Jack Stand how-to

[ericpost]

I think I have some pretty safe methods to put my truck on jack stands but there are times the jack stands and base material get in the way of the work which needs to get done.

So as I start getting ready to start my rear shackle flip and potentially replace my front spring hanger I thought I'd ask to see if anyone has some creative safe locations or methods of using jack stands which don't interfear with the work at hand and don't put a significant stress on the frame (I'm just a weekend warrior) since it will be on the stands for a bit.

[Mudder]

I have the heavier jack stands and if I have to place them on something I try to use 2x12's. Don't ever use concrete blocks.

[FormerMember]

I have 12ton jack stands that are plenty tall for this sort of work.

I place them in the center of the truck, near the fixed spring mount for the front and rear. It then gives plenty of room to work on the axles and such.

[Yukon Jack]

If possible I much prefer to be able to work on end of the vehicle at a time. That way I have one axle with tires supporting the truck, then I can place the jack stands like grendel says, more to the center or a little back from center of the vehicle and I feel pretty safe under there.

Like Mudder said, never use concrete blocks. I have seen them crumble under the weight of a truck. Yes they are strong, yes they are for buildings, no they aren't for holding up a truck.

Always give the vehicle a good push or two when you have it on jack stands to assure yourself that everything is laying secure. Some people will lay stacked tires seated on rims near their jack location as an extra bit of security.

What ever you do, you can't have overkill when supporting a vehicle.

[dammitmitchell]

me and my buddies use the big blue autozone "truck jack stands" i used them to fully "levitate" my 83 for an axel swap never had any issues with them...