Ramps or axle stands

swompster · Jul 23, 2009

Hi all
I am looking to buy either ramps or axle stands to fit a new centre box and tail pipe to my 1997 discovery 300tdi. As i have not done much repair work on cars before does anyone have any suggestions

Thanks

Stickybackbob · Jul 23, 2009

Spoil yourself and get both!

Axle stands can be a pain because you have to lift the car onto them. Ramps can be a pain because they're a set height and you can't move the wheels.

To be honest, you'd probably get away without either if you're just changing the exhaust. Plenty of room under the car without the need to lift it up. Let us know how you get on.

hughesy · Jul 23, 2009

Ramps for a quick job that doesn't need the wheel off the ground if you know what I mean. Stands if you need to take the wheel off or rotate it for some reason. For an exhaust job I'd use ramps. Neither will cost you much so get both and you're covered.

Paul D · Jul 23, 2009

Where are you? Buy a set of whatever and get a mate to buy a set of the other ... or if you're anywhere near you can borrow mine ...

Beast o Bodmin · Jul 23, 2009

get a lift kit and a pit

Dent · Jul 23, 2009

I use old railway sleepers, got plenty of ground but it's too uneven/soft for stands.

listerdiesel · Jul 23, 2009

Decent ramps always seem to take up so much access space, while stands always get in the way of the trolley jack!

We tend to use stands, have got a set of four X 3ton shorties plus a 2.5ton Halfrauds trolley jack. Does most of what we need.

Getting the exhaust out of the back of the V8 the other day needed the axle dropping, might have been a problem with a ramp.

Peter

Mr_V · Jul 23, 2009

listerdiesel said:
Getting the exhaust out of the back of the V8 the other day needed the axle dropping, might have been a problem with a ramp.

Peter

Just what i was thinking....

discool · Jul 23, 2009

On a 300 series (diesel or petrol) removing the exhaust is only a problem if trying to remove or replace a one piece system, but if it's two piece then all thats needed is to jack the disco up at the back to get the angle of approach for the pipe over the axle.
It's also easer to get to the rear hanger if the rear near side wheel is removed.

hughesy · Jul 23, 2009

Most useful bit of kit I ever bought is an engine crane. Hook it round the towbar and lift the fooker as high as you want

MartinK · Jul 24, 2009

Where are you? If you're near Edinburgh you can borrow my Axle Stands (3 ton ones).

Beware that Halfrauds-type cheapy stands may not have enough load rating for a Landy - I bought 3-ton ones.

I usually drive my car onto something (such as a group of bricks) for larger jobs under the car...

thebiglad · Jul 24, 2009

swompster said:
Hi all
I am looking to buy either ramps or axle stands to fit a new centre box and tail pipe to my 1997 discovery 300tdi. As i have not done much repair work on cars before does anyone have any suggestions

Thanks

To do this job efficiently you need to raise the chassis, not the wheels. So ramps, although useful generally, won't help with this job.

You would be better off with a trolley jack (3ton capacity) and axle stands (min 3ton cap). Jack up the chassis using the trolley jack then put the stands in place to stabilise, while you work on the vehicle.

iannotts · Jul 24, 2009

thebiglad said:
To do this job efficiently you need to raise the chassis, not the wheels. So ramps, although useful generally, won't help with this job.

You would be better off with a trolley jack (3ton capacity) and axle stands (min 3ton cap). Jack up the chassis using the trolley jack then put the stands in place to stabilise, while you work on the vehicle.

How heavy is your landy??

a jack will be normaly only lifting a 1/4 to 1/2 the weight of the total landy and they have a built in saftey factor as well

hughesy · Jul 24, 2009

thebiglad said:
To do this job efficiently you need to raise the chassis, not the wheels. So ramps, although useful generally, won't help with this job.

You would be better off with a trolley jack (3ton capacity) and axle stands (min 3ton cap). Jack up the chassis using the trolley jack then put the stands in place to stabilise, while you work on the vehicle.

Why would you need min. 3 ton axle stands? The whole vehicle only weighs 2 ton max. Therefore for arguments sake say half the weight of the landy on a pair of stands would only be a ton or roughly 500kg per stand. I agree a bigger jack is better than a little one that's struggling at the limit of what it can lift though. Having said that the little bottle jack that comes with discos is more than man enough for the job.

Paul D · Jul 24, 2009

MartinK said:
Beware that Halfrauds-type cheapy stands may not have enough load rating for a Landy - I bought 3-ton ones.

Why?

I have a Halfords 2-tonne Jack bought with a pair of 2-ton axle stands as a 'gift set' for £19.99 maybe 10 years ago .. they've been used at least once a month every month in that time and are still bloody good!

Bear in mind that an axle stand is normally only carrying 1/4 of the weight, ditto the jack unless you're doing something stupid, so 2 tonne stuff is ideal and cost-effective.

I might say different if I were using them every day, or needed to leave the Landy on axle stands for a long while and the Jack does take some effort, but for normal servicing/random fettling etc they're absolutely ideal.

mjltigger · Jul 24, 2009

I use a 2 tonne jack but 3 tonne axle stands.. my problem with the jack is the lift isn't high enough so have been meaning to buy a bigger one for a while..

discool · Jul 24, 2009

One of the benefits of a heavy weight trolly jack is that they lift higher. Mine has a max saddle height of 504mm and it has 'rocket lift'.

thebiglad · Jul 24, 2009

discool said:
One of the benefits of a heavy weight trolly jack is that they lift higher. Mine has a max saddle height of 504mm and it has 'rocket lift'.

Mine is the same jack and for me it just works and I trust it to be reliable.

This whole thing of "a Disco only weighs 2tons in total.............."etc etc is not how I want to work.

I need tools that are more than just adequate, for the job. Life has taught me that if you buy good, highly specc'd tools they will last and do a reliable and quality job, making everything just that be easier to do.

goonarmy · Jul 24, 2009

thebiglad said:
Mine is the same jack and for me it just works and I trust it to be reliable.

This whole thing of "a Disco only weighs 2tons in total.............."etc etc is not how I want to work.

I need tools that are more than just adequate, for the job. Life has taught me that if you buy good, highly specc'd tools they will last and do a reliable and quality job, making everything just that be easier to do.

I agree, bought a 2t trolley jack, the fella in the shop said "you only lift 1 corner at a time" Well it struggles to lift me rangie and lowering it is dangerous, it just drops!

discool · Jul 24, 2009

LRO did a review of jacks a year or two ago and they went for a 3 ton Sealey trolly jack the reason it's wider and therefore more stable also value for money.
No problem with it lifting one end or one side ie. two wheels off the ground on a disco, RR or 110

Ramps or axle stands

New Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Old, nackered 'n broke, but the Landy is fine . :)

Banned

New Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Old, nackered 'n broke, but the Landy is fine . :)

New Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Beer tester

Well-Known Member

Similar threads