Surface for working on car in dirt

[SarcasticDwarf]

Well I rented a new place that is awesome except for one little problem...it does not have so much as a carport. I have plenty of property (several acres) to work with.

I am trying to brainstorm ways to safely jack up and and work on the car without getting covered in dirt. I figure that if nothing else I can just throw a tarp down. But how do you deal with needing to jack up and work on a vehicle sitting on uneven ground outside that is subject to typical winds and stuff?

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I usually throw down a sheet of plywood that I can lay on. I just put the jacks and stands on the dirt, but I find a level spot. You can also put the jacks on plywood pieces, that helps if you have 3/4" wood, but its somewhat expensive.

 

[Eli]

I know your pain. My driveway is pea gravel. Worst surface to wrench on evAr. D:

I tend to go to a friends place who has a big concrete pad.

If I must do it at home, I also have a full sheet of plywood that I use.

 

[vshah]

just out of curiousity, how much would it cost to pour down a 10x20 slab of concrete?

 

[Safeway]

just out of curiousity, how much would it cost to pour down a 10x20 slab of concrete?

You can do it mostly yourself. My father and I dug and formed up a gigantic covered parking pad, laid down our own rebar and reinforcing mesh, dug and placed footings for an above-ground car lift, etc. We did everything except mix the concrete.

We called a Readi-Crete truck (not pre-mix, but mix on site) and had those guys float the pad, dig the expansion joints, etc. We needed a couple of Readi-Crete trucks due to location and the size of our pad. (Residential.)

Then my father and I erected the steel support structure, attached a wood head board, assembled and lifted the rafters and joists and risers, and clad the 3/4" plywood sheathing with a nice tin roof.

A lot of work, yes, but much cheaper than hiring someone to do it.

For your purposes, dig out a few inches of dirt, throw down some sand, get rebar and rebar risers. Form up the border of the pad with 2x6s. Call a concrete truck. Float. Done.

 

[Safeway]

just out of curiousity, how much would it cost to pour down a 10x20 slab of concrete?

For cost, add up the rebar and form costs. You will need 4 yards of concrete for a 10' x 20' x 6-inch pad. That pad is 100-cubic-feet, and 4 yards is 108-cubic-feet. You might have some losses, so plan accordingly.

4 yards should cost $350 to $500, depending on your source.

 

[Zap]

Before doing all that, check to make sure you don't violate any zoning or permit laws. Sometimes you just have to file some paperwork and pay a nominal fee. For instance I remember my parents adding a patio to the back of their house - needed a permit with the city.

 

[manimal]

I know sometimes situations warrant it but working on dirt with jacks is risky. A guy from a local Indiana car enthusiast forum died last year working in his back yard. I think he was rural and was on an irregular surface.


If you need to get your significant other to buy into spending money to add concrete talk about safety!!!

I told my wife I needed my first lift. And my second.

 

[Meghan54]

Work on dirt surfaces myself, unfortunately. Cardboard sheets work well to protect yourself, easier to maneuver than plywood. I also use a rubber truck bed liner that I bought for $10 from a junkyard. Again, easier to use/maneuver/store than a sheet of plywood.



Use these jackstands as they solve the problem of the typical jackstands sinking into the dirt....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BHV0MC/ref=oh_o00_s01_i00_details

 

[Plugers]

I recommended pouring a pad also, I poured concrete for 15 years if you have any questions (my Dad started me at 11in the summers /weekends, thanks Dad)

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I probably should have mentioned that this is a rental (though hopefully long-term). It would not really look right, but I am kinda tempted to see if the landlord would be willing to go 50/50 on pouring a pad for a single car. The property has something like a half circle driveway of bare desert dirt, so it would only look right it you paved the entire thing.

That would at least allow me to work safely, even though I would not have a full garage.

Aha, found a pic!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/SarcasticDwarf/Untitled2.png

 

[Safeway]

I probably should have mentioned that this is a rental (though hopefully long-term). It would not really look right, but I am kinda tempted to see if the landlord would be willing to go 50/50 on pouring a pad for a single car. The property has something like a half circle driveway of bare desert dirt, so it would only look right it you paved the entire thing.

That would at least allow me to work safely, even though I would not have a full garage.

Aha, found a pic!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/SarcasticDwarf/Untitled2.png

Where the fuck do you live? The Mexican border? Are you a meth cook? JW.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Where the fuck do you live? The Mexican border? Are you a meth cook? JW.

lol no, just happens to be 3 acres on the edge of town. There is a several square mile area where all the houses happen to have 2-10 acres. All the homes around this one are 3000+ sf.

 

[Safeway]

lol no, just happens to be 3 acres on the edge of town. There is a several square mile area where all the houses happen to have 2-10 acres. All the homes around this one are 300+ sf.

Ah, ok. It looks like something out of Breaking Bad.

When you say the other homes are 300+ square feet, are you implying that this house is smaller?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Ah, ok. It looks like something out of Breaking Bad.

When you say the other homes are 300+ square feet, are you implying that this house is smaller?

3000 damnit!

This house is more like 1500sf.

 

[manimal]

I probably should have mentioned that this is a rental (though hopefully long-term). It would not really look right, but I am kinda tempted to see if the landlord would be willing to go 50/50 on pouring a pad for a single car. The property has something like a half circle driveway of bare desert dirt, so it would only look right it you paved the entire thing.

That would at least allow me to work safely, even though I would not have a full garage.

Aha, found a pic!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/SarcasticDwarf/Untitled2.png

If I lived there I would spend every free moment on a dirt bike. That looks like some sweet terrain for adventure riding~!

 

[KeithP]

I probably should have mentioned that this is a rental (though hopefully long-term). It would not really look right, but I am kinda tempted to see if the landlord would be willing to go 50/50 on pouring a pad for a single car.

I wouldn't offer 50/50 at first. Offer to pay the entire cost of the pad up front, out of your pocket, but to discount the rent evenly over the next 12 or 24 months for whatever it cost you. That way, you aren't out any money and the owner gets a long term improvement to his property with no upfront cash out of his pocket.

-KeithP

 

[43st]

I have a gravel driveway and similar problem. I have a couple pieces of 3/4" plywood that I use to spread out the point-load of the jack onto the gravel. For the jack itself the plywood is 12" wide by 3' long. For the jack stands I have two 24"x 24" pieces. I don't feel comfortable putting the entire car on stands, but I'll do front or rear with the above set up. I have a large piece of cardboard that I put down for myself to use.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I have a gravel driveway and similar problem. I have a couple pieces of 3/4" plywood that I use to spread out the point-load of the jack onto the gravel. For the jack itself the plywood is 12" wide by 3' long. For the jack stands I have two 24"x 24" pieces. I don't feel comfortable putting the entire car on stands, but I'll do front or rear with the above set up. I have a large piece of cardboard that I put down for myself to use.

I have been thinking that if I go this route I maybe get a railroad tie or something equally sturdy to totally block the entire end. That way even if it does shift it would not fall all the way?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I wouldn't offer 50/50 at first. Offer to pay the entire cost of the pad up front, out of your pocket, but to discount the rent evenly over the next 12 or 24 months for whatever it cost you. That way, you aren't out any money and the owner gets a long term improvement to his property with no upfront cash out of his pocket.

-KeithP

Good point.

 

[SonicIce]

Aha, found a pic!
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc168/SarcasticDwarf/Untitled2.png

wow cool where is this

 

[Plugers]

Can you do a keystone shape where the walk hits the driveway? That wouldn't look bad.