MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Hydraulic car ramps

Has anyone experience of these hybrid simple car ramps with hydraulic jacks inbuilt? I’m just looking for ideas for my impending house move which leaves behind my beloved Mech-Mate pit. Just a bit concerned whether to go the whole hog in the new garage with a scissor lift or maybe just something “half way house” like these ramps.
Hope this uploads!
https://www.manomano.co.uk/loading-ramp/car-service-ramps-with-hydraulic-jack-4409lbs-2000kg-height-adjustable-3314474?model_id=3314474
Bruce.
B Mayo

I find a set of tall axle stands and a professional trolley jack are more versatile and get in the way a lot less then ramps. There is also no mention of how high they lift the car, but they are cheap.
Dominic Clancy

I think Dominic's suggestion makes good sense. The other problem I have found using standard ramps, is that the front lower wing can sometimes catch, and become damaged, when driving on. Though cant remember if I have had the problem with the MGA as I rarely use the ramps these days
Graham V

They look like a decent piece of kit especially for the money, from what I could see, you can lift the car up to around 50 cm off the ground once you drive it onto the ramps.

My problem with ramps is that they tend to "squirt" away from the wheel as you start to drive up onto them. I fastened a short length of thick rope to the lowest rung of the ramps which was laid out forwards on the ground. This was trapped by the tyre as you drove onto them and helped keep the ramp in place.

I eventually gave my standard car ramps away because my front valance would usually catch on them as you drove on.

Colyn

PS I am saving up for a two-post hydraulic lift to fit in my garage, not cheap but hopefully will allow me to continue working on the car for a few more years yet.
Colyn Firth

My alternative solution to ramps slipping away from wheels is to have a piece of wood touching the front of each ramp and the other end of the wood touching back wall of garage. In my case the pieces of scrap wood are about 3 feet long. Colyn, have you tried ramps since you converted back to standard height suspension.

Ramps do sound interesting at that price.

Paul
Paul Dean

My experience is ramps are the worse option for reasons stated above (I solved the location problem by installing locating pins through the frame into the garage concrete floor long 1/4” bolts).

Jack and axles stands are cheap and simple (use 1500 kg low profile racing jack, light and quick) I also add a wooden block under each chassis rail for safety (with a groove down the centre to key into the chassis rail ridge).

Scissor lift is my current system. Reasonable price, safe and quick. Suits normal garages. 1.1 metre lift

2 post hoist is the best but you need plenty of ceiling height. A friend has cut one of these down to suit his ceiling height - only needed to have new cables made.

A 4 poster is great as well, not so easy for working on suspension and brakes without extra attachments but does provide storage space for an extra car.

Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Scissor hoist from Big Red Jacks.


Mike Ellsmore

Very happy with my Max-Jax "portable" shorty two post lift. The "portable" part is iffy since it requires unbolting the floor plates on the jack and moving the post which are quite heavy. The system lifts the car four feet (1.2 meters) and is easy to install and work under. A safe installation does require that the garage floor be at least 6" deep concrete.

Jud


J. K. Chapin

Working in comfort.


Don't know if they ship to the UK. Cost, as I recall, about $1,800 US.

Jud ('62 MGA Mk II)


J. K. Chapin

Mike Ellsmore...how do you work comfortably under that lift?
Gene Gillam

Gene

That is exactly why I prefer a jack and stands. Once it is on the stands the jack can be removed and there is almost nothing in the way.

It also encourages me to keep the floor clean if I know I will be lying on my back.

Dominic
Dominic Clancy

The versatility of jack and stands was again clear yesterday when I had to remove the right angle adapter for a T9 conversion because the drive spindle had mangled itself. Jack under the chassis under the RH door, jack up that side only, car at 30 degrees, support with a pair of stands, access to the speedo drive easy, hooked everything apart and reinstalled in 20 minutes.

Now I just have to wait for the part from Speedograph and get the speedo looked at by Richard Jenkins

Dominic Clancy

This thread was discussed between 17/10/2018 and 24/10/2018

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.