ramps

[gw84]

('99 lumina) This is a kinda stupid question, but I was wondering if anyone has any tips on the subject. I've got a set of vehicle ramps that I want to use when changing my oil. However, when I tried to use them, I ran into a problem. My car sits so low that the front and bottom of my bumper will rub on the ramps before the tires begin to climb them. I guess there is a large distance between the front of the vehicle and the tires OR my ramps are too steep. Is there any way to keep the bumper from rubbing? I'm having trouble uploading photos or I would post one to better show what I'm trying to describe. Thanks again.

[jeffcoslacker]

I use ramps sometimes and have the same issue. I found the lower valance will deform enough that it's not a problem to run up the ramps, but you could always just lay some 1.5" thick boards ahead of the ramps to pick it up up a bit before it starts climbing....

[gw84]

great! thanks for the advice. I guess the boards would make the climb less steep. I believe you that the valance would deform, but I'd rather not risk it.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by gw84

great! thanks for the advice. I guess the boards would make the climb less steep. I believe you that the valance would deform, but I'd rather not risk it.

Just so we're clear....I'm not suggesting you reramp the ramps with boards...that would be asking for trouble. I'm just saying to run the wheels up on something just thick enough to to raise the car an inch or two before it starts climbing the ramps.

With my '97 if I put the ramps up to it, they will only slide back to within about 8-10" of the front tires when they jam against the bottom of the bumper cover...now I have just gone ahead and drove it up on them, and like I said it just squashed the valance out of shape a bit as it moved foreward, but then rebounded back fine...but I found all I had to do to get the bind off was lay two one foot sections of 2x4 in front of the tires, drive up on them, then slide the ramps under, and they will butt right up against the tires while only making light contact with the lower valance (no squashing)