Most people choose car ramps because of the safety they provide. When compared with jack stands, these units offer a bigger surface area for support. This allows them to remain more stable on the ground and provide better support to the wheels, thereby minimizing the car falling chances.
The best car ramps are easy to work with too. You only have to drive your car onto them and apply the handbrake when its wheels hit the stopping point. The clearance provided by ramps will allow you to access your car’s undercarriage without crawling underneath it.
These units also protect your car from damage. Lifting the car for too long on the jack exposes a single point in its underbody to concentrated pressure. That point’s coating may get damaged beyond repair on repeated and prolonged jack use. The best car ramps, as you might guess, pose no such problem.
Best Car Ramps In 2021 – Reviews and Buying Guide
The BISupply Tandem Wheel Ramp is as strong as it looks. It provides enough clearance for you to access the underbody of double-axle cars, trucks and even trailers. The ramp’s with is also big enough to distribute vehicle load evenly and prevent any mishap.
It also busts the myth that only steel or aluminum ramps can boast above-average weight capacity. The polypropylene plastic build of this ramp has enabled it to hold up to 20,000lbs. That’s not where the good news ends.
Equally noteworthy is this ramp’s concave-shaped design. It helps preserve the tires’ original shape by letting them rest in a rounded position when lifted. This exposes the tires to less wear and tear and therefore won’t harm their road life.
Key Features
- Massive 20,000lbs weight capacity
- Anti-slip and rust-resistant surface
- Works with double-axle cars, trucks and trailer wheels
- Concave-shaped design protects the tires
Why We Like It:
The BISupply Tandem Wheel Ramp boasts an above-average weight capacity, prevents parked tires from slipping and has an appearance that will stay vibrant for years to come.
The RhinoGear MAX Vehicle Ramp is a must-have for low-profile vehicles. The reason we’re saying that has to do with this model’s 17-degree incline. One that provides a gradual lift to vehicles and prevents the underbody of cars with low clearance from scraping the ground.
Equally impressive are this ramp’s CoreTRAC base and rugged resin build. The former is non-skidding and therefore minimizes the risk of slippage. Its sturdy resin build, meanwhile, is the main reason why this ramp can hold up to 16,000lbs weight with minimal fuss.
On top of everything else, the set is nestable. That means you can stack one ramp on top of the other, instead of parking both next to each other. This, in turn, means that it will occupy less space in your garage (to save space) and in your car’s boot (to improve portability).
Key Features
- Provides a gradual incline
- 16,000lbs weight capacity
- Non-skidding and wide surface
- Nestable design
Why We Like It:
The RhinoGear MAX Vehicle Ramp is an ultra-portable unit that is compatible with low-clearance vehicles and has a non-skidding surface to prevent any mishap’s chances.
The Tomioka Racing Super Slopes offer many outstanding features. Foremost among them is its compact and low-profile design. Both these features allow these slopes to occupy less space on the ground and provide 3-inches lift to vehicles.
You might also find it useful to note that these ramps have no sharp edges, which means there’s nothing on their surface that might damage your vehicle’s underbody. All they have, instead, is a solid base that doesn’t let them sink on solid and smooth surfaces.
Each ramp can hold up to 1,500lbs weight and 20-inch wide tires. They have a skid-resistant surface to minimize slippage and a contour-shaped elevation at the end to prevent the wheels from rolling backward once you’ve parked your car on the ramp.
Key Features
- Anti-skid base
- Heavy-duty plastic build
- Ultra-lightweight construction
- Protect vehicles with poor clearance
Why We Like It:
The Tomioka Racing Super Slopes boast a compact and low profile design, lift low-profile vehicles gradually to prevent damage to their underbody and are ultra-portable too.
Their name makes it clear what ‘Trailer’-Aid ramps are all about. They are made to lift trailers but you can take advantage of their 15,000lbs weight capacity to lift your cars too. Just make sure that you apply the handbrake after parking your vehicle on these ramps.
These ramps won’t only provide your vehicle with above-average 4.5-inch ground clearance. They also have holes in their upper surface for dust particles to automatically fall off. Also on offer is a waterproof base that can resist rust and keep this ramp going for years to come.
We were also impressed with this model’s user-friendly design. It contains rear and front holes for easy handling and access and has clean edges that won’t hurt hands or snag clothing. And to further sweeten the deal, their lightweight build makes carrying these ramps a cinch.
Key Features
- Ultra-lightweight (5lbs) construction
- Clean edges that won’t hurt hands or snag clothes
- Waterproof and rustproof base with 15,000lbs weight capacity
Why We Like It:
The Trailer-Aid Tandem Tire Changing Ramp is one of those pocket-sized models that belie their minimalistic design by offering above-average weight capacity and shelf life.
Multiple features of the Vestil Aluminum Wheel Riser impressed us the most. Foremost among them is its ramp-design, which allows you to stack this ramp compactly when you are not using it. Then there is its diamond treadplate surface that provides a non-skid surface to prevent slippages.
Each of these ramps boasts a 15,000lbs weight capacity (30,000lbs per pair) and is designed to ascend-descend vehicles in compliance with OSHA and ANSI standards. The last point should tell you all you need to know about the quality of this car ramp.
Its 16” height may make you think that this ramp isn’t for low-profile vehicles. Such thinking would be misguided. This ramp is 48-inches long for no other reason but to provide enough length for low profile vehicles to ascend/descend without scraping or damaging their underbelly.
Key Features
- Raised diamond treadplate
- Stackable design for compact storage
- Complying with ANSI and OSHA standards
- 30,000 lbs. weight capacity (15,000 lbs. per ramp)
Why We Like It:
The Vestil ATWR Aluminum Wheel Riser won’t let wheels slip with its diamond treadplate and has the weight capacity that allows it to lift most cars you see on the road.
Here’s another high-quality car ramp set that won’t occupy much space in your garage. It offers a generous 8,000lbs weight capacity despite weighing less than 10lbs. Which is the reason why you can chuck the set in your boot and carry it anywhere alongside you.
Its long-length construction, traction design and raised edges work in tandem. The first allows the wheels to quickly get on top of the ramp whereas the traction design will prevent them from rolling backward. As for the raised edges, they’ll keep the tires (and your vehicle) from falling sideways.
We don’t have any complaints about this ramp’s durability as well. Its sturdy plastic construction provides it with maximum strength and the anti-skid base pads at the bottom will keep it from sliding across slippery floors. And the carry-holes on the sides would ensure easy transportation too.
Key Features
- Non-skid base pads to prevent slippage on wet surfaces
- Above average weight capacity (8,000lbs)
- Ensures gradual lift to prevent damage to vehicle’s undercarriage
- Raised tire sides and stop keep tires in place
Why We Like It:
The BISupply Vehicle Service Ramp Set doesn’t allow its below-average weight to prevent it from offering above-average weight capacity.
Most models you saw above were aimed at both low- and high-profile vehicles. The Black Widow is different. It is one of those high car ramps that aim to lift SUVs, large trucks, vans, and those sedans that are bigger than you usually see on the road. Here’s how.
It boasts a high-quality polymer build that can withstand up to 8tons of weight. The ramp also features a grid design that allows dirt, water and even snow to seep through. You can therefore use it in both indoor shaded areas as well as in outdoor settings.
Also on offer is an impressive 6.25″ lift height that will let you get under your car’s undercarriage without crawling. The ramp features a skid-resistant top to prevent slippage and has slip-resistant feet to remain steady on slippery concrete floors.
Key Features
- Skid-resistant top and slip-resistant feet
- 6,000lbs per axle weight capacity
- Lifts vehicles up to 6.25-inches
- Grid design lets water and snow to filter through
Why We Like It:
The Black Widow PSR295 Plastic Car Service Ramps offer above-average weight capacity, have an auto-cleaning design and a durable build that would keep them going for years.
Who says budget ramps cannot offer bells-and-whistles? The Discount Ramps belies the ‘you get what you pay for’ axiom with multiple outstanding features. First among them is its 9.05-inch loading angle which allows low clearance vehicles to easily mount/dismount.
Then there are the honeycomb channels. They run through this ramp’s length and cover the entire area where you would park the wheels. This placement enables them to prevent moisture build-up by letting water particles seep through the ramp.
Even though the pair boasts a combined weight capacity of 4,400lbs, it only weighs 4.5lbs and is, therefore, a cinch to carry. Throw into the mix their competitive asking price, and there aren’t many faults one can find with these portable car ramps.
Key Features
- Honeycomb channels to filter pollutants
- Available in a competitive asking price
- Gradual incline to accommodate low profile vehicles
Why We Like It:
One of the things we liked most about Discount Ramps is that they haven’t cut any corners to keep their asking price low.
How to Choose Best Car Ramps – Car Ramps Buying Guide
One of two types of car owners will consult this article. The first are those who are driving veterans and know everything about car ramps. They are only here to find the unit with the best reviews. Once they have discovered such a model, they’d go for it.
Such old-timers are in the minority. A vast majority may not know much about car ramps’ features, let alone the characteristics that distinguish the best vehicle ramps from their ordinary counterparts. It is for them that this buying guide section has been designed for.
What to Consider When Buying car ramps?
Following are the questions you need to ask yourself to get the best car ramps:
1. What is the weight rating of the car ramps?
Make sure you know the exact weight of your car before you go shopping for car ramps. You can find it either on your vehicle’s VIN plate or on its manufacturer’s website. The next thing you should do is select a ramp whose weight rating is slightly bigger than your car’s size. Here’s what this means.
Assume for a moment that you own a mid-sized sedan. In that case you’d be fine with a ramp with a weight rating of up to 5,000 lbs. That’s because an average car in the US weighs 4,000lbs and the ramp’s spare 1,000lbs capacity will keep it from breaking down.
However, if you own a large SUV, you may need a ramp whose weight rating is twice as much. As some of them might weigh one-and-a-half-times as much as your average car and therefore need a ramp that won’t break down under their weight.
2. What are the car ramp’s width and incline angle?
Here’s what you need to know about both these features:
Ramp width
Most ramps you see in this review are less than 8″ wide. Others provide enough space for 10″ tires. Others still can support 14″ or wider tires. Which of them should you choose? One which is only slightly wider than your tire. Here’s why we’re saying that.
Don’t go for ultra-wide ramps – for example, a 14″ wide ramp for 10″ wide tires – as then you won’t be able to center the wheels on the ramp. Such a scenario might either lead to the ramp getting cracked or, it may lead to your car falling off the ramp.
Incline Angle
The majority of ramps you encounter in your local car workstation feature a 17-degree incline. They are suitable for high-profile vehicles (discussed below). However, suppose you own one of those lower-profile vehicles whose underbelly hits every out-of-shape speed breaker on the road. In that case, you’d be better served with a ramp of 7-degree or 10.5-degree incline angle.
3. Is the ramp you’re looking at made for low-profile or high-profile cars?
Here’s what we mean by this question:
- Low profile ramps: Such ramps are made for vehicles that can’t be lifted too much, or else their back might hit the ground. They therefore provide gentle clearance, less than 10 inches in most cases, and are most suitable for sports cars and exotic vehicles.
- High profile ramps: These units are made for your average SUV, vans, and semi-trucks. They provide extensive ground clearance (> 10 inches) to vehicles that pose no danger of their back hitting the floor when their bonnet is pointing upwards.
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4. What is the car ramp made of?
The best auto ramps are made of one of the following materials:
- Aluminum: Aluminum car ramps offer excellent rust and corrosion resistance, lightweight construction, and a sturdy build. On the flip side, they are pricier than steel ramps and offer less resistance to bending and fatigue.
- Steel: Steel car ramps for home garage cost less upfront, have a bigger weight capacity, and are more fatigue- and bending-resistant than their counterparts made of aluminum. Having said that, they weigh a ton and are prone to catching rust and corrosion.
- Plastic or Polymer: In contrast to what most people believe, plastic car ramps are safe to use, even with heavyweight vehicles. Some of them offer added features too, like a non-slip surface and a molded lip to keep the wheels from rolling off the edge.
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5. Does the car ramp have an anti-slip surface?
Most car service ramps you see in this review have an anti-slip surface. This keeps them in place as you’re driving the vehicle on and off the ramps. It also makes sure that the ramp doesn’t shift or move from beneath the wheels of your car as you’re trying to mount it.
This feature is pretty much a must-have if you’re going to use the ramps on a slippery floor. However, if you have a gravel driveway or a high-traction dirt floor, you may not have any need to pay extra for anti-slip ramps to work under car.