Forward or reverse

[Andy1954]

Just sat here at Berwick enjoying the sun , I always drive up my ramps but the last 2 vans to arrive have put ramps behind front wheels and reversed up. 1 did it really easily the other took 3 or 4 attempts.

is there a right or wrong way or is it just personal choice

 

[Mark McG]

I find the higher gearing for reverse makes it a lot harder to get up the ramps with a smell of burning clutch!!! always try to drive forward onto the ramps.

 

[Phill D]

I only reverse up onto ramps as a last resort.
I think it's safer to drive onto them.

 

[Spriddler]

I rarely use mine but put them in front of my front wheels so that I can observe the climb from the driving seat. I've an automatic so it's a bit 'all or nothing'.
I did put them in front of the rear wheels just the once but I over-ran one (I couldn't see it) which kicked up and jammed solid under the bodywork.

 

[Puddleduck]

I prefer to drive up them but have reversed in the past.

Anyway we are going to get a self-leveling system and semi-air over the summer so won't need them for much longer

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[Guigsy]

Decide which way you want the van to face. Then put the ramps on the downhill side of whichever wheels you need to lift. That way you're not fighting gravity to get on the ramps...

...unless you're across the slope and the ramps are both on one side, then yeah, forwards is easier.

 

[Cobra]

Always drive forwards
with the windows open I can usually hear the wife scream ‘stop!’

 

[Jim]

If it's soft ground where there is a chance of getting stuck I always reverse up them, for a good non-stop drive off to harder ground.

 

[Phill D]

If it's soft ground where there is a chance of getting stuck I always reverse up them, for a good non-stop drive off to harder ground.

Good idea, just need to avoid the ramps with the rear wheels if the front was up.

 

[IRHP]

If they are at the front I drive on, if at the rear I reverse on. It means they also act like chocs i.e I can't roll down the hill in either direction if my handbrake didn't hold.

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[royandsharont]

I personally have always preferred to drive up but I do recall reading the instructions once on a set of ramps I bought and it was quite specific in saying they were to be driven up, not reversed. No explanation though as to why. I’ve only ever had Millenco or Fiamma so it must have been one of these two.

Just checked on Millenco web site and it said the following. Whilst it does not say do not revers the wording I would suggests they are talking about driving forwards up them

“NEVER DRIVE OVER LEVELS. NEVER STACK LEVELS (other than Stacka Levels)

DO NOT USE ON LOOSE OR JAGGED STONES

DO NOT STACK ON TO BRICKS STONES OR BLOCKS

ALWAYS USE THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE WHILST DRIVING ON TO LEVELS, LOW REVS AND LOW GEAR

AVOID WHEEL SPINNING ON LEVELS

Warning: Failure to observing the above, may result in injury or damage to your vehicle and may also invalidate your levels warranty.”

Cannot find any instructions on the Fiamma web site but all the images show the van having driven up them on the front wheels.