a caution on building your own ramps:
even the metal manufactured ones have been known to collapse!
(and your reference to using cheaper wood and leaving it outside makes me
nervous too)

not a bad idea to use jack stands even with ramps...

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Horace K. Sawyer" <firestream@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2000 4:46 AM
Subject: Re: jackstands vs. ramps Low-boy creeper

> First, I am scared of those metal ramps, and they are so slippery.  So, I
> copied the local fire department.  They have a set of wooden ramps that do
> the exact same thing, except better!  Just cut appropriate pieces and nail
> or screw together in a stair step fashion.  Drive the van up the steps,
one
> level at a time.  Voila!  I can send email photo to those who want.  I
even
> built mine from some cheaper grade wood, and they have warped a tad from
> being outside in the elements, but are still well suited for the task.
>
> BTW, why does the fire dept. use them?  For rescue.  Overturned vehicles
> need stabilzation, cars on their sides, sticking out of ditches, other
> cars, etc.  They call it "cribbing."  The various steps allow for a fit
> *somewhere* on the crashed vehicle.  I saw it as a the *perfect" oil
> changing ramp for cars.
>
> Second, Unca Joel, poet extraordinaire, brings up another of my favorite
> "inventions" for working on mechanical steeds.  A friend of mine, also a
> Volkswagen nut like the rest of you, calls the flat piece of cardboard a
> "Low-boy creeper."
>
> I just made a brand new one this weekend in fact!  We had to buy a new TV
> due to lightning strikes, and a 756" big screen makes a marvelous low-boy
> creeper.  In fact, covers most front yards . . .
>
> Or maybe that was a 32" Zenith from Circuit City . . .  anyway. nothing
> like nice, new thick, smooth cardboard to roll around on.  Makes a soul
> just feel good when you've got a new Matco Special forces wrench in your
> hand with a ubiquitous 13mm socket.  : )
>
> HK
> yeehaw from GA
>