What drive on racks are you using?

I have a set of old racks but the bottom of the air dam lip hits. Might could make them work, but it does not look good. Does Pep Boys, Sears, Advance Auto Parts, etc make a rack that you have found that works well?

Have 16 inch wheels. 2006 mcs

Thanks,

Richard

 

Rhino ramps are pretty low clearance. Can be found at WalMart or big name autoparts store...around $30 or less.

 

The Rhino ramps work well - I bought mine at Walmart.

 

+ 1 for Rhino ramps. My MCS with 16" wheels fits just fine. As does my Miata.

 

In the past I've just grabbed a couple of long 2x4s or 2x6s and lined them up on the ramp, which effectively decreases the incline of the ramp itself. Its not a procedure for the faint of heart, though, since you'll hear plenty of cracking when driving on the wood, and a minor deflection in angle gets multiplied over the length of the board. Its a method best done with someone outside the car, too.

 

Rhino ramps from Walmart for about $30.00 work great. Gives me plenty of room underneath. There was no clearance probem driving up onto them. Can't go wrong.

 

Or spend a little more and get one of these.

 

Now that IS neat, nabeshin.

Never thought about a device to suck the oil out. You'll still have to deal with oil left in the filter though, but neat idea.

 

oh cool nabeshin, that looks perfect for incognito oil changes in my condo's parking garage.

 

I use my hydraulic jack at the left front jacking point. This gives me enough room to get the pan, and my arm, under there.

Zip

 

Another +1 for Rhino Ramps. They work great!

 

If you like Rhino Ramps, you're gonna love this: http://www.ezcarlift.com it's a lot more expensive, but they say "you gets what you pays for..."

 

Man I'm sure they are safe, but I don't think I'd want to work under my car.

 

I guess I'll be the only Rhino Ramp detractor....

I bought a set and they fit under the air dam just fine, but they like to scoot around on a broom finished concrete floor. I tried several times, but after the right side scooted across the floor and dropped the car about 4 inches (and after I cleaned out my pants) I just jack up my car, then slide the Rhino Ramps under it. If you're on asphalt, they'd probably work, but mine scoot as bad as the old school steel ramps.

Above all, be SAFE!

Rawhyde

 

Wow, scary. Are the rubber feet underneath them in good order? Maybe scuff them up a bit to get more bite to your floor?

 

The Rhino Racks work great with my 16's. To solve the problem of them scooting back when driving up on them (the first time that happened, the Mini ended up "beached" on them mid-door! ), I position them so the little rubber feet rest in the gap at the front of the garage where the driveway paving and garage floor slab meet. It holds them just enough to solve the problem. Been using them that way for the past four years on all my vehicles. Best of all, they're light and easy to move around and store.

 

They look good and even have little traction nubs....they just don't grip!

ANYtime you work under the car, give it a good strong shaking before you get under it. Make damn SURE it's stable. I love cars as much as anybody ever has, but I don't want to use my body to cushion a car's fall....

Be safe anytime you break out the tools. I always let a friend or neighbor know when I'll be working under the car if I'm alone.

I want to clarify my earlier statement. I believe that Rhino Ramps can hold a car safely, but I'm not confident enough in them to DRIVE onto them on MY shop floor. I jack the car up and set it onto the ramps.

Rawhyde

 

Ahh...I heard of a trick/solution to this problem.

You can tie flat nylon/cloth tow straps (as long as the length of the your MINI and the ramp) or something similar to the end holes on the opposite side of both ramps...using the 2 big holes. Then lay them under the ramp coming out underneath the sloped side. Now, when your front and rear tires run over the straps and begins to approach the ramps, they won't go anywhere. Ramps are stuck put from the weight of the car holding down the straps (the rear tires will hold the ramp still as you're making your way up). I think this is safe since all the pressure is off once you're on top of the ramps.

 

They don't move an inch on asphalt.

Very good advice on the being safe part!

 

EXCELLENT idea (in the "why didn't I think of that!" kind of excellent!

and NEVER (as in "never EVER") work on a car that's only supported by a jack or, for that matter, ANY single-point-of-failure device. Doesn't matter if the jack is rated for 7000lb. You may have the reflexes of an olympic martial arts expert but you will NOT beat that car to the ground if it wants to get there first.

 

Yep, them's the ones... I bought them for $30 too. Made the oil change a real simple job. works great!

 

Is the oil drain plug situated in such way that you get all the oil out when the car is on an angle from being up on the ramps?

 

Yes, the drain plug is on the rear side of the pan. With the car on ramps it's the lowest part & helps get you a complete drain.

 

Here's the best way to change oil

 

I'll never know how well Rhino Ramps grip on finished concrete, since my garage is too full of other stuff to put a car in there, too. (Florida... we have no attics ) But they work GREAT on the driveway.

I got an oil extractor for Christmas a few years back & keep forgetting I have it. Clean as a whistle, never used. Gonna have to break that thing in one of these days & then pull the drain plug & see how much the extractor leaves behind.