Just got jackstands...too high?

[Stallion]

I just got a set of Craftsman jackstands along with the 2-ton aluminum jack. But, now I'm wondering if the stands are too high. They are 13 6/7 inches to 20 inches. With the base of almost 14 inches, do you think that is too high for stands and having to lift the Vette?

See what I mean?

Thanks!

Stallion

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Stallion,

Why would you think the stands are too high? As long as they can be securely and safely placed under the car why would they be too high.

Bob

 

[Stallion]

Well the reason I say this is because...

1) on the box it says SUV stands.

2) I was rotating the tires on my dad's minivan and to get the van up to 14 inches seemed quite high.

Maybe I'm just looking too deep into it. So you think the stands are fine?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

As long as the car can be securely supported. The concern would be that you get too much of an angle on the car and they aren't sitting square in the stand. You've got the possibility of the car slipping.

Think of a lift. Nothing more than hydraulic jack stands. They can get the car up as high as the can because they lift the car square with no chance of slipping.

My car is currently sitting on stands in the garage as high as they go. Using the hydraulic jack I put one up about 1/2 way, put the other one in the rear and then raised them to the max. I would be concerned if I onl had one under the car with a steep angle. There wouldn't be square contact and the stand could slip out.

If they are good stands, and Craftsman has a good reputation, they should be engineered to hold the rated weight within their height limitations.

 

[Stallion]

That's what I'm afraid of. When I had the van up (the whole rear, both stands supporting the rear axle) on the stands, it seemed to be pointing down at a steep angle. I'm sure it was fine, it was just a little frightening.

So should I get 2 more stands so that I can have the Vette square in the air?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Just use common sense. If you don't have good contact with the stand, either lower it or use additional stands. If I were rotating the tires, I would want the wheels about one inch of the ground. But then I have an old man back.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I think TJ is concerned with the angle the vette has to be raised to place the jacks and also the angle the vette would have when sitting on one or two jacks...?

I would be concerned with this too, and Bob makes a good point about jacks slipping and not contacting squarely with the vehicle at sharp angles.
Can a C3 be lifted (both sides, both ends) so that 4 stands can be used to lift the vette squarely?
If so, how is this safely done and where are the 4 stands placed?
Heidi

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I place mine in the frame rail in front of the T-arm pockets in the rear and just rear of where the rail turns in in the front.

Make the move in steps raising the car only as much is safe. The left side of my car is currently 17 inches in the air, the limits of my stands, with two jackstands places as I indicated while I replace the power steering pump. I placed the car up in the front and was concerned about getting under it because of the angle and simply raised the back to make it sit square in the stands.

 

[78SilvAnniv]

We're all on at the same time, today!

I wanted to add...

Using jacks, or even lifting the front or rear of any vehicle, it will look like a sharp angle because it is no longer sitting level. Be sure to chock the wheels that are still on the ground to prevent it rolling away from the stands.

Also, my 78 has had the front end lifted on stands, with tires off for two weeks now...and I have a HUGE puddle of tranny fluid under her. One more thing to fix. I asked about lifting the vette with 4 stands because I wonder if my tranny fluid leaking problem could have been avoided.
h

 

[Stallion]

I think I understand. Not 100% sure about where to put the stands though. I'm going to look for a picture of a frame and then highlight to see if I'm right as to where to put all 4 stands.

What do you guys use for chocks?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

If all four wheels are up in the air chocks are kind of worthless. :duh

I use 2x4's or 4x4's from my junk lumber pile.

See my earlier post for where to put the stands. Once you look under the car it will be very apparent.

Why do you need the car that high or all 4 wheels off the ground?

 

[Stallion]

Well, I don't need the car that high. But the stands have the minimum height of almost 14". And the angle that makes on the car would be too drastic. So I think I'm going to get another pair of stands.

 

[BigRed]

?? High is a GOOD thing!!

Now you can get underneath it and work!

But a few of the others are right, those combo jack/jack stand boxes should come with four stands.

Go get two more and throw them in under the frame of the car. When that is done that car should be safe enough to get in and start air driving. (seriously).

With a 14" pitch and the angle of the car I agree that a little to much. Go buy two more IDENTICAL to the ones you have and stick em on the opposite side of the car.

Personally I would send those stands HIGHER on the adjustment!

 

[Stallion]

Hey guys, instead of buying two more, can I just put some wood under the other side of the car when I use the two stands? Won't that work as well? Or should I get two more of the same stands?

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Get two more identical jack stands. Do you really want to trust a stack of wobbly wood when you're under the car? :eek
Heidi


ps...my earlier comment about wheel chocks is directed at lifting only both the rear or both the front, since this leaves the opposite end tires on the ground...I feel they should be chocked to prevent rolling out.
h

 

[Stallion]

But with the weight of the car, the pieces of wood won't really be wobbly. Won't that be stabile (sp?)?

 

['63split]

I agree with the 4 stand approach. I'm currently working under a '67 vette and it has been in the air on all four stands for over 3 months and I beat, pull and kick and it hasn't moved or fallen, thank God! It's the best way to get to things underneath that need attention as well as doing brake and suspension work. The more height you have the easier it is to manuever uner the car and for somethings the added height is a plus. It's the only way to do a frame on restoraton if you don't have a lift. I would however but thin blocks of wood or thick rubber pads on top of the jack stands so as not to dent or scrap the frame, if painted, against the top of the stands. It works for me and gives a little cushion.

Good Luck!

Mike

 

[Eric]

I use SUV stands simply because of the higher weight rating. I don't need to lift 3 tons but so what. Another thing to use as a failsafe is to take an old steel wheel and slide it under the car. -Eric

 

[Stallion]

Hmmm...so you guys think the 2 jackstands + 2 piles of wood to get the Vette lifted squarely off the ground is a bad idea? I should just buy 2 more stands?

Eric, you are getting a C6? Dude, get another Shark. They are the best.

 

[Eric]

Hmmm...so you guys think the 2 jackstands + 2 piles of wood to get the Vette lifted squarely off the ground is a bad idea? I should just buy 2 more stands?

Eric, you are getting a C6? Dude, get another Shark. They are the best.

The only "pile of wood" that I would trust to hold my car up with stability would be a section of railroad tigh (about 12x12). Jack stands are a lot cheaper than funerals.

As for the C6 line in my avatar, don't worry dude, I'm still a Shark loyalist through and though. I jsut want my next Vette to be one I feel safer and more comfortable driving back and forth to work. My commute is a pain and people are crazy so my old Shark only went to work once because someone running into her would have really sucked. Not that I'd invite someone to run into me in a C6 but the parts supply for a C6 is going to be much more readily available. Besides, Kelly's in school until May of 05 so I still have a bit of a wait for my C6. When that time comes I'll be contacting our pal Rick Daniel.

I'll get another Shark, but only when I can afford to have it sitting in the garage for weekend cruises. That's just me.
- Eric