car ramps/lifts to raise TR off the ground

[Trumpy3]

I went down this track about 13 years ago. My garage is a fairly standard 2 car garage ( for Australia). Before I retired I lived on a 5 acre lot so space was not an issue. After retirement we down sized to a normal block and house with a 2 car garage. When looking for the new house, I was after a 10 car garage with a bedroom attached, my wife wanted a full house with a car port. We compromised with a house and double garage. The garage was compromised by having a low roof, especially after building a storage floor over the parking area.

After a number of years utilizing jacks, stands and ramps I decided that this was not the way. As we all know, this is not the safest way to work under a car. At this time I was running my car on the track and also touring in the car. This entailed converting the car from touring to track and back about 7 -8 times a year. This involved removing roll bar seat harness fire extinguisher and resetting the front suspension. The main issue was removing the wheels and doing a complete check of the suspension, brakes, etc to ensure the car was safe and prepared for its next job. Some say I went a bit overboard but my history in aviation left some good habits behind.

I was getting older and crawling around under a car was getting difficult so some form of lift became more desirable. I looked at two post lifts (roof to low) scissor Lift ( restriction for under car work) and decided on the EZ Lift. I purchased mine from the inventor and manufacturer in the USA. It has a maximum lift of 27" which allows you to roll under the car on a creeper and still have plenty of overhead work space. The only part I cant work on is the front rear hanger. If I need to get there I roll the lift in across the car in stead of length ways.

If you only want to work on the wheels you just lift the wheels off the ground and sit on a low seat. The only issue is the width of the lifter. It is powered by an electric drill and the drive is transferred between the planks and you need to change this when lifting wider cars. It takes about 10 mins to change to wider  separators. I use it on my TR (narrow) and both my Peugeot and Volvo with wider separators.

Storage for me is not an issue. If I want the TR, I roll the lifter under the Volvo or visa versa. The Peugeot lives outside.  

[Kiwifrog]

Is a front rear hanger similar to an Overhead underhang? If so do you also need a skirting board ladder to access it ? 🤔

[harrytr5]

This is mine and a gods send. The concrete oversite needed a depth of a minimum 200mm and mine was ok with added reinforcement as a bonus but specified at the time of building it. I have a pitched roof which is boarded over and a drop down loft ladder to gain access. I cut out and boxed in a letterbox to accommodate the front windscreen

and the loft ladder access accommodates the Surry backlite when in max lift. I can whiz about on my wheeled seat underneath quite comfortable.

I would have preferred it to be closer to the wall but the installers insisted it had to comply with the regs and rightly so as they issued the certificate of conformity.

The Busch lift two poster had only come out for home garage use with the two poster a max height just under 2400mm and 3000mm in width, so would fit into most home garages.

Just love it and as I get older a gods send.

Regards Harry

[RogerH]

With it up like that how do you remove the wiper blades  

[Ian Vincent]

I only have a single garage and it’s not big enough for a proper lift so I use a set of hydraulic ramps which work well. However I recently decided I’d had enough of faffing around with jacks and bought a 3t low level trolley jack. Delivered in two days, total cost £96 and it weighs a ton (well circa 30kgs) but seriously effective. I can get the car up on axle stands in about 10 minutes. Should have bought one years ago.

Rgds Ian

[Trumpy3]

"Should have bought one years ago."

How often do we hear that. Must be that we get 'older and wiser'.

Brian

 

[Lebro]

Wish I could have one, but garage is too narrow, not tall enough, & base is on a slope !

So it's trolley jack, & axle stands for me

Bob

[Steve-B]

Whilst I love the thought of having one of these hydralic or drill operated lifts, I'm not a person of means to do so which I suspect a number here are. 

All I really wish I had was something easy to drive up on 4 wheels, roughly 1/2mtr high so I can roll under and shut the garage door. Bonus would be if there was an easy way to keep the car hoisted and remove one or more wheels at a time. I find the ramps with the lattice bumps not easy to use as I'd need someone else to hold them in place.

I'm sure there's such a thing out there, but I've not yet found it yet in an affordable way so I guess it'll be my 3T jack and axle stands...

Edited December 18, 2025 by Steve-B

[harlequin]

49 minutes ago, Steve-B said:

 I find the ramps with the lattice bumps not easy to use as I'd need someone else to hold them in place.

 

I was considering putting a couple of inserts into my garage floor that will allow me to screw the ramps down to stop them skidding across the garage floor when trying to drive up them.

George 

[iain]

1 hour ago, Steve-B said:

Whilst I love the thought of having one of these hydralic or drill operated lifts, I'm not a person of means to do so which I suspect a number here are. 

All I really wish I had was something easy to drive up on 4 wheels, roughly 1/2mtr high so I can roll under and shut the garage door. Bonus would be if there was an easy way to keep the car hoisted and remove one or more wheels at a time. I find the ramps with the lattice bumps not easy to use as I'd need someone else to hold them in place.

I'm sure there's such a thing out there, but I've not yet found it yet in an affordable way so I guess it'll be my 3T jack and axle stands...

I’ve seen some long rocker ramps as used on dealer for courts. I think they are called vehicle display ramps? There are some on eBay.

[Steve-B]

12 minutes ago, harlequin said:

I was considering putting a couple of inserts into my garage floor that will allow me to screw the ramps down to stop them skidding across the garage floor when trying to drive up them.

George 

Something like these George? I've stared at these a couple times, and if I bought front 2 to the floor. The use a jack to get back of car onto another pair?

[TR Rob]

14 minutes ago, Steve-B said:

Something like these George? I've stared at these a couple times, and if I bought front 2 to the floor. The use a jack to get back of car onto another pair?

, No I think “iain” is referring to these

https://ebay.us/m/COuUbp

Tricky to store when not in use !

[Steve-B]

4 minutes ago, TR Rob said:

, No I think “iain” is referring to these

https://ebay.us/m/COuUbp

Tricky to store when not in use !

You're right, I'd struggle to move them let alone stpre them! Thanks for the link Rob!

[RogerH]

1 hour ago, Steve-B said:

Whilst I love the thought of having one of these hydralic or drill operated lifts, I'm not a person of means to do so which I suspect a number here are. 

All I really wish I had was something easy to drive up on 4 wheels, roughly 1/2mtr high so I can roll under and shut the garage door. Bonus would be if there was an easy way to keep the car hoisted and remove one or more wheels at a time. I find the ramps with the lattice bumps not easy to use as I'd need someone else to hold them in place.

I'm sure there's such a thing out there, but I've not yet found it yet in an affordable way so I guess it'll be my 3T jack and axle stands...

Hi Steve

this is my idea of the 'display' ramps.

They give a good deal of room underneath and store quite neatly ( rather like Russian dolls)
They do need two people to ascend safely (quite exciting at the point of rotating)

 

Roger

 

 

[stuart]

There is these Ramps

Stuart.

[harlequin]

 

1 hour ago, Steve-B said:

Something like these George? I've stared at these a couple times, and if I bought front 2 to the floor. The use a jack to get back of car onto another pair?

I was looking at a means of stopping my old fashion ramps from sliding away as I drive up them, somthing like a rivetnut set into the floor that a bolt can be screwed I to.

I also have a CJ Autolift which I can raise the car about 750mm level or considerably more if raising one end. I store's up against a wall and is not over heavy to move (I'm 76)

George 

Sorry

I do have a lot lof trouble getting photos around the right way 

Edited December 18, 2025 by harlequin

[RogerH]

[Chilliman]

Same one I use George, nice easy piece of kit to use & like you say it stores nicely to one side when not in use.

[Tim T]

Regarding the issue of standard ramps sliding along the floor, could you just cut 2 lengths of 12mm mfd/ply/osb about 450mm longer than the ramp footprint, roll the cars wheels onto the ply, screw a batten onto the far end of the ply, place the ramp on the ply and against the batten and won’t it all be held in place? Just a thought. Or any variation on the theme.
Cheers
Tim

[Cew]

I have an Automotech 4 post "parking" ramp and if you have the headroom it is ideal as the car can safely be left hoisted and another parked underneath. The headroom for mine is 1750mm fully raised and my Ford Ranger pick-up fits underneath with 60mm to spare. I opted for the 3.6m one but the 4.2m is actually cheaper (or was), luckily the Bentley or the pick-up wheelbase allow them to live on top when required. the garage is 11m long and 4.5m wide so accommodates all three vehicles. It also comes with removable casters to move it if necessary but still needs to be affixed to the floor but with less depth then the 2 posts. I also opted for the "travelling jack" that allows the vehicle to be wheels off when required.

The best £2500 I have spent and couldn't manage without it, it has been nearly eight years though no idea of latest prices. A good helpful company.

George, I found pieces of carpet on the concrete floor helps.

Edited December 18, 2025 by Cew
Additional info.

[keith1948]

1 hour ago, harlequin said:

I do have a lot lof trouble getting photos around the right way 

I think you may have inadvertently found the solution. Bolt the car to the floor and then turn the garage upside down. Simple really!

😃

Keith

[harlequin]

35 minutes ago, keith1948 said:

I think you may have inadvertently found the solution. Bolt the car to the floor and then turn the garage upside down. Simple really!

😃

Keith

Bit of lateral thinking there Keith, but ofcourse genius will always show out 

🤣

G

[Pete E]

6 hours ago, stuart said:

There is these Ramps

Stuart.

I have those type of ramps, but as mentioned already a bit of a worry should the ramps move (my father used to have his bolted down).

My preferred option is to use a trolley jack and place the ramps under and then if more height is needed use the in built jack. Again using the trolley jack to raise rear for axle stands when changing gear/trans fluids.

Pete

[keith1948]

I have the studded rubber matting on the garage floor and not had any problems with ramps sliding on that.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/rubber-matting-studded-3mm-1000mm-2/

On the gravel driveway I use metal spikes with a hook on that I hammer into the gravel to stop the ramps sliding. Not a great fan of ramps. Always worried I might drive off the end.

Keith

[Brianjone5]

21 hours ago, harlequin said:

I was considering putting a couple of inserts into my garage floor that will allow me to screw the ramps down to stop them skidding across the garage floor when trying to drive up them.

George 

When I used ramps, I cut lengths of wood board (2" x 6") to the length required from the front of the ramps to the back wall of the garage.