Is it safe to jack under the differential?

[AirSpeed]

I see people do it all the time and have done it my self but always wondered if it could damage the axle using a floor jack under the differential to lift the rear (or front end if 4X4) It seems like it could damage or bend the rear axle housing, putting all that stress between the springs, could it do any damage?
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[CC69Rat]

I do .. Have done it for years, I'd say so. I've never had any problems. I usually lay a rag on top of the jack to keep from scratching it but other than that, .. no problems.

[AirSpeed]

Thanks, I don't know why but Im constantly waiting for the axle to fold in half one of these days.
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[chevy72blu]

Yep, that is the correct way to do it. It is the strongest point out back. The driveline shop I used to work at did it the same way.

I usually lift the pumpkin and lower the rear axles onto jack stands- very sturdy.

If picking up the pumpkin bends your axle, something very bad has already happened

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by chevy72blu

Yep, that is the correct way to do it. It is the strongest point out back. The driveline shop I used to work at did it the same way.

I usually lift the pumpkin and lower the rear axles onto jack stands- very sturdy.

If picking up the pumpkin bends your axle, something very bad has already happened

Thanks, it's good to know! I've never had anything bad happen, just have strange phobia about doing so.
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[VH Coachworks]

Airspeed: I am going a little off topic here, but noticed your tear drop trailer
in your picture, I love these tears, did you build it.or is it a restoration? Do you have any pictures you would like to share.

We are building a proto type, it is 5 x 10, most orginal ones were 4 x 8
WE might manufacture them if all goes well.

Thanks

[LEEVON]

I lift under the pumpkin as well, however I have noticed that some diff covers have a slight lip that will be bent and can cause leaks so I've gotten more careful.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by VH Coachworks

Airspeed: I am going a little off topic here, but noticed your tear drop trailer
in your picture, I love these tears, did you build it.or is it a restoration? Do you have any pictures you would like to share.

We are building a proto type, it is 5 x 10, most orginal ones were 4 x 8
WE might manufacture them if all goes well.

Thanks

I built it entirely from scratch and my own design. There are a lot of pics of it under construction on my Photobucket acc, clic the link below, I think they are on the last 5 or six pages. There's pics of lots of the strange things I make there.
I get offers on it all the time, at least once a month someone will knock on my door wanting to buy it or build one for them. I've turned down 8 grand, one woman offered me $14.000 delivered to Florida, I almost did it but I hadn't got to use it yet. It only cost about $1,500 to build so if you could build them fast enough you could make some money. Its got almost everything in it, queen sized bed, pull out sink with 20 gallons of on demand water, pull out stove/oven, fridge, fold down tv/DVD, XM, CD, solar power. It's so lite you can't even feel it behind the truck. It's been a lot of fun, we use all the time in the summer. Mine is 5X12'
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[AirSpeed]

[QUOTE=VH Coachworks;5489032]Airspeed: I am going a little off topic here, but noticed your tear drop trailer
in your picture, I love these tears, did you build it.or is it a restoration? Do you have any pictures you would like to share.

We are building a proto type, it is 5 x 10, most orginal ones were 4 x 8
WE might manufacture them if all goes well.




It took about two months working an hour or two a day when i had time and my back wasnt out. I could have probably done it in a week if I had worked full time on it. Thanks! Aaron

Heres a couple of pics


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[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

I built it entirely from scratch and my own design. .......... It only cost about $1,500 to build so if you could build them fast enough you could make some money...........Posted via Mobile Device

$1,500 to build and $15,000 in labor.

Man, what are you, a design engineer, fabricator, carpenter and artist all in one?

Great work on that trailer. I have some questions and a comment.. I noticed you first built it out of plywood. How did you do the metal fabrication for the outer covering? Did you do it all yourself?

Re. the driveshaft: The drive shaft part of the drive train and iis one of the most abused parts of a truck. Imagine the pounding it gets when traveling on dirt roads or roads full of potholes. It will definitely hold up to a jack lift.

[VH Coachworks]

You did a very nice job on the tear, love the design, everything flows nicely.
Thanks for the picture.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

$1,500 to build and $15,000 in labor.

Man, what are you, a design engineer, fabricator, carpenter and artist all in one?

Great work on that trailer. I have some questions and a comment.. I noticed you first built it out of plywood. How did you do the metal fabrication for the outer covering? Did you do it .

it's built out of 3/4 plywood on the sides and floor, it has 1 1/2" furring strips on the interior, it's insulated and then I used 1/8th Luan door skins to sheet the inside. The roof I used 1/4 plywood so I could bend it. The exterior is sheeted with aluminum, the trim had to be be annealed in order to bend it around the door, hatch, roofline, it took a little practice to heat it to the proper temp but it went pretty fast. The aluminum sheet is held on only by the trim, it stays nice and flat against the plywood without glue. As for being an engineer, I should have! I certainly wouldn't have the trashed spine I live with every day! I'm lucky when it comes to making stuff like this, it's always come easy to me. I built a hang glider when I was nine and a submarine when I was 15. I built a ski boat at 18 that I used for ten years before I got rid of it. Yea, I'm a show off. Thanks!
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[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

...... Yea, I'm a show off. Thanks!
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Nothing wrong with that. Great job!

[Billett]

Seriously. That trailer is awesome!

[67chevemall]

I always put some soft pine on the jack first so it doesn't bend the lip on the pumpkin which can cause a small drip leak until you change the rear oil again.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Billett

Seriously. That trailer is awesome!

Thank you! I've been designing a new one for some time now, it's going to have a very similar profile but the roof is going to pop up, my present trailer is about 4' high inside, I'd like to get the roof on the next one to raise up to give me 6' that way I can build in some collapsible benches and a table inside for camping later in the year, when it starts getting cold, that way the wife and I can hang out inside, eat, play games with my grand kids and just stay dry and warm. Of course who knows when I will get started. Thanks again!
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[Billett]

I'd love to design something like that. I'm sure I could do it, although I doubt it would turn out as nice as yours. Unfortunately the future Mrs. Billett is not a fan of camping... Although if I put AC in it she might want to come to shows more often haha

[yuccales]

That trailer looks GREAT! Nice wheels.

[special-K]

The trailer is nice,but got any pics of your jack under the pumpkin?

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by special-K

The trailer is nice,but got any pics of your jack under the pumpkin?

Good one! I'll set up a couple of pics! I did just get a shiny new aluminum "racing jack"! You know how fast a racing jack will make your truck go!
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[special-K]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

Good one! I'll set up a couple of pics! I did just get a shiny new aluminum "racing jack"! You know how fast a racing jack will make your truck go!
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I don't know,but I think it makes them go "up" a lot faster,right? BTW,nice work on the trailer.

[PanelDeland]

Great looking traier.I've been wanting to buuild one for a while though in a "Woody" finish.You must be quite good at carpentry to be able to pull off the curved drawers and such.