Tools & Fabrication - DIY Ramps how to

My ramps are awesome DIY ramps and if you have a lowered car with wide tires these are a must have especially to do alignments.

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/2.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/3.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/31-1.jpg


http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/11.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/111.jpg

The tops of the bases are 11" wide by 20" long and raise the car 9". The bottom part of them are 11" wide by 24" long. Mine are nearly all wood I had lying around and you can do the math to figure out that is a lot of feet of 2x4s!

The risers or actual ramp part is 54" long and the tops of them are 2x10s. The reason for the little hunk of 2x6 at the top is because a 10 foot 2x10 was quiet a bit cheaper then a 12" 2x10 so I just added on to it. The boards under the deck are 2x4s laid on their side. Using them alone raises the car 5".

Everything is screwed together with LOTS of 2 1/2" sheet rock screws.

They are very stable and I feel really comfortable under them. If you want to add a safety feature you could put a little tab down on the riser to lock it into the base. Or you could go up from the base into the riser. I was planning on doing that but never did. I've used these for years and never had one move.

The dents you see in the top of them are from using them as jack stands. Often when I have it up on the ramps and pull a wheel I just kick the ramp under the car and set it on it. It's the perfect height to sit right on the jacking point of the car or under the K member. I should patient these puppies!

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/95.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/94.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/96.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/97.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/98.jpg

By the way the trick to getting the risers cut exactly right is put the tops up on a 2x4 and scribe a line on your riser boards like so:
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/99.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/1065.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/100.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/101.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/102.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/103.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/104.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/105.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/106.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/107.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/108.jpg

For little stuff or oil changes I use just the riser part which is the main reason I never put the tab in them that would lock them to the deck.

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/109.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/110.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/112.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/113.jpg

What are those 2 chunks of wood on the back side of the risers for support? Measurements please? And would you make them longer?
Also whats the measurement of the piece that sits under the risers on the base?

sorry to be off topic , but, are your fog lights stock?

Looking good, paint them and I bet they last forever!

These are cool, saw them in another thread of yours. I will probably make something like this. Do you think the ramps could be steeper without being longer? I would want more of a lift.

i just builded me set today..used some of your idea.lol

What are those 2 chunks of wood on the back side of the risers for support? Measurements please? And would you make them longer?
Also whats the measurement of the piece that sits under the risers on the base?

I put those little 2x2s in there about a year after I made the ramps for a little extra lateral support. Mostly for when I am just using the risers as ramps. You wouldn't really need them if you put enough screws in the top.

No I wouldn't make them any longer. They are plenty long and a nice gradual incline to put the car up on.

These are cool, saw them in another thread of yours. I will probably make something like this. Do you think the ramps could be steeper without being longer? I would want more of a lift.

Yeah I think you could go up one more level with the same length easy. That would give you 10.5" of lift but I have never thought it necessary except once. When I put my headers in I had the car up on the ramps then jacked it up another 4.5" from there with blocks on the ramps. For the last 3 Camaros and last half dozen years these have worked fine at 9"

sorry to be off topic , but, are your fog lights stock?

The little lights on the outside are stock. I think they are part of the SS package? If you are talking about the 2 shiny things right in the center by the license plate those are brake duct inlets not lights.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/1572847-diy-brake-ducts-less-then-20-bucks.html#post16605601

Nice build... only thing I'd add is better lateral support than only those 2 little blocks on the ramps.

I like this design! Mine are 2x10s sandwiched on top of each other getting shorter and shorter as you go up. Then I also built a stand of all 2x10 to use if I need to go in under the side or get the trans out.

BUT...mine are EXTREMELY heavy. After a day of working, they are a bear to move around or store. Yours not only look lighter, but being two pieces would make them easier to stash too.

I might re-vamp my ramps and go with this idea. Been wanting to make a new set that are more user friendly. Plus I can steal some 2x10s from my ramps, and 2x4s are cheap enough.

Thanks!

J.

I like this design! Mine are 2x10s sandwiched on top of each other getting shorter and shorter as you go up. Then I also built a stand of all 2x10 to use if I need to go in under the side or get the trans out.

BUT...mine are EXTREMELY heavy. After a day of working, they are a bear to move around or store. Yours not only look lighter, but being two pieces would make them easier to stash too.

I might re-vamp my ramps and go with this idea. Been wanting to make a new set that are more user friendly. Plus I can steal some 2x10s from my ramps, and 2x4s are cheap enough.

Thanks!

J.

mine are like this!!! i share your thoughts...they are heavy as hell...

My Rhino ramps are shit and want something that has a lower angle and is wider. Like what I see here. I might incorporate some of these ideas into my plans. One question I have is what type of wood do you buy from the store? I don't have a saw or anything so I will have to have it cut there and then bring the pieces home to put together.

mine are like this!!! i share your thoughts...they are heavy as hell...

They are lighter for sure then planks and easier to store in pieces but the best thing is being able to get rid of that riser for easy access.

My Rhino ramps are shit and want something that has a lower angle and is wider. Like what I see here. I might incorporate some of these ideas into my plans. One question I have is what type of wood do you buy from the store? I don't have a saw or anything so I will have to have it cut there and then bring the pieces home to put together.

All of what you see there I had lying around except the riser tops. The only reason they are 11" wide is because I had a pile of 2x4s that were cut to 90" and I could get 8 cross bars out of each one.

If think I was going to start from scratch I would probably use a 2x6 on edge for the center 2 layers rather then so many layers of 2x4s. But to answer your question this is all just basic framing lumber that any lumber yard could cut down for you. Just draw out what you want to do on paper and figure out how many of each length you will need. The lumber yard in my little town (pop. 1200) doesn't charge for cuts but I bet places like home depot does so you better watch that.

The other thing you might do is go talk to your local high school wood shop teacher. If he is like the one in my town he is always looking for easy projects like this and you would might be able to get these made for the cost of the wood.

Good luck!

Rhino's are onlym 40 bucks and they are lighter

Rhino's are onlym 40 bucks and they are lighter

:huh: Sure I really enjoy piling up the shims to get lower cars on and working around the risers that are totally in the way to do anything like SFCs or a clutch. I wouldn't trade you if mine cost twice that.

nice post. Fred and Lamont would be proud.

That is very ingenious. Nice job!

:huh: Sure I really enjoy piling up the shims to get lower cars on and working around the risers that are totally in the way to do anything like SFCs or a clutch. I wouldn't trade you if mine cost twice that.

My car is lowered and rolls right up.
I use my lift for big jobs , you out'a try one
I wouldn't trade any tools I own , ever.
Of course i don't go for ghetto solutions.:swing:

My car is lowered and rolls right up.
I use my lift for big jobs , you out'a try one
I wouldn't trade any tools I own , ever.
Of course i don't go for ghetto solutions.:swing:

Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to contribute to the discussion.

Your Welcome.

Bringing back an oldish thread. Do you have any pictures of the clearance of the back bumper when the car is raised up all the way on the tallest ramps? I'm worried my trans am bumper is gonna drag the ground.

I'm sorry I don't and the car is put away for the year. There is about 2 inches to the pipes and 4 to the bumper I would guess. That orange floor jack you see in my alignment thread just fits under the back of the car with it up but just barely.

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/charchri4/DIY%20Alignment/16.jpg

Here is the alignment thread
http://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/1565421-diy-poor-mans-wheel-alignment.html

Nice, I made my own also!

Nice write diy