Stupid Question: Lifting a lowered vehicle

[stingray72]

Ok.. this is gonna be dumb but here goes.. I need to get under my Jimmy, it's got a 4/6 drop. I have a jack and 2 jack stands but I'm wary of having the truck on just 2 jack stands and leaned over for fear of it falling off. What's the correct safe way to get this thing up? 2 more jackstands and put one at all 4 corners? I've got this phobia of the truck not being high enough for me to get under it also which doesn't help

And btw.. haven't been around in a while, hope everyone is doing well

[pissonNOS]

if you have 4 jack stands id go that route otherwise makehave soe good locks infront of or behind the tires depending on how your lifting

[shifty]

i know this will sound stupid since you can go to the Sam's down the road from your house and get two jack stands for under $20, but ... if you need to borrow a couple, swing by. i'm on the south end of Grant Park, it's ~20 minute drive from your place (that's what it took me to get to your place)

[stingray72]

ya. if 2 more jackstands is the best way to go about it I'll buy 2 more, that wasn't the worry. There's no reason the vehicle would be unsafe on 4 jackstands with all 4 wheels off the ground though right?

[bad6772]

you should have no worries if its on 4 jack stands, as long as you are under good points on the frame....you should be fine.....why the phobia? did you have a bad experiance?

[stingray72]

Originally Posted by bad6772

you should have no worries if its on 4 jack stands, as long as you are under good points on the frame....you should be fine.....why the phobia? did you have a bad experiance?

I'm claustrophobic, especially when things are close to my face. So the truck has to be high enough that when I slide under it I can move freely. So the bottom has to be at least a couple feet away from my face. I need a vehicle lift in the garage.. LOL

[dave2953]

My drop is fairly close to yours, and I use two jacks all the time with no problem. I put the jacks on the lower control arm shafts and haven't ever had a problem with the truck shifting. I am with you on not liking the truck being too close to my face; it makes me nervous. That being said I've always been able to get it up high enough using just the two jacks. I guess in the end it comes down to personal preference.

[C10-Driver]

2 stands are OK, 4 are better IMO. If the vehicle is level, it is a lot less likely that the weight will shift on you. As always, do a shake test once you have it in the stands. I am also leary of getting underneath my vehicle because I work alone in the garage most of the time. I always shake the heck out of the truck before I get under to make sure it's stable. I also use the higher weight stands (6 ton). Partly because they tend to be sturdier but they are also taller.

[red69ss]

I Use 4 Stands And Leave The Jack Under The Front Crossmember,i Am Also Nervous About Being Under Truck Thier Have Been A Couple Of Guys Around Here Killed By Car Falling On Them, When I Was Younger I Would Get Under One With A Bumper Jack And No Stands (boy Was I Stupid Back Then)

[1972CheyenneSuper]

If you really want you could get some 4x6's or 6x8's and set the tires on those. Just make sure your truck is secure from rolling.

[shifty]

the vehicle would be even safer on 4 jackstands as long as the ground is level and you have the front jackstands well places so they won't move (the rear axle is round, and will sit in the jackstand saddle very easily)

[Boog]

If you have a couple of spare rims you can place them under the tires as an added safety. If a jack stand slips the truck tire will drop on the spare laying under it.

[corn]

I will either use 4 stands on mine or use these blocks that I made on one end instead. 3 2X12's with a 2X4 on each end. Not going anywhere then...

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

I made a set of ramps. These are as strong as can be and the truck is at least 2 ft. away from you. I also block the rear tires .... this truck is going no ware.

esll.

[pissonNOS]

we have a pair the same as east side there damn handy for oil changes

[Truckstr]

I use ramps to get the truck up in the air and if I need to get the tires off, I put the tall 6-ton jackstands under it and pull the ramps out. Always use something sturdy to scotch the other tires to keep it from rolling. Better safe than have a chest full of truck.

[Robznob11]

cinder blocks hold 80 mobil homes for years place them any wear you want under the fram or stick em under the tires, we got a 70 nova on 4 of em right now under the tires.

[Jim_PA]

Originally Posted by Robznob11

cinder blocks hold 80 mobil homes for years place them any wear you want under the fram or stick em under the tires, we got a 70 nova on 4 of em right now under the tires.

Yeah, but under a trailer, the cinder blocks have the weight evenly distributed among the blocks. Put too much pressure on one point of the cinder block, and POOF... the cinder block is in pieces. Never in a million years would I crawl under a car sitting on top of cinder blocks.

[Truckstr]

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

Yeah, but under a trailer, the cinder blocks have the weight evenly distributed among the blocks. Put too much pressure on one point of the cinder block, and POOF... the cinder block is in pieces. Never in a million years would I crawl under a car sitting on top of cinder blocks.

x2

I've seen people do ita nd I just have to wonder how many people have been hurt or even killed from doing something like that. A "point force" versus a distributed load is the difference between daylight and dark.

If you just have to use concrete blocks, put a length of 2x6 at the minimum or 2x8 between the block and the car/truck. That will help to distribute the load a little. Still not the best idea, but will work in a pinch.

[corn]

Some guy from around here died using a cinder block under his car. It crumbled & the car came down on him. I hope my wife never has to see what his wife did...

[Truckstr]

Originally Posted by corn

Some guy from around here died using a cinder block under his car. It crumbled & the car came down on him. I hope my wife never has to see what his wife did...

It happens, I'm sure. How often... well... who wants to chance it when ramps and jackstands are pretty cheap.

[68K20 x Drill]

A jack can do the same thing as a cinder block, with the added bonus of weighing 80 LBS when it flies across the shop and hits you. I don't bruise easily, but that left a mark.

Here is a short vid of my truck running on stands It had some vibration that day.

[special-K]

Simply adding a piece of lumber to the top of a cinderblock eliminates the point of pressure issue:2x12 on 12" block.I`ve had to use a combination of javk stands and blocks when doing suspension work.I mostly use 6x6 wood for blocks,though.
Hey Stingray72,you need an air powered bumper lift.Those things are awesome.

[stingray72]

As an update. I borrowed some ramps from dad.. Didn't work b/c the bumper hit the ramps before the tires did.. So I jacked it up on each side an put jackstands under it, then I jacked up the wheels to put the ramps under them.. what a PITA. I should just hire someone b/c I'm lazy

[Boog]

Yes there are drawbacks to low trucks. Next time lay down a couple of short lengths of 2x6 or 2x8 boards in front of the ramps and it should clear the bumper unless it's WAY low. A friend has an S10 extreme and my floor jack wouldn't go under the front air dam. I just had him roll it up on 2 boards first and was enough to get the floor jack under the crossmember to jack it up further.