12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

Just thought I would pass along this bit of information I discovered while preparing to work on a "bigger" truck. If you're like me, you probably blow off the instructions for simple stuff like jackstands, thinking you already know how to use them. Well, what I have discovered is that if you go into a place like Harbor Freight or Auto Zone or wherever and buy a pair of jackstands, they typically are good for their rating IF YOU USE THEM IN A PAIR. They don't usually say this on the box, so I would imagine a lot of people would assume that when you buy a pair of 3000 pound jackstands that each one is rated for 3000 pounds. In the case of Harbor Freight jackstands, they only tell you in the middle of the instruction book that they are only good for their rated capacity in pairs, meaning each individual jackstand is good for 1/2 of what it says on the box.

TSC is worse, because they actually sell individual jackstands. There is a label on them that states they must be used in pairs, but it is nowhere near as big as the 6 TON marking on the arm of the jackstand.

Be careful, and make sure your jackstands are rated for what you think they are rated for, don't just assume.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

good advise........

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

Wow, pretty good info. Thanks,Chris

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

I never thought about reading an owners manual for jack stands, guess I should.

Thanks!

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

never woulda looked, nor guessed they were rated like that.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

Me either.`

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

great info i am not sure i want to know the answer to this but is there a hard lesson learned with this? pics to share about it?

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

I have never looked but it doesn't much matter.I always use at least 2 jackstands of a weight rating each of well over what I'm supporting.Very seldom do I ever lift both ends of a vehicle to work on it.And I usually leave the jack under it with the tension let off and the control valve closed.I also normally chock both wheels on the end I did nott lift.It's just too easy to accidently kick a chock out while wrestling with a tight or rusted bolt or nut.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

You use jackstands.....?

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

That's good info, and news to me... guess I oughtta see what mine are rated.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

You read an owners manual?

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

Something else to consider for all us shade tree mechanics that don't have a beautiful concrete floor in a shop :

Jack stands on gravel or dirt might as well not even HAVE a rating. ALWAYS place them on something, like a 2" thick slab of hard wood, or a 2" thick concrete paving slab.

NEVER do like my brother did with his '73 Barracuda and lift the front end of a vehicle, slap a couple 2 ton $20 jack stands under, rip the wheels off, then scurry under the front end to change the oil, all while the thing is sitting on a dirt and gravel driveway. You'll find out rather quickly if you can bench press a car. Luckily for Ian, I was still hanging around with the floor jack at the time and he's still alive to relate the story.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

I have 4 that my late Grandpappy made, if I had to guess each one could
probably do 3 tons. However I have, and always will, used them in pairs ;)

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

No lesson learned the hard way, thankfully. Sorry, no gory pics.

I usually use them in pairs as well, but I always thought I was playing it safe because I always thought a single jackstand was good for well over the total load I was supporting. Turns out this is not the case.

case in point: Recently did the brakes on the front of a C70. Total weight is 27000 pounds. I figured I had plenty of capacity by using a pair of 6 ton jackstands to support the front axle. (6 ton = 12000 lbs x 2 = 24000. Should be fine for just the front.) In reality the jackstands were good for 12000 lbs TOTAL, and while there is probably less weight on the front axle than the rear I was probably pushing the limit doing what I was doing. I'm in the habit of leaving the jack in place as well, so I had a 12 ton bottle jack there for backup, but it's nice to have some margin of safety instead of pushing the limit. I now have a set of 12 ton jackstands that should be OK for one axle of that truck.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

I honestly don't see how they can get away with that.

Along the same lines I have flattened a set of one piece ramps before. Fortunatley they went as I was getting out of the mini van and not after I had crawled under the thing.

I think the van tried to push them forward instead of climb up them but the front of the ramps didn't move. I could tell that the tires we're in the sweet spot so I put the van in park set the brake and right as I opened the door to get out the whole thing fell forward.

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

Last time I bought some jackstands I tossed the instructions.. my wife asked if I was going to read them.. I said 'For jackstands?'

Please don't let her see this thread.. lol

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

i havent used jack stands very offten cuz i cant ceven get my truck jacked up at my house it all dirt and mud so the floor jack get brerrued. i hate those ramps the push and push if you have a low car and i have run over a pair in one of my trucks. i pulled up right to the edge and thought it would roll down in to the cradle . so i threw it in park and went rolling off .i broke a bunch of wood in front of my truck. i was really hoping to fix those brake that day

Re: 12,000 LB jackstand...NOT!
 

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