How to use jack stands properly

[swathdiver]

Plus I needed an excuse to go to Harbor Freight. I've wanted some proper chocks for some time.

Those Harbor Freight chocks stunk up the truck on the way home, left them outside for 2-3 months to off gas and they finally quit smelling so bad!

Parking pawls have been known to break and my parking brakes weren't working when we bought it. Too heavy to not chock the wheels. There were a few youtube videos of guys who'd been run over by their trucks and admonishing the rest of us to use wheel chocks.

 

[zraffz]

You guys have no sense of adventure! I tried decompressing a torsion key on a lift by using an old axle shaft and lowering the truck down onto it... the truck shifted on the lift and I had to go change my underwear

I have gotten better about wearing safety glasses as I've aged though.

 

[Bart Hinder]

Those Harbor Freight chocks stunk up the truck on the way home, left them outside for 2-3 months to off gas and they finally quit smelling so bad!

Parking pawls have been known to break and my parking brakes weren't working when we bought it. Too heavy to not chock the wheels. There were a few youtube videos of guys who'd been run over by their trucks and admonishing the rest of us to use wheel chocks.

I brought home a couple of those whisky barrel planters once. The sour mash stench lingered for days. I was worried about getting pulled over.

Wouldn't putting the truck in 4H add an extra margin of safety?

 

[SnowDrifter]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

 

[PG01]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

Same here, except when rotating tires, i put entire truck in air on jackstands and the jack is always up under either the front or back. Peace of mind, ive heard too many stories.

 

[swathdiver]

I've used my buddies 10-ton bumper lift jack. Got the arms under the bumper and under the frame and nearly lifted the whole truck off the ground. Since it locks in place as it goes up, there's no way for it to drop. Fun stuff.

 

[Fosscore]

Great info. Today I went super slow. Chocks on the rear wheels. Emergency brake on. Jack under center front cross member. Jacks on the driver and passenger side lift points behind the front wheels. Wheels were just barely touching the ground. Jack stayed under the front center. I know the chocks worked as they had stuck in the driveway a tiny bit. Project completed safely.

 

[Bart Hinder]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

And here I though I was joking about jacking up the port side first, then the starboard.

Good tip about the wide base for stability, thanks.

 

[07Burb]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

I do exactly this! I’ve heard a few stories of jack stand failing and that’s a few too many for me!! Never can be too safe

 

[Bombsquad85]

When I was changing my transmission fluid I went to put the truck down and dropped 1 side and the other side gave out and the truck fell off the Jack stand. I about shit my pants. Good thing I wasnt under it. I want to get some nicer Jack stands and a Jack that can get higher than 20" but then again.... I'll be buying a house and it will either have a garage or I'm going to build a garage and the garage will have a lift in it for sure. Wife is already tracking lol