Thread: Check those Jack Stands!!!!!!

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My greatest issue with jack stands is lateral movement of the floor jack. Always be aware that the floor jack is GOING to roll and have it positioned appropriately.

when I was younger, I would work with just the floor jack, never had a problem. then as I got older, I got more paranoid. started using cinder blocks with no problems.

Got more paranoid, started adding wood strips to insulate the blocks from busting.

Paranoia increased yet more, and I switched to cheapie jack stands.

More PARANOIA and I now use heavier jack stands. And I am VERY cautious with the floor jack any higher than 50%.

I think in a few years the paranoia will induce me to replace the Sears ATV jack with a 300$ 10 ton low profile unit.

2x Firebird.
I had a dragster chassis fall on me back in the old days while I was welding on it. It only weighed about 120 pounds but that really hurt.

My big dually crushed a pair of 3 ton China made stands. Luckily I was just repositioning the floor jack when they came down. I now have some 6 ton USA stands and still use the big floor jack and 4 x 4's front and back of each wheel on the ground. I'm still nervous.

Concrete blocks....had them pulverize twice with light weight cars on them.

Sheet metal stands....haha in the dumpster for recycling.

Plastic ramps.... not a chance.

cheap aluminum folding ramps for ATV's.... folded up the reverse way and bent the front end of a new Grizzly.

Be safe.

i use a set of 20 ton stands i got out of my old motorpool when i was in the army. they are kind of heavy, but i know a car will not crush them, and they are alot taller, even on the lowest setting, than a standard jack stand. i just have to use a smaller set at first, jack up to almost the tallest height, and then switch over to the big ones. it takes a little more time, but i will do it everytime!

Originally Posted by Daffy427

Does anyone remember those crappy sheet metal stands that were made out of sheet metal and were like 2.99 each and used the pins??? I remember seeing a lot of those that folded up with a little bit of lateral pursuasion...All the current cars of the time were a lot heavier then as well...Now we have ratchet stands but so many are made in china.

Oh Yeah...used a BENT set when I built a mid engine V8 Corvair when I was 15 years old. I'm glad that pos didn't weigh anything.