Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 15:10:35 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Good types of drive-on lift ramps?
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of course they are.
people should do whatever they think is right.
here is what I do not like about ramps.
sometimes they just slide on the floor instead of the wheel going up onto
them.
need someone to hold them or whatever.
maybe it is because I rescued my father from dying under a car supported on
ramps.
if it were not for that , maybe I would not be so against them.
even still....
no matter what though,
any vehicle supported by tires, or by suspension ...
is inherently less stable, compared to a vehicle supported on the frame or
jacking points.
No way around that.
I could mention that perhaps some people don't realize a floor jack pad does
not travel straight up, it goes up in a curve...
this pulls on the van, like if the other end if off the ground.
so, the jack wheels have to roll, and if they don't you're putting a pulling
force on the end your lifting ...
easy to pull the other end of jack stands or whatever , doing that.
I also like that the brakes and suspension are exposed with jack stands, and
with ramps they are not.
where safety is concerned....it pays to use black/white rules.
Seat belt usage is like that ....we might not put a belt on to drive say 500
yards...
but if you *always, always* put the belt on, no matter what, you have it on
then when you need it for sure.
so ....with that logic, if never want any 'roll' factor in a supported
vehicle ..and are looking for solid, static support...
that rules out ramps.
just a preference, but I am quite a safety nut.
I dare say it's easier to hurt yourself using ramps than jack stands,
overall.
not that ramps can't be used carefully and intelligently...
but the risk is a little higher I think.
you know, there are ten thousand ways to make mistakes in car repair, and
people find their way to them now and then, and I think reducing risk
factors is smart.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@charter.net>
To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: Good types of drive-on lift ramps?
> Good ramps will be made with a tire dimple in them so they also act as a
> chock to aid against rolling.
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
> On 5/25/2010 3:04 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>> do whatever you like of course.
>> I don't recommend them. they are dangerous.
>> or sure can be.
>>
>> when a van is on jackstands, it's not going anywhere.
>> the same can not be said when it's in the air and it can still roll, and
>> you're under it.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 10:27 AM
>> Subject: Re: Good types of drive-on lift ramps?
>>
>>
>>> John Rodgers wrote:
>>>> I have one pair of drive-on's that I use in conjunction with
>>>> jackstands. Drive up one end, then jack up the other and put jack
>>>> stands under it. I like having the ramps instead of four jack stands -
>>>> just more stable that way. Of course four ramps would be even more
>>>> stable.
>>>
>>> That's my plan. Just need to find sturdy ramps with lead-in skirts.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
>>> Bend, OR
>>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>
