Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 15:02:51 -0600
Reply-To: Max/Joyce Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max/Joyce Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject: Re: jackstands vs. ramps
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
At my former employer's truck yard, they had made a set of wood ramps for
smaller bob trucks to elevate their back doors to reach the loading dock.
Making a smaller version of this to drive the vanagon's front or rear wheels
up on to get underneath access.
Basically, they alternated yellow pine 2x10"s with 2x4"s stacked vertically
and bolted/nailed/screwed together. Theirs were wide enough for dual
wheels, but I don't see why a Vanagon ramp would need to be that wide, maybe
12" or so. Not sure what it would cost, but it wouldn't slide unless the
ramp angle were too steep, and then I'd add some of those stairstep adhesive
backed friction strips to the bottom for adequate resistance. Could
laminate a couple of them long enough to drive the whole van on maybe but
unsure as to how much they'd weigh much less cost. I guess you could make 4
or them and see if the non synchro would climb up on all fours, but it's
got to be cheaper than a hydraulic hoist. Finding room to store all that
wood,well, there's another problem!.
If I didn't verbalize the construction of this ramp very well, I apologize.
I'm not a carpenter by any stretch, but using maybe 4 2x10's with 2x4's
stacked vertically every foot or so(acting as spacers) , you could economize
on the wood and allow for drainage if they were left outside when not in
use. I guess you could buy some rough cut solid wood fo this(we used that
for the trailer wheel chocks), but I would think that to be more expensive.
Anybody ever tried this?
Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Stearns <gstearns@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, November 09, 2000 6:25 AM
Subject: Re: jackstands vs. ramps
>I have both and definitely need both. They came from Sears and are fine
>quality.
>One thing about the ramps, mine were too steep an incline and caught the
>front spoiler on both our Vanagon and Jetta. We solved this by creating a
>"ramp extension" out of 1"x6" wood. It's just a ramp to started up the
>ramp.
>
>Gary
>----- Original Message -----
>From: James Creech <jacreech@VISUALLINK.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 12:03 PM
>Subject: jackstands vs. ramps
>
>
>> What is the consensus on the usefulness of jackstands vs. ramps for
>working
>> on our Vanagons? As a novice mechanic I've put off this purchase. Are
>both
>> necessary? I'm thinking brake and other wheel work will often require
>> jackstands to allow the wheels to turn freely, but oil changes and other
>> underbody work would be perhaps quicker simply to run the van up on
ramps.
>> Adequate capacity with both types would seem to render safety a
>non-factor.
>>
>> Any sage advice from the pros? Including brands you've found faithful
and
>> ones to avoid?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jim Creech
>> 87 Westy GL
>>
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