IG.
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That's for the car - Dodge Intrepid. I suspected this wouldn't be easy, but dang! Spent good part of the weekend, probably 6 - 7 hours altogether.
First, the ramps I got from JC Whitney were a bit defective. While the manufacturer (which I contacted) thinks what to do, I didn't have patience and bent a few things, used a sledge hammer to fit the incline with the stand itself, and got them to work. So, could lift the rear of the car by about 8" for better access. Otherwise, the ramps look rock solid, and I hope to use them for the front, so I will be changing the oil/filter myself.
Then, I had to drill two 1.5" holes from the trunk side so I can slide in a couple of bolts. That actually went pretty good. Turned out the metal in the trunk was pretty soft, and the hole saw went through in less than a minute.
The most difficult part was to align the thing and get the bolts through. That thing is made of thick steel and is pretty heavy - around 40 lbs - not something you can hold with one hand in an odd position. Took so much time, and all kinds of body positions, a couple of chairs, etc. LOL. Some wholes were not aligned exactly, so it took some wiggling and banging. Then tightening them all just a couple of clicks at a time because of tight space. Then, double check, and triple check. Had to remove the exhaust canister from the hanger. Putting it back was tough, so my wife was laying and pointing me while I was pulling the exhaust and trying to get it back on the rubber hanger.
Finally done! Whew. Tired but happy. No time to ride this weekend because of that, but that's OK. Put the ball mount in. Stepped on it, rocked the car up and down. Feels sturdy.
Will get 1 7/8" and 2" balls, and I will be ready to look for a used trailer. If I don't find one, I will probably get the Harbor Freight 4x8 discussed in another thread.
First, the ramps I got from JC Whitney were a bit defective. While the manufacturer (which I contacted) thinks what to do, I didn't have patience and bent a few things, used a sledge hammer to fit the incline with the stand itself, and got them to work. So, could lift the rear of the car by about 8" for better access. Otherwise, the ramps look rock solid, and I hope to use them for the front, so I will be changing the oil/filter myself.
Then, I had to drill two 1.5" holes from the trunk side so I can slide in a couple of bolts. That actually went pretty good. Turned out the metal in the trunk was pretty soft, and the hole saw went through in less than a minute.
The most difficult part was to align the thing and get the bolts through. That thing is made of thick steel and is pretty heavy - around 40 lbs - not something you can hold with one hand in an odd position. Took so much time, and all kinds of body positions, a couple of chairs, etc. LOL. Some wholes were not aligned exactly, so it took some wiggling and banging. Then tightening them all just a couple of clicks at a time because of tight space. Then, double check, and triple check. Had to remove the exhaust canister from the hanger. Putting it back was tough, so my wife was laying and pointing me while I was pulling the exhaust and trying to get it back on the rubber hanger.
Finally done! Whew. Tired but happy. No time to ride this weekend because of that, but that's OK. Put the ball mount in. Stepped on it, rocked the car up and down. Feels sturdy.
Will get 1 7/8" and 2" balls, and I will be ready to look for a used trailer. If I don't find one, I will probably get the Harbor Freight 4x8 discussed in another thread.