Better floor jack for lowered car
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 47
From: Noblesville, IN
Better floor jack for lowered car So my camaro is pretty low, and as many of us have experienced, trying to fit a floor jack underneath the front end to lift the k-member for service is a PITA because of the plastic air dam. I've tried a bunch of solutions. I have a harbor freight "low profile long reach" jack, but even that is too tall once you get to the part where the hydraulics live to fit. What I've done the last few times I needed the car in the air was jack up one corner and put a few 2x4s underneath the wheel, then jack up the other side and do the same, then finally jack up by the k-member. (Lowering the car is the same process) As you can imagine, this is an absolute pain and takes 3x longer than I really feel like it should.
I tried some ramps, but they have just slid all over the place, and the ones that are meant for lowered cars still don't raise the nose high enough to get a jack in there.
Anyone know of a jack somewhere (or have any ideas) that will fit? It's getting to the point where I don't want to work on the car because getting it up and down is such a process.
And before anyone suggests a lift... I rent, so drilling holes into my garage floor isn't an option, and the ceiling in my garage is incredibly low, so even "short" lifts won't clear the garage door.
I tried some ramps, but they have just slid all over the place, and the ones that are meant for lowered cars still don't raise the nose high enough to get a jack in there.
Anyone know of a jack somewhere (or have any ideas) that will fit? It's getting to the point where I don't want to work on the car because getting it up and down is such a process.
And before anyone suggests a lift... I rent, so drilling holes into my garage floor isn't an option, and the ceiling in my garage is incredibly low, so even "short" lifts won't clear the garage door.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
I've made little wooden ramps about 15" long and 2" tall that I drive my car onto before jacking it, I also made some for a few of my f-body friends...
Drive the car just short of where you want to work on it, put the ramps in front of the tires, drive up and then jack it like it is a normal car.
Surprisingly my Taurus SHO is actually more of a problem stock than my lowered f-bodies that I can't get on my rhino ramps which are no problem with my f-bodies.
Drive the car just short of where you want to work on it, put the ramps in front of the tires, drive up and then jack it like it is a normal car.
Surprisingly my Taurus SHO is actually more of a problem stock than my lowered f-bodies that I can't get on my rhino ramps which are no problem with my f-bodies.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 10
I just drive up on some diy wood ramps. Seen ones that are stepped but mine are just like 12x2 with an angle cut on one end and bout 2' long. Think the weight of the wood helps, you could try to add some weigh to your current ones or w/e
i got the aluminum steamroller wheel 1.5ton blue silver aluminum jack from harbor freight when it was on sale for 60$ for my c5 and other use. The bigger iron jack with big wheels would get stuck once lowered. They have the expensive low profile jacks which id prefer but since im somewhat disabled froma car wreck i was forced into the light aluminum jack.
This is a cost vs function type of equation. You can either buy an expensive jack or expensive race ramps. The decision might be based on which one you feel you'd use more often.
Trending Topics
So my camaro is pretty low, and as many of us have experienced, trying to fit a floor jack underneath the front end to lift the k-member for service is a PITA because of the plastic air dam. I've tried a bunch of solutions. I have a harbor freight "low profile long reach" jack, but even that is too tall once you get to the part where the hydraulics live to fit. What I've done the last few times I needed the car in the air was jack up one corner and put a few 2x4s underneath the wheel, then jack up the other side and do the same, then finally jack up by the k-member. (Lowering the car is the same process) As you can imagine, this is an absolute pain and takes 3x longer than I really feel like it should.
I tried some ramps, but they have just slid all over the place, and the ones that are meant for lowered cars still don't raise the nose high enough to get a jack in there.
Anyone know of a jack somewhere (or have any ideas) that will fit? It's getting to the point where I don't want to work on the car because getting it up and down is such a process.
And before anyone suggests a lift... I rent, so drilling holes into my garage floor isn't an option, and the ceiling in my garage is incredibly low, so even "short" lifts won't clear the garage door.
I tried some ramps, but they have just slid all over the place, and the ones that are meant for lowered cars still don't raise the nose high enough to get a jack in there.
Anyone know of a jack somewhere (or have any ideas) that will fit? It's getting to the point where I don't want to work on the car because getting it up and down is such a process.
And before anyone suggests a lift... I rent, so drilling holes into my garage floor isn't an option, and the ceiling in my garage is incredibly low, so even "short" lifts won't clear the garage door.
Someone suggested quick jacks. I don't know how finicky the bleed procedure is, after initial setup, but if frequent re-bleeding isn't necessary, and you have the room to stow it away when not in use, quick jacks might be the way to go.
Last edited by lees02WS6; May 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 333
From: Wilmington, De
I have been in the same jam for a long time. I have a low profile Sunex jack, and it does make it past the air dam, but it's tight. I usually end up lifting one side by the subframe connector, tossing a bottle jack there, and then moving the sunnex jack under the k-member. I do that because the k-member is powder coated and don't want to screw it up. I put a piece of wood between it and the jack.
Someone suggested quick jacks. I don't know how finicky the bleed procedure is, after initial setup, but if frequent re-bleeding isn't necessary, and you have the room to stow it away when not in use, quick jacks might be the way to go.
Someone suggested quick jacks. I don't know how finicky the bleed procedure is, after initial setup, but if frequent re-bleeding isn't necessary, and you have the room to stow it away when not in use, quick jacks might be the way to go.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 54
Likes: 5
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
Built some drive up ramps using 2x10's, I think they're maybe 12 inches high. After you drive up onto them you can remove the ramp section completely so you can work everywhere and they aren;t in the way. Wasn't more than $40.00 for wood and screws.
Basically, exactly like this. Except mine are held together by locking hooks so I can completely remove the ramp part, instead of having permanent hinges on them. I use the ramp part as a step if I need to rewach further into the engine bay.
Basically, exactly like this. Except mine are held together by locking hooks so I can completely remove the ramp part, instead of having permanent hinges on them. I use the ramp part as a step if I need to rewach further into the engine bay.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
I like the ramps because I don't like to dig that factory scissor jack out of the car each time and putting it back too. Ramps are always sitting on the floor and really in the same place. If one day I want to work on the car as I pull into the garage I just drive up onto them. Then when I'm done, drive off and leave the ramps sit there till next time. They sit in one place on thin rubber mats so they cannot move unless you really push them hard or lift them up a bit to slide them. I have an outline where they sit so at a glance you can see if they moved at all.
I use a combination of homemade 2x12 wood ramps and the harbor freight low profile jack. Ramps slide on the epoxy shop floor but not on concrete. In the shop I have a pair of cheap floor mats I lay on top of the ramps so the tires roll on the mat then drive up the ramps. Since the tires are pushing down on the mat they won't push the ramps forward unless I hit the back stops. With the price of lumber at the time the wood ramps cost a couple hundred bucks and an hour of time.
This works on my C5, lowered Tahoe, lowered fbody and everything else so far. The process of pulling these out of the corner, then lining up ramps with mats and tires, then getting back in to drive up the ramps, then getting a jack under it, then placing jack stands, then FINALLY start working on it.... yes PITA. With the front end supported on the ramps I still have enough room under the rear to get the jack under there.
This works on my C5, lowered Tahoe, lowered fbody and everything else so far. The process of pulling these out of the corner, then lining up ramps with mats and tires, then getting back in to drive up the ramps, then getting a jack under it, then placing jack stands, then FINALLY start working on it.... yes PITA. With the front end supported on the ramps I still have enough room under the rear to get the jack under there.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I get the struggle with jacking up a low Camaro. Been there, and yeah, it’s a serious hassle. Using 2x4s to get the car high enough is clever, but I agree, it’s way too much work. Honestly, what worked for me was investing in a super low-profile jack. Some brands make ones that are extra slim with better reach— pricier than the usual Harbor Freight options, but they’re worth it if you’re regularly working on the carAnother idea is to use car ramps nz. They’re great because you can drive right onto them, and they give you enough clearance to slide a jack under the k-member without all the lifting and shuffling.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 619
Likes: 309
From: Haslet, TX
I have this one. I love it. I love the control and it is secure. I just threw my car up on jack stands on Saturday. It had no trouble lifting the front of the car or the rear end. I am finding I use this more than my floor jack.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 534
Likes: 85
I went ahead and built the wooden ramps. So glad I did. After the tires are up on them I un-clip the actual ramps and all that remains are the pancaked 2x12’s under the tires. So now I have room everywhere around the raised tires. I throw the ramps to the side and out of the way. Nothing stronger than those pancaked 2x12s. Same thing holding up 30 ton boats over at the boat yard.