How safe is something like this?

[chicane]

This guy made a "homemade" lift for his Cobra. Just wondering what you guys think:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=270683

 

[mattwgrizwald]

looks safe

 

[Dragster Racer]

I'd have no problems with that. Would have to make sure everything was lined up right before driving up. I would be tempted to be anti slip tape on ramp part.

 

[Elroy]

There is more danger in driving off the damn thing than it failing from the load.

 

[chicane]

What about fissures or cracks in the wood?

 

[firebird1999us]

That's actually a pretty cool idea...would work great for me and be pretty cheap to build

 

[Hoot]

It's a method, I suppose. Personally, if it were my garage, I would "over-engineer" it a little more. Wider tread areas, more supports under the bridge pieces, and ramps that had support under them. Actually, I think I'd make the ramps, bridge supports, and wheel platforms from wood that is laid flat and secured together in layers. The pieces would be a lot heavier, but more stable than wood laid on edge (I think).

 

[PurdueSD]

You could drive a dump truck on that without it going anywhere....

 

[Art From De Leon]

The only 2 things that I would do different, would be to use wider planks, and put a rub rail to help guide the tires.

 

[Richard Givan]

It's hard to see from the photo, but my only concern would be if there's just one piece of wood stacked on edge underneath each of the wheel supports. I still think it would be safe enough, but would prefer to see more, or even stacks of planks laid flat as has already been suggested. That's what they use to support houses that are being jacked up to move, after all.

I would also like to put two cross members between the wheel supports front and rear to keep them spaced properly, although that would impede creeper use some. You could use some 1/2" plywood with beveled edges.

If this idea isn't scary, try this one on for size: http://www.classic1800.com/ramp-pit-plans/. I'm not endorsing this scheme, not even sure I'd climb underneath with a gun being held on me, but it would provide splendid access.

 

[chicane]

If this idea isn't scary, try this one on for size: http://www.classic1800.com/ramp-pit-plans/. I'm not endorsing this scheme, not even sure I'd climb underneath with a gun being held on me, but it would provide splendid access.

It's hard to believe someone would even post plans of this online.

 

[35mastr]

I hope that no one hear decides to do that in their shop. Those are some of the most backayard **** that I have seen in sometime. The dude with the Cobra just makes him look just plain stupid in my opinion.

If you take the time and build the car right. Why not engineer the lift into the equation. I have had freinds work at Factory Five and I hope that they dont see this.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I don't like the (second) 'ramp pit' idea, much. Turning a 3000-pound car into a teeter totter -- why would that be a good thing?

The wooden drive-on ramps should have more support for the initial ramp part and should definitely have guides on the sides to give the driver some feedback before he drives off the side when he's not pointed as straight as he thinks he is. Aside from that, I'd guess it's sound, structurally. But that low a lift height seems to really limit it's usefulness.

 

[fotoflojoe]

If this idea isn't scary, try this one on for size: http://www.classic1800.com/ramp-pit-plans/. I'm not endorsing this scheme, not even sure I'd climb underneath with a gun being held on me, but it would provide splendid access.

It's hard to believe someone would even post plans of this online.

I've seen the Volvo design before.
Before even getting to the safety aspect of that "lift", I can't imagine that it would provide much room to work under the vehicle. Seems like it would be a tremendous pain in the a$$. But then, I'm 6'2", 275lbs.

I do like Cobra guy's design, but I also agree with 35mastr. If you're gonna cough up for a Cobra - replica or not - go the whole nine and budget for a real lift.

I'd put my sh!tbox pickup on it in a heart beat though.

 

[nadogail]

Both of these will work if used intelligently. The stationary ramp looks solid enough for the intended load. The tilting ramp would, in my opinion, be improved with some chocks to keep it from tilting if it became accidently unballanced.

Not everyone can have a factory made lift, so resourceful folks figure a way that works for them.

My hat is off to both of these submitters.

 

[FunfDreisig]

I've never owned a lift, yet I've somehow...
* dropped and installed engines in VW bugs and 911s
* removed the engine, exhaust and the complete drive train on a 530i
* done nearly all the maintenance on every car I've owned (since the early 60's)

And all of it was done with nothing more than a jack, jack stands and simple wooden ramps made of 2x12s laid flat and screwed together. I'm thrilled to get a vehicle up a mere 4.5-6 inches safely so I can 'scootch' under without a creeper. BTW I've always thought creepers were for wimps

Funf Dreisig

p.s. the new 3 bay garage I'm building will have a 2 post lift. "Scootching" under vehicles isn't as easy as it was a couple of decades ago

 

[makgreens]

i like the idea
itd be better out of metal
for those of us who dont have the room or money for a lift this would be a good solution
ive seen a hell of a lot worse and worked on cars on some lifts i was scared to death of
youd be surprised how much stuff isnt safe that people work under
i might build something like that just wider and with metal if i can afford it

 

[Torque1st]

I thought the Cobra "lift was OK. It would hold up many times that vehicles weight. The ramps are so short they probably don't even deflect much. Personally I would have made them a little higher tho.

I have driven onto many ramp setups over the years. There really isn't any need for tire snubbers if you have the ramps aligned with the wheels. Of course if the driver saws the wheels back and forth for some crazy reason it could cause problem. People like that probably shouldn't even be driving tho. I don't think anyone on GJ would saw the wheels back and forth as they were driving on a ramp.

I have seen teeter-totter setups before.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Those ramps are fine. Way safe. Here is how you should park your car.

 

[strnge]

If I had the kind of money to have a cobra, then I would have a proper lift. Just my opinion.

 

[Ray-CA]

Here are the build plans for the ramp (http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?&id=916938&dn=y) I've helped a guy build one of these and it's "hell for stout." It will easily hold a 2200lb Cobra/replica if not just about any common passenger car made today. One feature that is really nice, is that the long section between the wheel parts can be removed once the car is up. Makes the under side of the vehicle really accessible.

It's nice for garages that don't have the height for a lift or room for something like a Kwiklift.

Ray

 

[firebird1999us]

If I had the kind of money to have a cobra, then I would have a proper lift. Just my opinion.

There's probably less than $20k into that car...that's probbaly less than your average new car. I saw a guy with a Mustang Cobra who built like a 3 foot wood ramp over at svtperformance though. I don't think I'd get that out of control with it though.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/fabrication/528654-homemade-car-ramps.html

 

[ImportTuner]

I personally like it especially when you have a low garage .. maybe having it a little wider would help

 

[e-tek]

There's probably less than $20k into that car...that's probbaly less than your average new car. I saw a guy with a Mustang Cobra who built like a 3 foot wood ramp over at svtperformance though. I don't think I'd get that out of control with it though.

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/fabrication/528654-homemade-car-ramps.html

Maybe a little more, but your point is valid. He may have blown his entire wad on the car, so can't quite afford another 3K for a "proper" lift.

Looks ways, safe and gets it up high enough to get what he needs done: tighten bolts and polish the suspension.

 

[stroked93]

I think most of the benefit to the ramp the cobra is on would be not having to bend over as much to work on the car. bottom wide work would be minimal but imagine how much easier it is to wax that thing on the ramps compared to on the ground.

 

[tcianci]

Well since everyone else is throwing their 2 cents in... that "lift" wouldn't be one bit stronger if the parts under the tires were made up of flat pieces. The picture shows that the designer has a good handle on the task at hand. The piece of wood on edge supports the weight of the car and the structure around that piece will stabilize the wood on end from deflecting or rocking, a great use of material for strength vs weight. The pieces on the bottom of the supports distribute the weight of the car over a large area, keeping the race deck in good shape. Making those supports out of a stack of planks would be expensive, heavy and cumbersome. The whole design in general looks like it was thought out so that it could be easily knocked down for storage without any of the pieces being to heavy to handle by one guy. This is evidenced by the supports under the wheels and the bridge section not being one continuous piece of plank. Traction tape on the ramps probably wouldn't be a good idea as the attachment of the tape, adhesive? screws? nails? may fail and cause the traction sheet to fly out from under the wheel possibly causing the car to shift on the ramp. The approach is plenty shallow and the traction characteristics of the wood ramp will be fairly constant.

 

[BooUrns!]

What's wrong with you guys? This lift was "Made In USA!" Take comfort in the fact that nowhere on this lift will you find the words "made in china"...



Honestly, I've never seen so much ado about nothing. If buddy doesn't want to buy a lift after buying a kit cobra and an M3, who are we to critique his DIY initiative?

 

[Shocker]

Guys, it is a Factory Five car. Not that expensive to build over the course of a couple of years.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I like the post about having a removable middle section. What a great idea! Then you could wheel right under there unobstructed with a creeper or without. I think also I would support the ramp in the middle, but still, the entire "lift" is a pretty nice idea.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I wouldn't have a problem getting under the cobra or mustang cobra setup.

Now that teeter-totter thing...that would make the old balloon knot pucker a bit.