Need tall jack stands, 12 ton or HF new badlands offroad stands?

[signcrafter]

Doing a trans swap for a friend and want to get a set of tall jack stands. Last trans I did wouldn't fit under the truck on my transmission jack while using the four 6 ton jack stands I have all the way up. I had to slide it under the truck on the ground and then after learning real quick picking it up and setting it on the jack while laying on the ground wasn't going to work, I had to use ratchet straps secured to frame rails to lift trans up to get my jack under it. Was at HF last night looking at their 12 ton stands and saw they have a new set out. Badlands offroad 6 ton jack stands, https://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-off-road-jack-stands-72988.html. I don't really need the capacity of the 12 tons stands, more the height of them. But you never know and the capacity might be needed sometime down the road.

The 6 ton badlands offroad stands are 170 and go from 19" to 33".

The 12 ton stands are 160 and go from 19 3/4" to 29 3/8"

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-heavy-duty-ratcheting-jack-stands-black-58341.html

My 6 tons max out at 23 3/4" and I need a few more inches so I think either one, the 12 ton or the 6 ton offroad would work for my needs. Both are close in price so that really isn't a factor. Since either one would work for my needs I just need to decide which one may be more useful in the future. Kind of leaning towards the 12 ton just so I have the extra capacity if ever needed but seeing which set others would go with in case I'm missing something to consider?

 

[JeepYJ]

Have you considered buying a bunch of 2x4s and building wood cribbing under each tire?

 

[zendriver]

Minimum height is only 3/4" difference, so hardly a factor.

Black only, or a multitude of colors?

Otherwise if you're considering buying something heavy, sure go big.

 

[mikedodge]

Id buy the 12 ton ones. More height and I've never liked the kind the 6 ton ones are. The 3 point ones are more tippier (altho that should be OK with the bases they have) and having to monkey around with the pin thing to adjust height.

 

[signcrafter]

Have you considered buying a bunch of 2x4s and building wood cribbing under each tire?

I have in the past and guess that could be an option. I probably have enough 2x4s laying around to make some cribbing stands. But think I'd rather spend the money on a set of stands to have for future uses.

Minimum height is only 3/4" difference, so hardly a factor.

Black only, or a multitude of colors?

Otherwise if you're considering buying something heavy, sure go big.

Ya minimum height not a factor and for this task maximum height and capacity isn't a factor either since both will be high enough. Think both choices are black only so guess that isn't a factor either. Just trying to decide if the 12 ton capacity or the extra 4" of height would be a better choice for future uses.

Id buy the 12 ton ones. More height and I've never liked the kind the 6 ton ones are. The 3 point ones are more tippier (altho that should be OK with the bases they have) and having to monkey around with the pin thing to adjust height.

The 6 ton actually have almost 4" more max height.

 

[cvairwerks]

I despise the ratchet type adjustable ones. I've got the shorter version of these for my trucks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sxt-1310

 

[mikedodge]

I have in the past and guess that could be an option. I probably have enough 2x4s laying around to make some cribbing stands. But think I'd rather spend the money on a set of stands to have for future uses.

Ya minimum height not a factor and for this task maximum height and capacity isn't a factor either since both will be high enough. Think both choices are black only so guess that isn't a factor either. Just trying to decide if the 12 ton capacity or the extra 4" of height would be a better choice for future uses.

The 6 ton actually have almost 4" more max height.

oops, got them reversed. I'd still go with the 12 Ton.

 

[Steve_P]

I personally prefer the design of the 6T version as I'd rather have steel than cast iron. I have the Escos that I bought before HF started selling their copy.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Before I bought just regular 6T stands, I had the littlier 3T version. To gain height, laid 4x4s beside each other and then screwed them together with 1/2" OSB, top and bottom. Doing this, I gained 4 1/2" of extra clearance.

I'm pretty sure these will work my 6T stands. My point being, the shorter and less expensive stands may work 95% of the time. If you need some extra height and have material laying around, it may be cheaper to do what I have done, if you so chose to.

 

[mrvm]

I’d go with the 12 ton not necessarily for the extra weight capacity but the wider & more stable base which can be Important when maxing out the jack stand height and when tightening or loosening a difficult fastener.