Lifting
Should I use axle stands or ramps?
They are not alternatives for the same job. Ramps are quicker and leave the wheels on; stands are the only option for anything involving a wheel. The choice is decided by the work, not by preference.
| Compared on | set of 4, 3 t | 50156 ramp pair with stop |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels can be removed | Yes | No — the wheels sit on the ramps |
| Rated capacity | 3 t, set of 4 | 1.6 t per pair |
| Height | 275–430 mm (10.8 to 16.9 in) in 6 steps | 20.5 cm (8.1 in) |
| Approach angle published | Not applicable | 17° |
| Tire width limit | Not applicable | Up to 225 mm (8.86 in), stated |
| Locking or retention | Ratchet plus a chained safety pin | Over-run stop at the top |
| Needs a jack | Yes | No — you drive onto them |
| Speed of setup | Jack, lower, check, repeat | Drive up and chock |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | Yes |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
Buy the Stix stands for anything involving a wheel — brakes, hubs, bearings, winter storage. Four rather than two means the whole car can come up, the six height steps let both ends match exactly, and the safety pin is chained to the stand so it is present when needed. This is the purchase that makes going under a car defensible.
Buy the cartrend ramps for oil changes and underbody inspection. They are the only ramps here that publish an approach angle — 17° — and a tire width limit, and the over-run stop prevents driving off the end. Read the 1.6 t per pair against your axle load rather than against the weight of the car.
Ramps raise the front with the wheels on; stands support the car with them off. They are used for different jobs rather than combined, and mixing supports of different heights is not good practice.
Always. The wheels on the ground must be chocked and the handbrake set. A car on ramps is not a car that cannot move.
Because a full brake job or winter storage needs the whole car supported. Buying two twice usually means two different models, which is the arrangement to avoid.
Rated 3 t · set of 4 · 275–430 mm (10.8 to 16.9 in) in 6 steps · ratchet plus chained safety pin · 80 × 80 mm (3.15 × 3.15 in) grooved rubber pads
Four stands rather than two, with a ratchet, a chained safety pin and bolted grooved rubber pads — the most complete arrangement in this hub.
Best for: Anyone who takes all four wheels off — for a brake job, a suspension job or winter storage.
Rated 1.6 t per pair stated · 17° approach angle · tires to 225 mm (8.86 in) · 20.5 cm (8.1 in) high, 93.5 cm (36.8 in) long · over-run stop
The only ramp here that publishes an approach angle and a tire width limit — and the only one whose rating, at 1.6 t per pair, has to be read carefully.
Best for: A light or mid-weight car with tires up to 225 mm (8.86 in), where the published figures can actually be checked.
