Just showing off my ramps - Ford Forums

**360ci** · 10-17-2009, 13:50

I've had them for a couple years, but figure I'd post some photos since I know I haven't done so yet. I bolted together a set of ramps from some 10' x 2" x 10" boards sine the hardware store versions were too small to really do anything with. I built them mostly for my service vehicles (Durango, Ram, etc) so I could save some bucks throughout the year doing differential services and other fluids as well (as you can see). They've paid for themselves ten fold at least. I've been meaning to add one more board and grind off the bolt ends, but I just haven't been bothered to do that yet; so I don't want to hear it. Hardware store versions go for around $50-70 for solid rubber ones that are puny in size and are only a few inches tall. For roughly $82 I built these ramps, including wood and hardware. It took roughly an hour to fab together.

However it is a two person job to get the car on the ramps, as I didn't feel like installing any bump-stops. As they're 5' long, I can get nearly any vehicle up on them without scraping.

Not to rant, but I don't like how Ford placed the oil filter above the starter! My 3.5L G6 GT has got to be one of the easiest, maintenance friendly car that I've ever changed the oil on. As the Taurus filter installs nearly horizontal, I couldn't properly fill it with oil before installing, but oh well. At least I moistened the seal. I had some photos of a Taurus transmission service, but I've misplaced them :(

Perhaps I should put together a DIY thread for a lot of these fluid changes....

G6 - oil filter is vertical, more of a mess taking it off, but at least I can fill it with oil before I install it!

**chipset** · 10-17-2009, 14:16

Nice car but haven't seen the ramps yet.

**360ci** · 10-17-2009, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipset

Nice car but haven't seen the ramps yet.

You can see them in the photos! And I'm the one wearing glasses! Anyway....

Here's another photo from shortly after they were quickly bolted together:

**rtg143** · 10-17-2009, 20:12

That's a great idea. Those bolts on the right side look like a good place to hit your head. I hit my head all the time by not paying attention. This morning I smacked it good on a gun mount in a Sherrifs car I'm installing a camera in.

**360ci** · 10-18-2009, 07:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtg143

That's a great idea. Those bolts on the right side look like a good place to hit your head. I hit my head all the time by not paying attention. This morning I smacked it good on a gun mount in a Sherrifs car I'm installing a camera in.

Yes, the bolt ends are a hazard, but luckily I've been able to keep my distance! I shouldn't require the ramps any more this year so I'll finish them up next spring. I bought a few cans of that black rubberized undercoating stuff. I'm going to take the belt sander to the top of the ramps to even out the boards a bit from the raw cuts, then spray on this undercoating stuff for traction. I think it'll look slick. I've used the undercoating spray under my Durango, as oil spray only lasts a few months and it's not worth paying the $80 several times a year, although it does get into all the finer crevices.