As anyone who enjoys turning wrenches will tell you, plastic ramps offer a convenient and easy way for home mechanics to elevate their vehicles for routine maintenance. However, like anything else, these simple items must be used correctly, or else they could lead to some issues. Now, a new viral video underscores this point vividly, showing a C4 Corvette owner attempting (and failing) to properly climb a set of plastic ramps.
The video captures a C4 Corvette positioned in a garage, its rear bumper hanging just over the edge of the garage while the nose extends into the driveway. Behind the rear wheels, we see a pair of plastic ramps placed just so in order to lift the car’s rear end. From the outset, however, the setup appears flawed. The ramps are not fully supported, with their front lips hanging off the concrete seam between the garage floor and the driveway. Though the incline appears minimal, it’s enough to destabilize the entire setup.
As the driver starts the car and gently reverses, looking behind him with the door open for guidance, the ramps begin to tip forward. The unsupported front ends sink down, shifting the balance and lifting the rear of the ramps. Despite noticing the imbalance, the driver presses on. As expected, the ramps slide backward as the Corvette climbs, leading to a jolt that causes the car’s rear to lift unexpectedly. The vehicle ultimately lands with a heavy thump.
Fortunately, no visible damage was caused to the Corvette or to the body, and the video ends without further incident. Still, the whole thing serves as something of a cautionary tale – for any automotive DIY work, ensuring that your ramps or jacks are placed on a completely flat, stable surface is absolutely essential. Even a slight misalignment or unsupported edge can lead to compromised stability and potential damage.
Check it out the full viral video right here:
Comments
Look this is plain driver error.
Plastic ramps generally have rubber strips for grip on the floor.
But for the, to work they have to be on the floor. This idiot had nothing under them to grip.
This seems like a mistake we all made once the first time we tried to use plastic drive up ramps…and then we never used them again. The old metal ones were awesome but the plastic jobs are completely worthless.
I have actually used both, Pop has two sets of metals I used to use and also have used several sets of plastics. Plastics win out every time, for me anyway. This guy probably was dragging the brakes, I didn’t watch the video but the first time I used ramps, I let off the gas a bit to soon, was leaning out the door so it was a bit hard to hit the brakes, and so just pushed back down on the gas. With the car moving the wrong direction already, of course a very similar thing happened.
Should have bought Race Ramps.
They’re made out of foam with a grippy material on them, plus a long, shallow ramp.
Pricey, but they work great.
Never trusted any sort of ramp when working by myself in the garage, rather I used a proper floor jack, jack stands, and wheel chocks and never went wrong.
It WAS a nice car. The Missuess and I get the work done on our ‘09 Rondo by Walmart. I got a set of Douglas tires for 300 and change. A little over 1/3 of my Social Security. It worked out. Hope they don’t take away our Medicare. The Rondo is all set. Good car.
no one is taking away your medicare. Stop believing the fake news media who does nothing but lies to you. Only the people who are on medicare fraudulently will be removed. The fraud, waste and deception is what will be stopped. But of course, your main stream media twists things around to make you believe what they want you to believe as truth. Guess what, this is not 1950 anymore, the media lies.
I have used my plastic ramps for many years without issues. Those pictured look really cheap, and had nothing to grip the floor and stay in place. I have two cars, a 1977 Buick Electra and a 2017 Chevrolet Impala, and the ramps work good for both cars. If I was fortunate enough to afford a Corvette, I would have to buy new ramps with a lower approach angle, because my ramps barely clear the bodywork of the Impala.
Just a random event that happened after someone set up a camera.
That’s why I have a 4-post lift, it has yet to scoot out from under the car…
I still have, but hardly ever use anymore, a set of ol time, from the 80’s, Red Steel ramps.
Folks there is nothing wrong with the car or ramp. This is why there is a set of instructions in the box as to how to properly use these things. You know that sheet you toss out and never look at.
You have to have these on flat ground and you need to make sure they have rubber strips on the bottom touching the concrete so they grip.
Step 1 on the instructions should say:
1. If you need instructions to use ramps, take your vehicle to a mechanic and return the ramps.
Before I installed a lift in my garage,too old too lay on the floor anymore🤣, I bought 2×6 lumber 6’ long and put them one the floor against the back wall and up against the ramps.The ramps never moved and I found it the safest way to use the ramps,they were the metal ramps which I found the safest and strongest!
Totally the drivers fault. I have used those ramps for years with ZERO issues
If you watch the ramps as he backs onto them, you can see the ramps rock forward so the bottom of the ramps cannot grip the concrete floor. The ramps are the right tool…the tool behind the wheel leaning out the door is not right for the job.