Rhino Ramp 12000 lb questions

Josh49 · 09-06-2006, 07:08 AM

Bought them yesterday. Didn't put the car up, but put one up to the wheel. It's pretty tight between the ramp and the front bumber (I'd estimate just under an inch). Anyone having problems bottoming out the bumper on these ramps? I have a 325xi...

They seem pretty damn sturdy, and I figure I won't be under the car that long anyhow.. Still seems a little unnerving having a car held above you by plastic. Anyone else have them and like them/hate them?

Haven't put the car up yet on them, gotta buy oil and a filter sometime this week.

Thanks ahead of time...

Josh49

PS. STF already. Most threads were about 8000 lb rhino. Wanted to ask specifically of the 12,000 as the geometry might be different.

ward · 09-06-2006, 09:01 AM

do you have a really big truck in addition to your E90?

ksfrogman · 09-06-2006, 09:09 AM

I bought a ramp that is similar to what I think you have, but the car kept pushing it forward whenever I tried to drive onto it. My ramps come apart in two pieces, so I removed the sloping part, jacked up my car, placed the wheel on top of the ramp, and set it back down again.

Josh49 · 09-06-2006, 09:15 AM

The choice was 4000 lb or 12000 lb. The 4000 looked a little too small, flimsy, and narrow. I didn't think the tire would even fit on it. For $10 more I got 12,000, increasing my safety factor by at least 3, and they're much wider, and look and feel more solid. There is a rubber patch under the front so when you start driving up them they are held in place. I have been debating whether to do this oil change in my garage vs. the driveway. I would rather work in the garage as its clean as hell and lit well but the asphalt/rubber friction coefficient seems higher than the cement/rubber friction coefficient. Also the rubber patch is only a ~2" x 2" square, the rest of the material contacting the ground is plastic. Again, I think I trust the plastic not moving on the asphalt more than the plastic not moving on the concrete..

I'll put a ramp up to the tire and take a picture of the clearance issue tonight.. It's really close..

obLu · 09-06-2006, 11:21 AM

I initially had the 8000, since someone else on this board was using them ... but the minute I got the front wheels toward the top of the ramps they bowed in the middle. Actually had a hard time getting the car back down, because both the front and the back had bowed and I was moving around on plastic ramp skates.

Exchanged them for the 12000's but haven't used them yet. Turned out my new neighbor's a mechanic and he took me down to his shop to use the lift for my oil change.

One trick I've used in the past that's worked well on concrete floors is to go get those little rubber grip pads that you use for opening jars. Put one at the back edge of each ramp. You'd be surprised how much grip those have. Typically those are enough to keep them in place.

My stock zsp had just enough clearance to make it up the 8000's, but it was close ... although I'm not that worried about scraping the very bottom of my bumper against plastic, it gets scraped enough on other things. But I still keep a couple of cut pieces of 2x4 handy to put in front of the ramp for extra clearance.

I'm curious how the 12000s hold up, since the 8000s couldn't take the weight.

tiga901 · 09-06-2006, 09:53 PM

The 12000 lb is a tad wider than the 8000. Makes it easier to pull the car up. You made the right choice....for an extra $10, you get a wider ramp.

I like mine and I'm sure you will too...

Josh49 · 09-07-2006, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga901

The 12000 lb is a tad wider than the 8000. Makes it easier to pull the car up. You made the right choice....for an extra $10, you get a wider ramp.

I like mine and I'm sure you will too...

So it looks like you have the 330 with sport package? If this is correct than I feel better about the clearance issue, as you're sitting lower than I am.. Have you ever bottomed out getting on or off the ramps? It sounds like you like them, which makes me happy. I will probably change my oil tonight, thanks for the response...

tiga901 · 09-07-2006, 08:01 AM

i used the ramp to change oil 3x now and it is easy to get on and off. there is enough clearance and i have a zsp. The only drawback is that the ramp silps on concrete so i have to put something underneath to keep it from moving. Otherwise, it's great and takes the weight easily and no buckling.

try it and you will see what i mean.

09-06-2006, 07:08 AM	#1
Josh49 Major General 252 Rep 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	Rhino Ramp 12000 lb questions Bought them yesterday. Didn't put the car up, but put one up to the wheel. It's pretty tight between the ramp and the front bumber (I'd estimate just under an inch). Anyone having problems bottoming out the bumper on these ramps? I have a 325xi... They seem pretty damn sturdy, and I figure I won't be under the car that long anyhow.. Still seems a little unnerving having a car held above you by plastic. Anyone else have them and like them/hate them? Haven't put the car up yet on them, gotta buy oil and a filter sometime this week. Thanks ahead of time... Josh49 PS. STF already. Most threads were about 8000 lb rhino. Wanted to ask specifically of the 12,000 as the geometry might be different. __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
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09-06-2006, 09:01 AM	#2
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	do you have a really big truck in addition to your E90?
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09-06-2006, 09:09 AM	#3
ksfrogman Major General 576 Rep 6,750 Posts Drives: E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Torrance, CA iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	I bought a ramp that is similar to what I think you have, but the car kept pushing it forward whenever I tried to drive onto it. My ramps come apart in two pieces, so I removed the sloping part, jacked up my car, placed the wheel on top of the ramp, and set it back down again. __________________
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09-06-2006, 09:15 AM	#4
Josh49 Major General 252 Rep 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	The choice was 4000 lb or 12000 lb. The 4000 looked a little too small, flimsy, and narrow. I didn't think the tire would even fit on it. For $10 more I got 12,000, increasing my safety factor by at least 3, and they're much wider, and look and feel more solid. There is a rubber patch under the front so when you start driving up them they are held in place. I have been debating whether to do this oil change in my garage vs. the driveway. I would rather work in the garage as its clean as hell and lit well but the asphalt/rubber friction coefficient seems higher than the cement/rubber friction coefficient. Also the rubber patch is only a ~2" x 2" square, the rest of the material contacting the ground is plastic. Again, I think I trust the plastic not moving on the asphalt more than the plastic not moving on the concrete.. I'll put a ramp up to the tire and take a picture of the clearance issue tonight.. It's really close.. __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
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09-06-2006, 11:21 AM	#5
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	I initially had the 8000, since someone else on this board was using them ... but the minute I got the front wheels toward the top of the ramps they bowed in the middle. Actually had a hard time getting the car back down, because both the front and the back had bowed and I was moving around on plastic ramp skates. Exchanged them for the 12000's but haven't used them yet. Turned out my new neighbor's a mechanic and he took me down to his shop to use the lift for my oil change. One trick I've used in the past that's worked well on concrete floors is to go get those little rubber grip pads that you use for opening jars. Put one at the back edge of each ramp. You'd be surprised how much grip those have. Typically those are enough to keep them in place. My stock zsp had just enough clearance to make it up the 8000's, but it was close ... although I'm not that worried about scraping the very bottom of my bumper against plastic, it gets scraped enough on other things. But I still keep a couple of cut pieces of 2x4 handy to put in front of the ramp for extra clearance. I'm curious how the 12000s hold up, since the 8000s couldn't take the weight.
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09-06-2006, 09:53 PM	#6
tiga901 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 244 Posts Drives: e90 330i, mt pp sp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Millbrae, CA iTrader: (0)	The 12000 lb is a tad wider than the 8000. Makes it easier to pull the car up. You made the right choice....for an extra $10, you get a wider ramp. I like mine and I'm sure you will too... __________________ CDV mod, OEM BMW Strut Bar, OEM Aluminum Pedals, OEM Short Shift Knob, OEM Alarm, Rear Fog Lights, Rear Power Outlets Next mod...Intake(Dinan or Gruppe M), Rogue SSK
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09-07-2006, 08:01 AM	#8
tiga901 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 244 Posts Drives: e90 330i, mt pp sp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Millbrae, CA iTrader: (0)	i used the ramp to change oil 3x now and it is easy to get on and off. there is enough clearance and i have a zsp. The only drawback is that the ramp silps on concrete so i have to put something underneath to keep it from moving. Otherwise, it's great and takes the weight easily and no buckling. try it and you will see what i mean. __________________ CDV mod, OEM BMW Strut Bar, OEM Aluminum Pedals, OEM Short Shift Knob, OEM Alarm, Rear Fog Lights, Rear Power Outlets Next mod...Intake(Dinan or Gruppe M), Rogue SSK
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