Poor Man's Qwik Lift for $250.00 (look!) - Page 3

jczar · #41 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 10:47 AM

I used 2 X 4 blocks on both ends. I drilled into the concrete floor and installed anchors. To place or remove the blocks I just use my cordless drill. Set up time for the whole ramp system is about 2 minutes. Just be sure where you want the ramp located before you drill. This location is where the ramps will be each time you set up.

John

RedSabre · #42 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 08:33 PM

RedBarchetta,

You have an email your way on more information on the design of your poor man's qwik lift.

RedSabre

Oops, did not see the other pages on this thread as I went from top to bottome and missed the middle that outline the design. Please ignore my email as I think I have what I needed. Thanks.

Dwight · #43 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 09:13 PM

I used Dean's idea and build mine out of old shipping crate material from Italy.The wood stands I painted black and the metal ( 3" x 10", really some metric size ) I painted Ford Blue. I cut two 3" x 7" tube steel in half and welded them to a 7" piece to get the 10" + - width. I pinned the bridge and ramps to the wood stands. The height is 13 1/4", just right for working under the car. One person can easily put it up or take it down. Stores in a 10' x 14" space.
Cost about 10 lbs of flux core and a gal of paint and primer, about $75. And some screws and 1/4 x 20 bolts and fender washers. Oh yes, a lot of hours.

Dwight

I can remove the bridge to work under the car, but most of the time I leave them in place

long but fun story behind this picture

fastraxsg · #44 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 09:37 PM

Another option to keep the ramps from walking is to drill a hole in the floor big enough to put in a small dia pc. of water pipe. buy a long grade 8 bolt that will fit comfortably in the pipe, drill a hole in a 12" pc of 2" x 4" that the bolt can slip through.
Slip the bolt through the 2 x 4, then into the pipe. Needs a couple of inches into the floor. Now snug your ramp end up against the 2 x 4 and drive up. When you want to pull it all apart, just slip up the bolt and 2 x 4 and find a pc. of plastic rod that will fill your pipe. You can drill a hole in the plastic, stick in a big nail and use a magnet to pull it up out of the hole. Or leave the block and bolt in place to use as wheel chocks when you drive in rampless.
My ramp is similar in theory but 18" high. I have long ramps into the garage and they get removed once the car is up. I have similar spans at the middle that can be removed. I'm not into the form as much so it looks pretty crude but it's been used constantly for the past 2.5 years. I used a local hardwood to ensure strength.
We have had our SUV up on it several times too.
Dean's and Dwight's are pcs. of art. Very impressive and glad you guys shared.
Ken

RNT · #45 (**permalink**) 12-05-2006, 10:03 PM

RedBarchetta...Patent your design and sell it.. Great product!

Excaliber · #46 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 12:20 AM

Hey, I set a fire while grinding away, once, only once!

Juggernaut · #47 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 11:04 AM

AWESOME!!!!! My hats off to you! Great idea & great looking finished product!

Sure is one nice looking Cobra too! What size are the front & rear wheels? I like the combination.

Randy

RedBarchetta · #48 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

AWESOME!!!!! My hats off to you! Great idea & great looking finished product!

Sure is one nice looking Cobra too! What size are the front & rear wheels? I like the combination.

Randy

Randy, thanks for the compliments! Wheels are standard Trigos, 7.5"x15 in the front and 9.5"x15 in the rear (soon to be 10.5"...I'm going to have the inner sides stretched to accommodate fatter rubber). I painted the centers a lighter shade of gray to have more contrast. Rear tires are 295/50-15. Not sure of the fronts (I think they are 255 or 265/60-15).

Regards,

-Dean

P.S. I have received numerous private e-mails on the subject of these ramps. I'm encouraged that others have built their own version of the "Poor Man's Qwik Lift." These ramps have held up quite well so far (nearly two years...seems longer). While I'd still like to have a real Qwik Lift or a four-post, this has proved to be an economical alternative for those of us on a budget. The toughest hurdle is just gathering the courage to drive up/down them. Not sure if I wrote this previously, but I now have hung a couple ping pong balls from the ceiling in a row...like a gun sight. I have them lined-up with the hood hinge on the driver's side. I just line myself up, hinge to ping pong balls, and drive up and I'm usually within 1" of center every time. What do they say...necessity is the mother of invention?

Juggernaut · #49 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 11:39 AM

Thanks for the tire/wheel info. I really like the set-up. I'll be getting the tires/wheels for my Cobra in a few months, now I know what sizes to look for.

Once again, that is one clean looking Cobra you have!

Randy

RedSnake351 · #50 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

...The toughest hurdle is just gathering the courage to drive up/down them.

Dean, I noticed that you mentioned that a couple of times and am wondering if perhaps a cheap door length mirror from Wal-Mart mounted horizontally in front would help guide the Cobra up with less anxiety.

Just a thought!
Ralph

RedBarchetta · #51 (**permalink**) 12-06-2006, 12:14 PM

Ralph, I thought about that while I was sawing the thing together. I was originally thinking of installing one of those round "fish-eye" mirrors that you install at a corner walkway. Then perhaps putting a large mirror on the back wall of the garage, set at a 45 degree angle so that I could see my "trajectory" from the garage opening. The ping pong balls hanging from the ceiling ended up being the easiest and cheapest solution....and arguably the best!

Even with the visual aids, I recommend anyone driving up ANY ramp for the first time to have someone spot you until you get comfortable with it.

-Dean

Dwight · #52 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 04:45 PM

I'm bumping this back to the top because there are a lot of new guys that might be interested in Dean's Poor man ramp's.

Dwight

trularin · #53 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 05:46 PM

I left mine natural wood.

They lift about 12 to 13 inches in the air ( I think )

But, since I got my Rotary, I haven't used then.

Lowell W · #54 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 07:28 PM

Thanks, Dean!

For some reason, I had never seen this before. What a great idea! If I don't get some stuff cleared out to make room for a lift for next winter, I'll build one.

Lowell

Dwight · #55 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 08:54 PM

I watch the front tire and the edge of the ramp as I drive up. After a few times it's easy. The first time you need someone to watch to make sure you have the ramp in the correct place and your not driving off of it. Go very slow the first time. I installed pins into the bridge and ramp to keep them from moving. I spun one of the rear ramps to the floor one time. Installed the pins (1/4 rod with fender washer welded to the rod) the next day. I have marked the floor where the stands go to make it easier to set up. I do not have mine anchored to the floor and have not had a problem. I have 10' ramps and I think they makes it easier to drive onto with out walking the whole thing. My Cobra buddies come over and use the ramp all the time. I like the lift and want to thank Dean for the idea. It's a great tool in mine garage.
Thanks Dean
Dwight

Dwight · #56 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 09:03 PM

Doc borrowed my fish eye mirrow and installed it in Coach Mike's new Cobra.

Coach didn't like it, so he removed it. Maybe I can hang it in front of the ramp?

Dwight

fsstnotch · #57 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 04:27 AM

Wow, this is awesome!!! I had factored a 2 post into my cobra budget but this could work great!!!! I keep a portfolio of great ideas for the garage, cars, etc. I printed this and it's going in there!

What do you think the max wieght is that this can handle? If SHOULD be pretty darn sturdy!

Josh

priobe · #58 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 08:33 AM

Does anyone know how high the car will sit from the ground to the chassis clearance with this setup?

Very Very Nice!!!

RedBarchetta · #59 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 08:33 AM

Dwight and others,

Thanks for the accolades, but I honestly have to give credit to a guy on corvetteforum.com that I 'lifted' the idea from about 5 years ago. He was a carpenter by trade and had a C4 that he used it on. I just had to make a few minor adjustments to fit the Cobra chassis and accommodate the wider rear track. Yeah, the first couple drives up and down can have a little pucker factor

, but once you get the hang of it they really work well. So far I have had only one end support (6" 2x4) on one of the bridges actually split a little. Even with that ding, it's still very stable and it's great to keep the undercarriage clean and to perform general R&R without using a floorjack. I'm also tall (6'3"), so reaching into the engine bay doesn't require a lot of stooping and that saves the back.

I built the ramps with the intentions of eventually getting a true Qwik Lift. But they have worked so well that I've used that money for mods on the car.

Have a great week, everyone!

-Dean

RedBarchetta · #60 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by priobe

Does anyone know how high the car will sit from the ground to the chassis clearance with this setup?

Chassis sits a good 10" or so off the ground. I'm a pretty big guy and I can remove the bridges and crawl under without any difficulty. There is barely enough room to use a creeper, but you can use one as well. You are essentially lifting the car around 8", so with whatever extra boost your tires provide is all you really need.

-Dean