Which Car Ramps Should I Buy?

On this page (7 sections)

1. Which car ramps should I buy for my vehicle?
2. Which ramp style suits your garage and routine?
3. Are car ramps right for your planned repair?
4. How much garage space do car ramps need?
5. How should you set up car ramps before getting underneath?
6. What mistakes shorten ramp life or create unsafe setups?
7. Which car ramps should you choose now?

To decide which car ramps to buy, start with your vehicle’s loaded weight, tire width and approach clearance, then choose enough lift for your job. Storage features matter after those fit checks pass.

For routine maintenance with the wheels attached, a matched pair can raise one axle when the equipment and vehicle instructions allow it. If you need to remove a wheel or unload the suspension, choose a different support setup.

The 4 options below serve different garage needs. Read our car ramp safety guide alongside these buying checks before putting a vehicle on ramps.

Which car ramps should I buy for my vehicle?

Buy ramps that pass 3 fit checks: load, tire width and approach clearance. Then compare the working height, floor space and handling features.

A ramp that suits one car may fail with another car of similar weight. A low bumper, wider replacement tires or added cargo can change the choice.

Which car ramps fit a low car?

Choose a ramp with an approach your car can clear throughout the climb, rather than relying on a “low profile” name. Ramp length and incline help, but the bumper’s shape and distance ahead of the tire also matter.

Measure the lowest front lip or undertray near the tire’s path. A car with a long front overhang can touch a ramp before its tire reaches the incline.

Allow room for the car’s angle to change as the tires climb. Static ground clearance alone cannot confirm that the bumper and underbody will stay clear.

Use our guide to car ramps for low cars for more fit checks. If ramps cannot clear the bodywork, read what a low-profile floor jack is before choosing an approved lifting and support method.

How much ramp capacity do you need?

Choose ramps that meet every applicable load limit, including the individual ramp, matched pair and any gross vehicle weight limit. These limits describe different things and are not interchangeable.

All 4 pairs here have a 3,250 lb per-ramp limit and a 6,500 lb pair limit. A 13,000 lb gross vehicle weight allowance, where specified, does not mean the pair can carry that entire load.

Do not divide total vehicle weight by 4 and assume each tire carries the same amount. Front and rear axle loads differ, and cargo can change the load at each wheel.

Check the vehicle information and ramp instructions, using measured axle or wheel loads when needed to resolve uncertainty. Choose equipment with adequate capacity before considering convenience features.

How do you check tire fit?

Use the maximum permitted tire width, not the ramp’s outside width, to judge tire fit. The tire must sit centered within the usable track without overhanging its edges.

The Amazon Basics instructions allow tires up to 12 in wide, while the MaxxHaul 50709 allows up to 15 in. Confirm the permitted tire width for the 50515 and 50947 before buying if fit is close.

A tire’s sidewall size can help identify it, but it is not a substitute for the ramp’s fit instructions. Raised edges and sidewalls reduce the space available within a ramp’s overall width.

Check both tires on the axle, especially after a wheel or tire change. Do not let a wider replacement tire turn a previously suitable ramp into an unsuitable one.

How much working height is enough?

Choose lift based on the space needed at the actual work area, including your tools and drain pan. Overall ramp height and tire lift are different measurements.

Raising one axle tilts the vehicle, so clearance does not increase equally everywhere underneath. A drain plug near the raised axle may gain more usable room than a component farther toward the center.

Plan the tool movement as well as the space for your body. You need room to turn a wrench, remove a filter and move parts without pressing against the vehicle.

The MaxxHaul lift measurements vary between descriptions, so confirm the exact lift before ordering if a small difference determines whether your job is possible.

Which ramp style suits your garage and routine?

Choose standard ramps for a simple setup, stackable ramps for storage, or detachable ramps for access flexibility. Each style still needs the same vehicle-fit and surface checks.

The useful differences below concern how you position, carry and work around the ramps. Their shared capacity does not make them equally suitable for every vehicle.

MaxxHaul 50515: for routine wheel-on maintenance

Choose the MaxxHaul 50515 for routine garage maintenance when you want a ramp without detachable sections to assemble. Its heavy-duty plastic body, ridged track and rubber base stops address the climb and contact with the floor.

The stated lift is 6.25 in, with an overall footprint about 35.5 in long and 12 in wide. Measure that footprint against the space in front of your tires and the area where you will store the pair.

This model suits oil changes and inspections when its approach clears the vehicle and the raised position gives access to the needed parts. The rubber stops still need clean, dry contact with a suitable floor.

Skip it if you need detachable approach sections or confirmed clearance for a very low front lip. Also resolve tire fit before ordering; the outside width alone does not tell you how wide a tire it can accept.

Amazon Basics: for frequent carrying and positioning

Choose the Amazon Basics ramps when handling weight matters and your car fits their limits. Each reinforced plastic ramp weighs about 9.24 lb, which is useful information if you carry them from a shelf to the car for every job.

Each ramp is about 35.51 in long, 11.97 in wide and 8.07 in high overall. That last measurement is the ramp’s outside height, so do not use it as the exact tire lift.

The textured track and rubber base stops support a straightforward home-garage setup. The instructions also give clear restrictions on vehicle position, surface condition and work that could change the vehicle’s support needs.

Skip this pair if your tires exceed its width limit or the approach does not clear your bodywork. The “low profile” name does not settle either question, and a compact storage footprint cannot make up for a poor vehicle fit.

MaxxHaul 50947: for garages with limited storage

Choose the MaxxHaul 50947 when putting the ramps away is a daily concern. The stackable design helps keep the pair together, and built-in side handles give you a place to grip each ramp.

These polypropylene ramps have a stated 6.7 in lift and a ribbed platform. Their footprint is about 35.63 in long and 12 in wide, so measure your intended shelf or storage corner before choosing them.

The storage benefit matters most in a shared garage where loose equipment would block a walking path or parking space. Store the ramps in their intended position without heavy objects pressing against them.

Skip this model if detachable runners are your main need. Stackability is a storage feature, and it does not mean you can stack ramps beneath a vehicle to gain height.

MaxxHaul 50709: for longer approaches and removable runners

Choose the MaxxHaul 50709 when a longer approach or removable runner solves a specific access problem. Its 9.5-degree incline gives you a stated angle to compare with your vehicle.

The key dimensions are 52.5 in long, 15 in wide and 8.5 in high overall, with a maximum lift of 6.5 in. The pair weighs about 33 lb, so consider both carrying effort and storage space.

The runner tabs seat into notches on the front section. Check those connections during assembly, and follow the instructions for when and how a runner may be removed after positioning the vehicle.

Extensions are sold separately, so do not assume they come with the pair. Skip this model if your garage lacks room for the approach and controlled driving space, and read our MaxxHaul 50709 review if detachable sections are the deciding feature.

Are car ramps right for your planned repair?

Ramps suit permitted maintenance with the supported wheels attached and loaded. Oil changes, some filter access and visual inspections can fit that setup, depending on the vehicle.

Check the location of the part before buying equipment. A plastic undertray, awkward filter position or drain plug behind a crossmember can affect access even when there is enough room beneath the car.

For oil changes, leave space for a drain pan and follow the vehicle’s instructions on draining and checking the oil level. A vehicle tilted on ramps may need to return to level ground for the final level check.

Our car ramps for oil changes guide focuses on that task. Do not choose a ramp only because it creates space to slide underneath.

Do you need jack stands with car ramps?

Use the support arrangement required by the repair and vehicle instructions. Adding stands to ramps does not automatically create a suitable setup.

Ramps support tires, while stands support approved points on the vehicle. Work involving wheel removal, unloaded suspension or major component removal may require a different arrangement from the start.

Read whether you need jack stands with ramps before combining equipment. A floor jack raises a vehicle but does not replace approved support during underbody work; our guide to how floor jacks work explains that role.

How much garage space do car ramps need?

Allow room for the ramps, the climb, the parked vehicle and your exit path. Measuring only the ramp length misses the space needed to use it.

Check the distance to the garage wall, workbench or closed door before positioning the pair. You need to approach straight without turning sharply onto the tracks.

Make sure you can open the driver’s door and get out once the vehicle is raised. Keep tools, cords and the drain pan out of the driving path until the car is secured.

A detachable runner can help clear an access route after setup when its instructions permit removal. It does not reduce the space needed to drive onto the fully assembled ramps.

How should you set up car ramps before getting underneath?

Set up on a hard, flat, level, dry surface, then follow the ramp and vehicle instructions for positioning and securing the car. Rubber stops and textured tracks cannot correct slope, loose ground or contamination.

Do not use these ramps on grass, gravel, sand or other unstable ground. A paved driveway also needs checking for slope, broken areas and a surface capable of supporting the concentrated load.

1. Inspect both ramps for cracks, distortion, damaged contact areas and missing required parts.
2. Clean the tracks, bases and floor so no oil, water or debris interferes with contact.
3. Place the matched pair squarely in line with the tires on the permitted axle.
4. Check body clearance and confirm that detachable parts are fully seated.
5. Drive slowly and evenly, following the instructions for the final tire position.
6. Stop, secure the vehicle as directed, apply the parking brake and chock the wheels remaining on the ground.
7. Check tire centering, ramp position and stability before going underneath.

If either ramp moves or the car starts climbing unevenly, stop the attempt. Follow the equipment instructions to return to a safe position and correct the cause before starting again.

Keep other people clear of the vehicle’s path. A helper can watch alignment from a safe position to the side, but should never stand in front of or behind the moving car.

For more setup detail, read are car ramps safe?. Treat that check as part of every use, including familiar jobs.

What mistakes shorten ramp life or create unsafe setups?

Avoid improvised height changes, dirty contact surfaces and continued use after damage. Care starts with preserving the ramp’s intended shape and support.

Do not place loose boards, blocks or bricks beneath ramps to gain lift. Do not build an approach extension unless the manufacturer expressly permits that arrangement.

Clean away oil and dirt after use with methods compatible with the ramp material. Inspect again before storage so a crack or damaged connection does not disappear into the next job’s routine.

Store the pair where vehicles cannot strike it and heavy equipment cannot crush or distort it. Follow the manufacturer’s care directions for cleaners, storage conditions and exposure.

Do not repair a load-bearing crack with glue or keep using a ramp because the damage looks small. Replace damaged equipment according to the manufacturer’s guidance.

Another common mistake is carrying old assumptions over to a changed car. Recheck fit after adding a front lip, lowering the suspension, changing tires or loading the vehicle differently.

Which car ramps should you choose now?

Choose the simplest pair that passes your vehicle, task and workspace checks. Use convenience features to break a tie after capacity and fit are settled.

• Choose the MaxxHaul 50515 for routine wheel-on maintenance when its standard shape and rubber base stops suit your garage.
• Choose Amazon Basics when carrying effort matters and your car fits its stated tire limit and approach.
• Choose the MaxxHaul 50947 when stackable storage and side handles solve your main garage problem.
• Choose the MaxxHaul 50709 when its longer incline, wider permitted tire fit or detachable runners meet a specific need.

If you still cannot decide which car ramps fit, resolve the uncertain measurement before ordering. For a wider selection, compare our best car ramps guide.

If the job requires wheel removal or a different support position, change the equipment plan. Our car ramps vs jack stands guide explains which arrangement suits that work.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the right car ramps?

Choose ramps that fit your vehicle’s loaded weight, tire width and approach clearance, then compare lift height and garage space; check each ramp’s individual load limit as well as the pair limit. Read the instructions before buying so you know the permitted surface, vehicle position and setup.

Are low profile car ramps better?

Low profile car ramps suit a low vehicle only when their incline clears its bumper, front lip and underbody; the name alone does not confirm that fit. Compare the approach shape with the car’s clearance, and choose another approved lifting method if the bodywork would touch.

Can I use car ramps for an oil change?

Yes, car ramps can provide access for an oil change when the vehicle fits and its service instructions allow that position. Check that you can reach the drain plug and filter, place a drain pan, and follow the required oil-level checking procedure after the work.

Do car ramps replace jack stands?

Car ramps can support a vehicle for suitable wheel-on maintenance, but they do not replace jack stands for every repair; wheel removal and some suspension work need a different support arrangement. Follow the vehicle’s approved lifting and support instructions rather than combining ramps, jacks and stands without a plan.

Can I use car ramps on a driveway?

Use car ramps on a driveway only if the surface meets their instructions: hard, flat, level, dry and capable of supporting the load; a paved driveway can still have too much slope or an uneven base. Rubber stops and textured tracks do not make an unsuitable work area safe.