I bought some ramps, and still struggle working under the car. Without a lift, how do you get the car high eneough to work on it?

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

I bought a good floor jack and good jack stands. Its high enough for most work except when pulling a tranny, (clearing the tunnel), it must be lifted a little higher by a 4x4 block plus the floor jack. Works fine for me.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Go here for the discussion


http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=180522&highlight=long+body+jack+harbor+freight+dave+jackstands

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I much prefer to use ramps because they seem much more secure. I do have good stands but only use them when I am working on something requiring removal of the wheels.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

When you rotate the tires every time you change the oil, there's hardly any point in even owning a system that only works if the wheels are staying on.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

thanks for the link, and the info.

Guess it is jack and stands. Which I have and have used. ( got to get one of those long jacks with the 33" lift, and dump this trolly jack)
I was hoping someone may have invented a "better" way. I like my ramps, But have a hard time getting under the car on them. I need at least 3-4 more inches to be under there for long.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

I can't rotate my tires .. different offsets front to rear sucks. if i want to rotate i have to have them dismounted and then rebalanced and re mounts ( front to rear and rear to front)

Thank goodness mine are all original.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Why limit yourself. Get all: some sort of floor jack, ramps and jackstands and give you self a lot of flexiability depending on the job you need to do. Don't forget the wheel chocks too.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I agree, I have all of it too....but tend to try and only use the ramps in most situations....its the most secure/stable. No worries of dying under a car.

As for tire rotation....I get mine balanced and rotated free at the tire place every 6,000ish miles.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I have it all also, "all" can be had for under or around $100, I try to use the ramps whenever I can, since they are more stable and secure than a jack and stands. I use ramps for oil changes, etc, most things you can do without taking the wheels off. I also put the jack under the engine crossmember whenever I'm under the car, ramps or otherwise.

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1980 240d
1999 SL500