RhinoRamps - Yay or Nay

[mobiledynamics]

I know there is either a yes or no camp with these plastic ramps....

I have a Amex 40% promo so thinking about adding a set of Rhino Ramps to my stash

 

[M635_Guy]

I have a set I like - Super easy. Our base Mazda is a bit low from them (which is crazy, but really Mazda's fault), so I'd only advise that you make sure your car has enough clearance. If you have a truck/SUV/van, it's going to be fine.

 

[mrbill55]

I know there is either a yes or no camp with these plastic ramps....

I have a Amex 40% promo so thinking about adding a set of Rhino Ramps to my stash

I have a set that are easily 25 years old, if not older, well worth the money.

Bill S.

 

[RalphInCA]

Work great. I really like the fact that they nest one inside the other. Take up less space.

 

[CoogarXR]

Do they "scoot" on smooth floors? I have metal ramps, and I can't use them in my garage (unless I put them under a wheel that is already in the air, of course). They just slide forward when you try to drive up on them. I saw those Rhinos and I thought maybe they would stay put a little better. But I wonder if you guys have any experience with that.

 

[Lapham]

I have had my Rhino ramps for over 7 years. Previously had a steel set. The Rhino's work great and slide less. Fits my SUV and Honda Civic. But always use jack stands with them. Most cars are front wheel drive so they go up the ramps easily, unless you give it too much gas!

 

[Bubba Fett]

I have some older ramps (not even sure what brand) that are made of structural foam plastic. They have been great. Drive up, put it in park and/or hit the parking brake, and chock the back wheels. I feel like that's way safer than any jack and stands.

Caveats:
You have to drive up the ramps, so obviously, the car has to be running.
Pointless if you need to remove a wheel.
Car with lower clearance may scrape.
You do need to be careful not to go too fast, and go over the back of the ramp. Some trucks can do it, so be careful.

But for things like oil changes, they are great.

 

[619DioFan]

Do they "scoot" on smooth floors? I have metal ramps, and I can't use them in my garage (unless I put them under a wheel that is already in the air, of course). They just slide forward when you try to drive up on them. I saw those Rhinos and I thought maybe they would stay put a little better. But I wonder if you guys have any experience with that.

I have a set and they do slide even though there is a rubber piece under the front bottom. I have set the front edge on some old rubber mud flaps and it helped. There are strong enough to hold the front of my sister's 93 suburban with a 454 , 4x4.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

I have some older ramps (not even sure what brand) that are made of structural foam plastic. They have been great. Drive up, put it in park and/or hit the parking brake, and chock the back wheels. I feel like that's way safer than any jack and stands.

Caveats:
You have to drive up the ramps, so obviously, the car has to be running.
Pointless if you need to remove a wheel.
Car with lower clearance may scrape.
You do need to be careful not to go too fast, and go over the back of the ramp. Some trucks can do it, so be careful.

But for things like oil changes, they are great.

Not pointless if you need to remove a wheel.

I drive my Sienna up my ramps, then I'm able to roll the trolley jack under and get it lined up on something strong enough to jack from. Much easier than jacking from the ground.

As for the plastic ramps I'm firmly in the NO camp. I busted a set of "16000 lbs per pair" ramps from Canadian Tire. I think Rhino was the brand. I broke them with my Sienna but what I really bought them for was my 8000 lbs skid steer.

Not a chance in hell am I going under the skid steer while on plastic ramps.

Instead I build a set of 12 inch tall ramps out of solid plywood.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I used to have them a long time ago (15 years ago). I don't like them.

Oil change time is a good time to check all the things. Jiggle the wheels, etc... etc...

-Ryan

 

[RalphInCA]

They do slip sometimes, so I just got a couple of old scraps of rug to put under them.

 

[sparky 1971]

Yay. I can't speak for the new style, but I have a set from 20ish years ago that have performed flawlessly. They don't skid and so far have held everything I've managed to put on them including a Chevy 3500 4X4 with the diesel (6.5 L) engine.

 

[Steve_P]

I have a 20+ year old set; I like them. They should be wider, they should be a few inches taller, but they work. Yes, they can slide; I put an old towel on the floor behind the rubber block, and no issues with FWD or AWD cars.

 

[ColoradoMech]

I got a set about a year ago and use them on f250s and f350s all the time for quick maintenance. Only thing I dont like is sometimes they want to slide on the epoxy floor when trying to drive up them, even in 4wd. They have a little rubber piece that is suppose to prevent that but it just leaves a skid mark when it slides. If i were to put it on a rubber mat or something im sure it would help a lot.

 

[PCustoms]

I've had a set for well over 10yrs, probably original design. Only issue I have is I lost the little rubber pad to keep them from slipping on concrete.

Have worked fine for everything from cars to 1/2 ton trucks.

Iirc the are rated 5k per set.

 

[brtsvg]

They do slip sometimes, so I just got a couple of old scraps of rug to put under them.

Same here, they tend to slip a bit because of the epoxy-painted floor paint on my garage floor. So I put a section of rubber floor mat under them and it works great to keep them in place.

These ramps work great, well worth the price of about $ 35 that I paid for them maybe 6-7 years ago. Would buy them again.

 

[ForrestT]

I have had a set. Like them a lot until one of them shattered. Sad to say, my replacement from harbor freight seem better built.

 

[Qualitytools]

I received a gray set back in 2005, I use them all the time, No issues. I often drive a low car on them first then use a jack to lift the car higher and place stands.

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

Nay. There's always a better solution than plastic ramps.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Not pointless if you need to remove a wheel.

I drive my Sienna up my ramps, then I'm able to roll the trolley jack under and get it lined up on something strong enough to jack from. Much easier than jacking from the ground.

As for the plastic ramps I'm firmly in the NO camp. I busted a set of "16000 lbs per pair" ramps from Canadian Tire. I think Rhino was the brand. I broke them with my Sienna but what I really bought them for was my 8000 lbs skid steer.

Not a chance in hell am I going under the skid steer while on plastic ramps.

Instead I build a set of 12 inch tall ramps out of solid plywood.

Mine are like these. They have a nice structure, and do not nest together. (Not my pic, just one I found on the net.)


I will say, for some reason, they don't seem to be as high as they used to. Same reason my old pants are so tight, I believe.

 

[PCustoms]

Mine are like these. They have a nice structure, and do not nest together. (Not my pic, just one I found on the net.)


I will say, for some reason, they don't seem to be as high as they used to. Same reason my old pants are so tight, I believe.

This is what mine looks like as well

 

[Beamer]

I have had two sets for as long as I can remember. One set sits out in the weather and still looks good and functions well. They are rust proof of course which my former steel ramps were not.
The only issue that I have had is one of the rubber grip pads on the bottom has disappeared so that one can slip a bit when hit by the wheel. I think it's fixable but I just haven't bothered.

 

[demarpaint]

I have two sets and use them often, having said that I put jack stands under the car as well.

 

[Junkman]

I have 3 pairs, having acquired the last set from an old friend who went into assisted living. They are all Rhino brands. On the 2 original pairs that I purchased, they will nest together nicely. On the last set, they wouldn't nest together, and upon closer investigation of the design, they made changes. I don't know when the changes were made or for what reason, but I do like them for getting under my tractor when it comes time to hook up the driveshaft for my snowblower.

 

[housewolf]

I have a set I’ve owned for 15+ years. I also have a two post lift. I actually use the ramps to change the oil on my wife’s car. The filter is up top and it’s easier to just do it on the ramps.

The floor in my shop is pretty slick so I did have to screw a couple of carpet strips to them to keep from sliding

 

[RalphInCA]

Nay. There's always a better solution than plastic ramps.

They have been a great solution, for many thousands of car enthusiasts, for many years.

Plastic comes in many different formulations, strengths, durability and specifications.

Just like metal.

 

[WWheeler]

I have had what I thought were pretty nice steel ramps (I don't recall the brand or weight rating, but I do remember they cost me more than $100 in the late 80s or early 90s and they looked just like these where the ramp part was detachable) fail on me before. I believe one must have tried to slide forward on the concrete and it got a little tweaked, then the whole thing gave way just as my truck reached the top. Didn't hurt anything except that ramp but it did give me quite the scare. Had to get a jack to lift the truck up to get both out from under it.

After that I could have swore I'd never go back to ramps for anything but I must have gotten over it as back in 2015 or thereabouts I bought RhinoRamps and they've been great. Even if I'm going to put my truck on stands I'll typically use the ramps first just because it's just faster / easier to set and use a 2-stage floor jack once 90% of the lifting is already done. The heaviest thing I've put on them are Tacomas and 4Runners.

 

[hans109h]

I recently got some for the first time, didn't have them before because of storage space, but saw they nested and went for it. I love them.

 

[RickyPetite]

I have a pair and love them. There is one caveat. They are very strong at resisting compressive loads but not good at off-axis/rotational loads. As such, I make sure that the tires are centered properly and not off to one side. Although this is good advice for any ramp, it seems all the more important with ones made out of plastic.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Do they "scoot" on smooth floors? I have metal ramps, and I can't use them in my garage (unless I put them under a wheel that is already in the air, of course). They just slide forward when you try to drive up on them. I saw those Rhinos and I thought maybe they would stay put a little better. But I wonder if you guys have any experience with that.

Tried a few fixes for my sliding ramps. I ended up just using two 6 foot long boards against the wall on one end, and against the ramps on the other. Once the truck is on the ramps, I remove the boards.

 

[pwschuh]

I have and use Rhino Ramps for oil changes. No issues for crossovers or SUVs. On my 2016 Honda Civic, the ramp angle is a little too steep and the lower bumper hits before the wheel starts to climb. Made a set of wooden approach ramps to extend the Rhinos for lower cars.

 

[noid]

Race ramps > rhino ramps all day long.

 

[mrvm]

Race ramps are nice and light but are at a much higher price point.

 

[mobiledynamics]

How delicate when putting it away, grabbing it , etc when dealing with the -thin taper edge - of the foam on the raceramps ?