I would like to do my fluid changes on my 2020 Rav 4. Can I safely put my vehicle on 4 ramps. Transmission fluid, oil change, etc. short term use. It seems safer than jack stands. 😕
You only need 2. The engine is at the front of the vehicle.
As long as the weight bearing capacity of the ramps is more than the vehicle itself, it's fine. Put it on a level surface.
Whatever you do, do not use Harbor Freight jack stands
or anything that you trust your life to, or want to last a long time. Harbor Freight = bottom of the barrel.
or anything that you trust your life to, or want to last a long time. Harbor Freight = bottom of the barrel.
I knew that, lol. Harbor Freight IS the bottom of the barrel. I have a few Duralast jack stands in the garage.
Assuming, you want to drive forwards onto the ramps, the ramps for the rear wheels should fit under the car..
When the ramps can carry the weight, it should be possible.
It depends on how long the ramps are, and how they are 'locked' to your surface, how tricky it will be to drive up and not over them with one or more wheels..
I would stick to 4 stands and bring each corner up separately with a workshop car jack.
Whatever you do, do not use Harbor Freight jack stands, lol, they recalled them twice for faulty components. Is a jack stand really THAT hard to make?
Thank you….I am well aware of the HF jackstands….stay away. Thanks
HF drive-on ramps will be a no-go too, I assume?
I've been using plastic ramps rated for SUV for years to change the oil & filter in my car. Since the ramps tilt the car up a few degrees, to obtain the proper level, fill the crankcase except for the last 1 quart. Start the engine to let fluid flow into the new oil filter. Back the car off the ramps, take the ramps out of the way, park it in it's spot, turn off the engine. Check the fluid level and fill to the full mark on the dipstick. Check the level again the next day. If it requires more, look for leaks.
Just go forwards onto two ramps that are the right weight limit for your car. I personally don't even fully trust jack stands; I take two 4x4 pieces of wood screw them together and put under the tires (oh and apply the parking brakes). They're wider than the tires so nothing would slip off of them, and no recall risk associated with it.
Am eager to learn, how to position a car level, using only 2 drive-on ramps...
I see, some answerers in this thread do know how, so please come out...!
you don't need to level a car for an oil change; obviously the engine is in the front of the car so you only need to raise the front two wheels.
you level out the car for draining out the oil??
Probably needs to be level for checking and changing transmission fluid, especially if the transmission is "sealed".
I just drop it back to the ground for checking. All my fluids are added under the hood.
I guess this would pose a problem for those idiotic transmissions that need to be checked from underneath.
That's what I'm figuring since the original post is about a 2020 model. Most newer models have that ridiculous setup.
well in that case, 4 ramps it is I guess. Nowhere in the instructions does it say you shouldn't do this. Only that they should be used in pairs. It makes sense. All that matters is the load capacity.
Thanks for all your responses. Ease it up and ease it down.
Turns out the harbor freight ramps actually perform quite well.
The metal "Made in USA" ones crumpled under the least amount of load.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM6rVfUnYP8