Unexpected - Can't use my Harbor Freight ramps?

[Mox4615]

I use the Pittsburgh brand from harbor freight. Work like a charm, only raises it up about 6 inches but that’s all you need.


That’s what she said 🫡

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[commadorebob]

Harbor Freight is great for weekend warriors. Professionals would obviously need to get higher-grade equipment. But I did see the recent Project Farm video on the ramps and all but one outperformed their ratings with the one looking obviously sketchy. He mentioned lower-riding vehicles would struggle with the ones from Harbor Freight.

Interestingly, I have a pretty deep gutter at the end of my driveway. So, I literally just park at the end of driveway if I need to get underneath the truck. As my video instructor from the military taught me about expensive equipment: things don't fall off the ground...

 

[colinl]

there are a bunch of specialty low profile ramps.

when shopping those, however, make sure it raises the truck enough to get under there. I know a guy with a miata that bought a set of ramps that he could drive on, sure... but they only raised the car about 2.5".

 

[NC_Pinz]

A couple of wooden blocks is all it takes. For those that have lived with a lowered ride, you may have to do some block stacking to get on your ramps. If you scrape going over speed bumps, you know what I mean.

 

[Guv]

I have some Race Ramps, not cheap but very nice.

 

[DaVicar]

These work fine for the home garage and Maverick

 

[710-oil-614]

I need a ramp to access and leave my back yard, and was previously using some standard Harbor Freight metal ramps. As you can see by the photo below, my 2024 Lariat bumper facia is too low for me to use them now, making contact with the surface of the ramp when the tire is still a couple of inches away. Anyone successfully using another brand of ramps with their Truck?

The forward mud flap looks like it will make contact too, but I'm less worried about that as I can remove it if I have to.

that’s how you get such good mileage. Honestly the “chin” is flexible and you will not damage it much (Ford plastic is softer than triple ply charmin) by driving up the ramps. You’re going to beat that chin up in time anyway so go ahead and do it.

 

[dochawk]

Harbor Freight is great for weekend warriors. Professionals would obviously need to get higher-grade equipment.

I use Harbor freight for "disposable" tools; such as those that are less than two rentals at Home Depot, our naturally get worn through.

But whether I Harbor freight or something else, I can't bring myself to crawl under a couple of tons of steel supported only by plastic!

 

[inline_five]

I use Harbor freight for "disposable" tools; such as those that are less than two rentals at Home Depot, our naturally get worn through.

But whether I Harbor freight or something else, I can't bring myself to crawl under a couple of tons of steel supported only by plastic!

Plastic actually well outperforms metal in car ramp use.

 

[Blinky]

there are a bunch of specialty low profile ramps.

when shopping those, however, make sure it raises the truck enough to get under there. I know a guy with a miata that bought a set of ramps that he could drive on, sure... but they only raised the car about 2.5".

I had a pair of those baby ramps for my Fiesta ST, it was low enough from factory that I needed them to get a jack under the car. I eventually bought a $400 long reach low profile jack that worked like a charm.

 

[JimKivi]

I need a ramp to access and leave my back yard, and was previously using some standard Harbor Freight metal ramps. As you can see by the photo below, my 2024 Lariat bumper facia is too low for me to use them now, making contact with the surface of the ramp when the tire is still a couple of inches away. Anyone successfully using another brand of ramps with their Truck?

The forward mud flap looks like it will make contact too, but I'm less worried about that as I can remove it if I have to.

On my ramps, a foot long piece of 2x6 under the end of each ramp allows the tire to climb up on the wood, then the ramp with the angel just enough changed to clear the bumper.

 

[commadorebob]

I use Harbor freight for "disposable" tools; such as those that are less than two rentals at Home Depot, our naturally get worn through.

But whether I Harbor freight or something else, I can't bring myself to crawl under a couple of tons of steel supported only by plastic!

In testing, the plastic ones performed well. A block of plastic send the forces directly into the ground. In a few cases, the plastic ones exceeded the capacity of his test rig that can get up to 30 tons.

 

[flyswatter]

In testing, the plastic ones performed well. A block of plastic send the forces directly into the ground. In a few cases, the plastic ones exceeded the capacity of his test rig that can get up to 30 tons.

I can attest that my metal ones dig quite badly into the ground at the front. For what it's worth.

 

[flyswatter]

On my ramps, a foot long piece of 2x6 under the end of each ramp allows the tire to climb up on the wood, then the ramp with the angel just enough changed to clear the bumper.

Thank you! Although others have very kindly replied with similar advice, your particular specificity really helps.

 

[Lobstah]

Seriously?...put a piece of 2X4, maybe 1ft long in front of the ramp.

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