Im buying some jack stands tomorrow...

[GASoline71]

I remember changing a U-joint at the slip yoke in a 1971 El Camino, on the shoulder of Interstate 5 just outside of Williams, California. Using one of those "stick it in the slot" bumper jacks to get the job done. Every time a tractor-trailer zoomed by... the car would rock back and forth and the foot of that jack stand would scoot on the pavement! I was 19, in the US Navy, and headed home on leave from San Diego. I'm lucky to still be here after that experience.

Gary

[prostreetC-10]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I remember changing a U-joint at the slip yoke

......and I actually have a picture of that!!!!

[midniteblues]

the best stands I've ever used were my uncles steel wheels although not adustable they are all the same height. he has a rim flat on the ground and one standing vertical and extremely braced and welded too it. the dip in the rim between the two beads let just about any frame sit in there securly and they give a great highth he has heavy angled iron frames with metal wheels he can sit them on and has old seatbelts welded to the angle that go up over the frame too be able to cinch everything down he can roll cars in and out of the garage or the driveway with them I cant tell you how many tri fives been on those stands over the years but i would surely say there safe.

when I'm under with my hf stands( i have 6 of the smaller ones and six of the larger ones) i either keep the jack under or use another stand very near where I'm working even with one under each corner of the vehicle theres allways one under with me right next too me or very close

[brap999]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

......and I actually have a picture of that!!!!

Looks safe to me. I wonder though, how did he plan on getting the truck back down? Kicking the boards or what ever they are out from under the truck?

By the way, I have 3 ton jack stands from Advanced Auto I use, and I always leave a jack under the truck as well as backup 'just in case'.

I also have home made ramps made of boards laid one on top of the other. I drive up on them when I need to get under the front half of the truck. I then block the rear wheels up and engage the parking break to make sure the truck can't roll backwards.

I feel safer under the truck using the ramp because it can't collapse on me like a failed jack or jackstand can.

[ETsC10]

I would think the 3-ton would do for starters if you follow some of the back-
up safety measures mentioned here. If you were doing a lot of work under
the truck, I would think you would be happier with 5 or 6 ton for the added
strength plus height they afford (gives you a lot more room to work under
the truck). They are also more stable due to the wider footprint on the
ground. I have six of the HF 6-ton and they seem well made.

The thing I don’t like about my bigger stands is that I have to jack the truck
so high to get them under the frame plus, when I’m also working under the
hood, I have to use a ladder to reach things (I’m 5’2).

brap999's ramps sound like a very good idea too.