for the rears as well.

My widest summer wheel right now is 18x8.5,245/45/18 maybe i'll run 19x9.5 in the future at the max. winter wheels 17x7. I have a g35 sedan.

My idea was just to go to homedepot/lowes and ask the guy/kid there but i figure you guys have a much better idea.

I was thinking a 24x8x1.5 <~~~maybe 24x8x2 if that size is cheaper to come by.

I'm hoping this is about 5$ each. If this works out great then i might just stick with it. If it wont give me enough lift i might just bolt-on another peice like a 30x8x1


what do you guys this the a good size would be.

For the ones who might suggest me buy rhino ramps or something, i've used them before and i dont like them too much.

 

[jlee]

Just get a couple short lengths of 2x4, 2x6, or whatever you can find.

Wood is measured height/width/length, usually in inches/inches/feet...so you're probably looking for scrap length of 2x8's.

 

[T2urtle]

i was going at length/width /height

I was thinking maybe 2x4's weren't stable enough. Hence why i aimed for 2x8 or 1.5x8

 

[Jensenfc]

These are similar to rhino ramps but I built something like This and love it.

Went to the HomeDepot and found a slightly warped 12 foot 2x12 for 75% off or 50% off cant remember. I would get a 2x12 for added safety because you don't want to roll off the side of it. These work great and are very safe if you don't need to get your tire off like for an oil change. If you always want to use your jack then just build a mini ramp with two steps so you can easily get your jack under it.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Finished wood takes off about 1/4" from all sides, so a 2x8 will be 1.5x7.5.


I have a set of metal ramps, and so does my dad. We never used them though. Mine were free with the house.

 

[thescreensavers]

Also you need to be aware to clear that under body spoiler on the front bumper if you still have it lol.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
i was going at length/width /height

I was thinking maybe 2x4's weren't stable enough. Hence why i aimed for 2x8 or 1.5x8

All you need is something to give you enough room to put the jack under the car - if I need to do that, I just find whatever scrap wood is kicking around. A couple of 2x4's would probably be fine, but if you're going to go out and buy something, I guess you might as well get something about as wide as the tire. Doesn't really make much difference IMHO.

Originally posted by: Jensenfc
These are similar to rhino ramps but I built something like This and love it.

Went to the HomeDepot and found a slightly warped 12 foot 2x12 for 75% off or 50% off cant remember. I would get a 2x12 for added safety because you don't want to roll off the side of it. These work great and are very safe if you don't need to get your tire off like for an oil change. If you always want to use your jack then just build a mini ramp with two steps so you can easily get your jack under it.

It is my understanding that he just needs to bring the car up a couple of inches so he can fit the jack underneath it, after which it would be supported by jackstands. There's no concern about falling off. Unless I am wrong.

 

[T2urtle]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: T2urtle
i was going at length/width /height

I was thinking maybe 2x4's weren't stable enough. Hence why i aimed for 2x8 or 1.5x8

All you need is something to give you enough room to put the jack under the car - if I need to do that, I just find whatever scrap wood is kicking around. A couple of 2x4's would probably be fine, but if you're going to go out and buy something, I guess you might as well get something about as wide as the tire. Doesn't really make much difference IMHO.

yea any wood would work but since i'm paying for it i might as well get something decent. I tried to use bricks the first time i lowered it down because it was slammed to the ground. And well the brick back fired on me because when i rolled up on it it just sprung out. so a normal brick is a no go, maybe if it was longer but i figure the standard brick is 3x8

Originally posted by: Jensenfc
These are similar to rhino ramps but I built something like This and love it.

Went to the HomeDepot and found a slightly warped 12 foot 2x12 for 75% off or 50% off cant remember. I would get a 2x12 for added safety because you don't want to roll off the side of it. These work great and are very safe if you don't need to get your tire off like for an oil change. If you always want to use your jack then just build a mini ramp with two steps so you can easily get your jack under it.

It is my understanding that he just needs to bring the car up a couple of inches so he can fit the jack underneath it, after which it would be supported by jackstands. There's no concern about falling off. Unless I am wrong.

you are correct, i only need it off a couple of inches, i'm not trying to make a ramp. I have no problems using my jack and jack stands. I perfer that method over ramps. Yea the ramps might make it easier and etc. But i want to keep the peices of wood in the trunk as i might need to lay them out on the roads to go around it.

I was thinking 2x12x24 should work. I saw shops use 1x12x12 before or something but i think i need more then that 1. then demon's statement about the 1/4 off each side. if its true i have to aim for 2 or 2.5 tall.

 

[Jensenfc]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
I was thinking 2x12x24 should work. I saw shops use 1x12x12 before or something but i think i need more then that 1. then demon's statement about the 1/4 off each side. if its true i have to aim for 2 or 2.5 tall.

A 2x12 is really 1.5" x 11.25". If you need 2.5" I think you are going to have issues with a single piece of wood which is why I recommended to build a mini ramp with 2 levels. For example the bottom level could have a 15" long piece with a a 8" second piece on top... Although this is 3". You could instead add a 1x12 8" piece which is .75" to make it a little lighter to carry around. So it would look something like this.

xxxxxxxx 2x12 1.5"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2x12 1.5"

Or

----------- 1x12 .75"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2x12 1.5"

Unless you can jump up a 2+" gap in a single step then just make the pieces of wood the same length and forget the staggered design.

 

[T2urtle]

i was thinking of your first option actually.

xxxxxxxx 2x12 1.5"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2x12 1.5"

I could buy a long peice have have them cut it. I'm really hoping to walk away with spending less then $20. Making a 2 level ramp would require me some nails which i hope would be $1-2