Putting your car on ramps can damage your concrete??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Horseflesh, Mar 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM.

  1. Horseflesh

    Horseflesh New Member

    Joined:
    Sunday
    10
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Getting a 2008 Prius soon and I'm investigating doing my own oil changes. I barely know which end of a wrench to hold and I do not have any of the correct tools so I have spent HOURS reading about floor jacks, jack points, stands, ramps, torque wrenches, crush washers, etc. I'm relatively handy in other things, but I know jack about cars.

    A friend of mine -- who is knowledgeable, but who also makes every single thing he does extremely complicated, do you have a friend like that? -- is telling me that I need to figure out how to test my garage concrete before I can do any jacking or even use ramps. He's saying I can drive the car onto the ramps for an oil change, and the concrete under it might fail because the ramps have a smaller contact patch than the tires.

    I've just never heard a horror story like this, but then again... I am not a "car guy."

    These are the ramps I am considering, they were suggested in a Gen 2 oil change how-to article that I found.



    (Edit: amazon link not working, it is the "FloTool 11909ABMI RhinoRamp Vehicle Ramp Pair - Ideal for Stress-Free Home Garage Maintenance - Reduces Slippage - Works with Low Clearance Vehicles - 12,000lb GVW Capacity - Extra-Wide Design")

    I cannot find a photo of the underside, but this is what the "Max" version looks like underneath.

    Do I need to do a concrete test before I can do an oil change?? If so I think I will just ride a bike, haha.

    upload_2025-3-3_10-48-57.png
     
  2. MAX2

    MAX2 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    768
    226
    46
    Location:
    Third planet from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Worthy of a collection @Grit
     
    bisco likes this.
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,998
    4,052
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I would think that ramps would spread the car's weight over a greater area than the small contact patch of a tire.

    It's never been an issue for me, but what would I know?
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,857
    1,855
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If the concrete hasn't broken up by driving on it, then it'll be fine for ramps. Just be very careful using them. Lots of youtube videos from mishaps.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,912
    39,955
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There’s an oil change link in my signature, a few thoughts, tips and tricks. (On a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)

    also, gen 2 repair manual oil change instruction attached.
     

    Attached Files:

    Horseflesh likes this.
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,302
    2,307
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Expensive, but these race ramps will work on grass, dirt, asphalt or concrete without damaging the surface.

    It would also be ideal for any garage with floor tile mats or epoxy finishes.

    [​IMG]
     
    ColoradoCrow likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,912
    39,955
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    DIY solid lumber ramps will spread the load well.

    that said, I almost exclusively use safety stands, which really stiletto-heel the concrete, never a problem. My garage slab is unreinforced as far as I know, and has seen better days.
     
  8. MCCOHENS

    MCCOHENS Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2019
    234
    98
    0
    Location:
    Chalfont, PA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Tell your friend you filled the tires with helium, therefore the car is light enough to not damage the concrete when on ramps. Or maybe make some ramps with 2x6 wood angle cut and screwed together. Now seriously, unless the driveway or garage was very thin or poorly mixed there is no problem. But I never liked ramps. First off they are a pain to pull onto, at least for me. Second, what happens when the tires need to come off for other work? Now you need a jack and stands also. So just get a jack and stands for everything.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Prius05IV

    Prius05IV New Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2024
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    MN
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    You don't need ramps to change oil on a gen 2 prius. I never have. Just reach in from under the front bumper with your drain pan and wrenches for the drain plug and oil filter. Same as when I owned a first gen xB.
     
    Horseflesh likes this.
  10. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    11,118
    1,938
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Those rhino ramps could not break concrete if they wanted to on the best day of their lives they're plastic I dropped mine on the concrete on the dirt on rocks whatever all the time have two sets here looking at them through the window there's no way those rhino ramps would be able to break concrete the ramps would probably break first so there's always that the dude your buddy talking about concrete testing He must be a pilot or something a desk jockey reads a lot does a little when he does something takes everything to the nth degree and spends bunches of money and does all kinds of things that probably aren't necessary but he would be right at home here I think Prius person for sure. Drop your ramps on your HOA neighborhood and yours driveway and roll that sucker up on it when you're doing an oil change you should only need to lift one side of the car I usually roll up the driver side on the ramp the other rhino ramp has been leaning against the buildings never been moved most of its life sitting here and the only reason I'm rolling the one side up is to get the oil pan under the car for the oil to run into If I had a real low profile pan my 3600 filter twist off my hand and my drain plug is easily undone with me just laying on the ground or the floor No need to get a ramp anywhere in sight for me but most will probably need it so.
     
  11. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,382
    1,254
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Your crazy friend probably does everything himself and thinks everyones' an idiot. If you do "things by the book" and follow minimum specifications - the only way that can happen is in a cartoon. He should probably back-off on the shrooms....:ROFLMAO:o_O:rolleyes:
    I've been using the same plastic Rhino ramps for decades. Be careful; some ramps have too steep an angle for these low slung cars. I've got another set of metal ramps for larger, heavier cars, but mainly use my floor jack to lift those.
    And, no I didn't test my driveway or garage floor - nor do I have cracks. I've got a couple of oil stains.:X3:

    Hope this helps.....
     
    #11 BiomedO1, Mar 4, 2025 at 10:25 AM
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2025 at 10:47 AM
    Prodigyplace and Horseflesh like this.
  12. highmilesgarage

    highmilesgarage Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2022
    389
    139
    0
    Location:
    Kansas City
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    lol, your friend is high on crack and probably loves to listen to conspiracy sources (most in America is right now)

    I've been using those Rhino ramps on all my cars and suv/trucks without any issues on my garage and driveway. A Prius can't even dent that ramp.
     
    BiomedO1 likes this.
  13. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,382
    1,254
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    You call it conspiracy sources, my generation calls it propaganda - It's quite sad that the American public at large can't tell the difference.
    PROPAGANDA | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    YMMV
     
  14. Horseflesh

    Horseflesh New Member

    Joined:
    Sunday
    10
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    He would probably say "that's ridiculous, the high permeability of helium makes it a poor choice, where did you even get it, I bet helium wouldn't last 100 miles, and it has poor thermal properties..."

    On the nose.

    CORRECT.

    No conspiracy theories, but I have accused him of being on crack before.

    Thanks for the reassurance, everyone.

    I know jack stands are considered the better solution but I'm currently more interested in ramps + chocks. They are a lot cheaper and less to store than a jack setup with the proper rubber blocks, which are $100 on their own. A 100% kosher jack setup adds up fast.

    I'm also not loving the idea of identifying the correct points under the car -- despite having found all kinds of pics and diagrams. If anyone can total their car with a floor jack, it's me.

    Plus, I doubt I'll do any service that requires removing the wheels. You are looking at a guy who spent 10 hours researching how to do an oil change... Verifying every part number, every torque spec... and I was almost convinced I needed a concrete test, haha.

    I spent 2 hours figuring out how to change wiper blades -- I got sent on a wild goose chase when I saw a very authoritative post here saying that you can ONLY use Toyota wiper inserts unless you replace the whole WIPER ARM. I eventually figured out that was BS and the arms have normal U-shaped mounts.

    I guess this guy is a friend because I tend to over-complicate things too, but he takes it to extremes.

    This is a nice forum, thanks for being gentle with my extremely stupid questions.

    I promise, there are some other things that I am good at.
     
    BiomedO1 likes this.
  15. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2008
    955
    241
    0
    Location:
    Hutchinson Island,FL. Mt. Snow,VT
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I've been using ramps on concrete all my life=NO PROBLEMS
     
    Horseflesh likes this.
  16. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2019
    1,974
    593
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, to be entirely fair to this friend, there is a remote possibility that he was referring to garage floors which are coated. Those coatings tend to be pretty tough, but I can imagine metal jack stands deforming the coating enough that a permanent mark remains, especially if they are not entirely flat on the bottom. Seems unlikely though. More likely would be that dragging a jack stand across the surface could scratch it.

    Otherwise hard to imagine how a jack stand would be worse for the concrete floor than the tire. The only way either is going to displace, or even crack, the concrete is if there was a broken pipe underneath which left a large void.
     
    Horseflesh likes this.
  17. Dion Kraft

    Dion Kraft Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    288
    84
    1
    Location:
    Washington, UT
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    As some have commented unless your concrete condition is poor or is very thin your Prius is not going to break any concrete with any ramp. Check out on YouTube some videos on ramps and see their features and specs. I have four ramps so I can put the rears on them as well instead of jack stands if you so wish. There are some ramps with built-in hydraulic jacks as well..a new idea !
     
    Horseflesh likes this.
  18. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    11,118
    1,938
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Just use the rhino ramps That's best for the Prius low to the ground business anyway they're made out of plastic they won't scratch your $10,000 garage floor and they certainly won't hurt the driveway out in the weather now metal can be pushed across the driveway or the garage floor by the car trying to get up on the ramps that is a fair thing to happen so it'll put a white line on your driveway and will scratch your fake epoxy floor quick fast in a hurry The rhino ramps will not If anything the rhino ramps if they slid on your epoxy floor thingy they'd put a black mark that will come up with the blue Scotch-Brite pad.
     
  19. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,302
    2,307
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    If you are going to spend $10k on a G garage floor, $200 for a set of Race Ramps is nothing much more.
     
  20. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,382
    1,254
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    You'll be hard pressed to find a floor jack that can reach the center front jack point on these cars; too low. If I need extra height, I put the car up on ramps, then jack up from there. If you ever do this; don't forget to lower the car back down on the ramps - you'll never be able to pull your jack out and if you moved it - you don't know if it's properly centered on that jack point.
    Everything you read online needs to be taken with "a grain of salt". There are very few fact checkers, though we do call each other out every once in a while.
     
    Horseflesh likes this.