Approach ramps for a 4 post lift.

[Mike65]

Hi everyone, I am getting close to pulling the trigger on a 4-post lift. Due to me having a bad back I want to replace the steel approach ramps with something lighter. I am looking at either aluminum ramps or the Race Ramps. How strong are the race ramps? When I read the description of the construction of the Race Ramps my wife said how strong are they, & how long will they last if they are made from foam? Anyone here use them & how do you like them & how long have you had them?

 

[finn]

Congratulations on bringing the weight of steel ramps into consideration before pulling the trigger on your new lift. Aluminum ramps were on my “must have” checklist when I bought my Advantage. They’re optional, at a hefty price premium on some brands I considered.

I briefly considered the Race Ramps, but the cost as well as how to store them eliminated them from contention. The aluminum ramps fit on the runways in front of the tires. I recall that Race Ramps would probably overhang, and may not be the same height as the factory supplied aluminum ramps. Those things may have ended up being non issues in the end, but at least were on the list to investigate.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Hi everyone, I am getting close to pulling the trigger on a 4-post lift. Due to me having a bad back I want to replace the steel approach ramps with something lighter. I am looking at either aluminum ramps or the Race Ramps. How strong are the race ramps? When I read the description of the construction of the Race Ramps my wife said how strong are they, & how long will they last if they are made from foam? Anyone here use them & how do you like them & how long have you had them?

I've been using my Race Ramps on my Direct Lift 4-post for seven years now and I absolutely love them.
No problems whatsoever.

The benefits and versatility far outweigh the initial purchase price (not cheap!).

 

[whateg01]

I think when people hear "foam" they think of spongy stuff you pack fine china in. The race ramps aren't that.

 

[Mikes61]

I have about 8 different sets Race Ramps for various uses. I bought several of them used from a buddy before he moved to Europe. They are all great. They won’t hold up well if you drag them on asphalt like my wife started to do last week. When I told her they were $500 she quickly stopped.

The newest Race Ramps I bought were for my 4 post lift. They are 9 lbs each and will support a few thousand lbs. Check on their website for the weight rating.

Do yourself a favor and just pay the money, they are worth every penny. My steel ramps went to the dump the day my Race Ramps arrived. They must have been 40 lbs each and would bang into my shins when I moved them.

 

[Mike65]

I want to place the 4-post lift near the garage door, so I have more room between the workbench & the front of the lift. I will have 6' from the front of the lift to the workbench without the ramps on & only 3' with the ramps on, so the lighter ramps would be no hassle to remove & install whenever I need to get on or off the lift. Outside of the garage is asphalt driveway where they would sit when pulling on or off the lift only, after that they would go back in the garage.

 

[Mikes61]

I want to place the 4-post lift near the garage door, so I have more room between the workbench & the front of the lift. I will have 6' from the front of the lift to the workbench without the ramps on & only 3' with the ramps on, so the lighter ramps would be no hassle to remove & install whenever I need to get on or off the lift. Outside of the garage is asphalt driveway where they would sit when pulling on or off the lift only, after that they would go back in the garage.

i don’t leave my ramps attached, never did. When I had the steel ramps I was too afraid to walk into them. They would cut your head wide open.

With the Race Ramps I just slide them under the front bumper of the car that’s on the ground.

 

[PoorOwner]

Race ramps does compress where the tire drives over, and I don't have a big vehicle.
I wish they made it heavier so it would work without compressing.

I agree take them off as soon as you are done with them. But remember to put it back on before driving off. I made both mistakes before.

 

[Mike65]

Thank you to everyone who responded to my post, your info was helpful in my decision on which ramps to purchase with the lift..

 

[mike93lx]

Thank you to everyone who responded to my post, your info was helpful in my decision on which ramps to purchase with the lift..

So what was the decision...

 

[Mike65]

I am going to get the aluminum ramps.

 

[boatshoes]

I just leave my steel ramps attached all the time since I have the length. I added an extra couple washers on the bolts so that the end plates and ramps could be in the slot at the same time (end plates not shown in this picture). My lift is above head height so no noggin-bashing concerns.


With end plates and ramps together:

 

[logical]

I just leave my steel ramps attached all the time since I have the length. I added an extra couple washers on the bolts so that the end plates and ramps could be in the slot at the same time (end plates not shown in this picture). My lift is above head height so no noggin-bashing concerns.


With end plates and ramps together:

I leave on but had to cut mine down because I'm close to the door. Because my entry side is shimmed way up to deal with floor slope, they weren't near long enough by themselves anyway. I have Race Ramps designed for trailers and just lower my stubby steel ramps onto the RR's.

There's a recent thread about this same topic...maybe 2 or 3 of them.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I initially had steel ramps with my lift and they were way too heavy for me. I got a set of aluminum and my lift use changed. Easy. I a friend with race ramps. Don’t believe there is much difference. I never leave my ramps hanging. Someone will walk into them for sure.

 

[Mike65]

For everyone with the Race Ramps do you have a fullsize truck you use them with & how much do they compress when driving on them?

 

[Mikes61]

For everyone with the Race Ramps do you have a fullsize truck you use them with & how much do they compress when driving on them?

I have a 7000 lb dually Duramax. I havent driven that over the Race Ramps and won’t. It’s too big for them and my lift.

For all my other cars, the Race Ramps are just fine.

 

[mike93lx]

For everyone with the Race Ramps do you have a fullsize truck you use them with & how much do they compress when driving on them?

Looks like they are rated for 1500lbs each, so I expect you likely would exceed that with the front end of most full size trucks

 

[Mike65]

@mike93lx & @Mikes61 thanks for the info. I will be using my lift to service not only my wife's Bronco Sport, but our 99 Explorer Sport, my 69 Mustang, & my F150. So, it looks like the aluminum ramps for me.

 

[Mikes61]

@mike93lx & @Mikes61 thanks for the info. I will be using my lift to service not only my wife's Bronco Sport, but our 99 Explorer Sport, my 69 Mustang, & my F150. So, it looks like the aluminum ramps for me.

Not to change your mind, but I doubt that the front or rear end of any of those vehicles you listed will weigh over 3000 lbs.

 

[mike93lx]

Not to change your mind, but I doubt that the front or rear end of any of those vehicles you listed will weigh over 3000 lbs.

A crew cab 150 weighs about 5500, IIRC. I'd expect something around 60% front distribution, which would make it over 3k. Lots of assumptions there, but I think over 3k is definitely possible with a half ton

 

[whateg01]

I don't think at 3001#, they are going to suddenly collapse. I would probably use them with my f150 which is also right at 5400#.

 

[mike93lx]

I don't think at 3001#, they are going to suddenly collapse

I dont think they would either

 

[c39er]

I ended up making my own flip up ramps for my BP HD14 as I hated the factory hanging down ramps when the lift was up..you need longer runways to do this though for longer cars and trucks.

 

[FlrdaGarageGuy]

I leave on but had to cut mine down because I'm close to the door. Because my entry side is shimmed way up to deal with floor slope, they weren't near long enough by themselves anyway. I have Race Ramps designed for trailers and just lower my stubby steel ramps onto the RR's.

There's a recent thread about this same topic...maybe 2 or 3 of them.

I'm dealing with this same issue right now trying to figure out a solution for approach ramps for my 4 post lift. I like what you have here. Where did you get the yellow caps that attach to the runway and cover the race ramp?

 

[logical]

I'm dealing with this same issue right now trying to figure out a solution for approach ramps for my 4 post lift. I like what you have here. Where did you get the yellow caps that attach to the runway and cover the race ramp?

I cut down the standard yellow steel ramps that came with the lift, the red paint was just a little flair. I forgot I still had the scrap, need to get rid of that or figure out a project for them.

 

[mikedodge]

If there's space I'd be wanting to leave the ramps in place on the hoist. I'm one that would either forget till last second to put them back or get tired of having to move them every time. But I guess a difference is using it more for service vs storage when you're not going on and off all the time and the ramps would be in the way.

 

[FlrdaGarageGuy]

I cut down the standard yellow steel ramps that came with the lift, the red paint was just a little flair. I forgot I still had the scrap, need to get rid of that or figure out a project for them.

Great idea. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Byrdnyrd]

I have a BendPak HD 9. I have the standard steel ramps, but I modified the “axels“ by removing the Tinnerman Nut on each end and drilling a hole for a hair pin. To remove the ramps, I pull the pin and axel then “Pivot” the Ramp up or down, I’m not lifting the ramps. It works for me thus far. I looked at Race Ramps, but for $500 I can almost hire a kid to raise and lower the ramps!!

When BendPak offers free shipping, I’ll prolly buy Al-you-min-ee-um ramps.

Cheers,
BN