Need some heavy duty jack stands

[TractorMechanic]

What do you guys recommend? They'll be used on cars, pickups, as well as trailers and farm and construction equipment. I'll also need to buy some medium and tall height stands as well. The Sunex sure look nice. Wish Harbor Freight sold some with the solid bases.

 

[blazemaster83]

I am not usually a fan of harbor freight stuff, but I have 4 of their 12 ton jack stands and use them around the farm pretty regularly. So far they work great. They go from 19"-30" in height.

 

[gdocktor3]

Hein-Warner are the best I've used, but I have a pair of 6 ton HF stands and have used them with my diesel pick ups and my Chevy mason dump with no issues. Just saying...

 

[deberly12]

The HF 12 ton look plenty strong but aren't solid base. Why are you looking for some with a solid base? There is a guy on YouTube that made his own super heavy duty extra tall ones that are pretty nice.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[TractorMechanic]

The HF 12 ton look plenty strong but aren't solid base. Why are you looking for some with a solid base? There is a guy on YouTube that made his own super heavy duty extra tall ones that are pretty nice.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

Actually need both types. The reason for a solid base is primarily for times when a repair can't be done inside the shop or other building with a solid floor. I'll either put down some outrigger pads or pieces of wood to help keep the stands from sinking in the gravel or dirt.

The other reason for using jack stands with solid bases would be for when we jack up the large tractors, trucks, and combines.

 

[deberly12]

I haven't uses jack stands for anything heavier than my Power stroke on gravel. That worked fine. But, the tractors usually get wood blocks.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[Provincial]

I have a pair of these tall OTC jack stands. They have been great! Expensive.

https://www.otctools.com/products/12-ton-capacity-high-profile-jack-stand-one-only

I have several sets of HF jack stands, from 3 ton to 12 ton. The only problem I have ever had with the HF stands is when I made the mistake of trying to lift the front end of my road grader using the blade hydraulics while the rear axles were supported by four 3 ton HF stands. I put a side load on the stands (which were loaded pretty heavily) and the bases bent. They still held up the load, but afterward they would not sit flat on the floor, and touched only three legs at a time. Totally my fault.

 

[1982fxr]

I sure wouldn't want to go near a combine sitting on hf jack stands. Sounds like a Darwin Award waiting to be won. I'm sure lots have done it but why if you don't absolutely have to?

 

[nes999]

All we use at work is HF jacks. Everything from f150s to semis.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Sterff]

I have a set of the short and tall 10 ton sunex jack stands. To say they are heavy duty is an understatement. I got mine from tooltopia. Here are the tall ones which are great for tractors.

 

[yamaha0343]

US Jack

http://www.usjack.com/

 

[Loudpipes66]

Gray Manufacturing

http://www.grayusa.com/

 

[tym]

US Jack

http://www.usjack.com/

Seconded. I have a pair of their floor jacks (the load rating is *per stand,* not *per pair* like with the HF stuff) and a 3-ton bottle jack. Love 'em.

 

[Strouty]

If I were using anything outside, I would want it to be made with three legs, not four. With three legs they all will sit on the ground, four can cause some grief.

 

[Slinger646]

In the fire department, we used 4x4 blocks laid Lincoln Log style to stabilize everything.

 

[langss]

After having a Jackstand rollover in dirt, I scrounged up some 3/4" plywood, cut it a little larger than the largest base on any of my stands and I have never had a problem since. No sinking into asphalt, or dirt, no marking up any concrete. I did have a set(2) that had a welded panel in the bottom. They were fine, But using the plywood gave a much larger footprint and they still sunk into a hot asphalt driveway up to the panel.

 

[CJM8515]

2x12 or 2x10 as a solid base, never had an issue.

 

[becker_atc]

Weld giant washers to each foot about 3" OD


As for equipment (combines tractors grain trucks) we generally just used wood blocks bridge timbers or 4x4s with 2x4s screwed to each side and added a bit of webbing for a loop handle to make them more manageable


Sent via message in a bottle

 

[WittHay]

I have a pair of Strongarm 12 ton jack stands, a Canadian brand similar to Sunex. Good stands for solid ground.

For the big stuff we use wood blocks, 6x6s or bigger for supporting the weight. Also use railroad jacks similar to the ones in the pictures for lifting and supporting large equipment

 

[redvalkyrie]

I like my massive yellow HF stands. You could weld plate steel to the base. That has to be cheaper than than the US made stands..

 

[bw77]

Seconded. I have a pair of their floor jacks (the load rating is *per stand,* not *per pair* like with the HF stuff) and a 3-ton bottle jack. Love 'em.

US Jack now rates their stands "per pair".

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6452858#post6452858

 

[pepi]

If I were using anything outside, I would want it to be made with three legs, not four. With three legs they all will sit on the ground, four can cause some grief.

Four leg may cause a little grief, but far better for stability.

The, if theory fails ...

Greg

 

[Strouty]

Four leg may cause a little grief, but far better for stability.

The, if theory fails ...

Greg

Only on flat ground.

 

[autobon7]

Seconded. I have a pair of their floor jacks (the load rating is *per stand,* not *per pair* like with the HF stuff) and a 3-ton bottle jack. Love 'em.

3rd.....I have a pair of their 6 ton units. A little pricey but well worth it imo

 

[GTO]

I like my massive yellow HF stands. You could weld plate steel to the base. That has to be cheaper than than the US made stands..

I guess it depends on how much you value your life..

 

[G-ManBart]

US Jack now rates their stands "per pair".

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6452858#post6452858

Interesting that Gray Manufacturing still rates theirs individually.

I've had a set of U.S. made stands on my list of things to buy for quite some time now. When I'm lying under something big and heavy no expense seems too much.

 

[bw77]

Interesting that Gray Manufacturing still rates theirs individually.

US Jack is using the 2014 ASME standard. Gray is using the 2011 standard.

http://store.grayusa.com/index.php/...del-7-tf.html#product_tabs_description_tabbed

"Gray Vehicle Support Stands are built to meet or exceed 2011 AMSE-PALD Standards."

According to US Jack, the 2014 standard allows only for the pair rating.

 

[Farmall450]

The HF 12 ton look plenty strong but aren't solid base. Why are you looking for some with a solid base? There is a guy on YouTube that made his own super heavy duty extra tall ones that are pretty nice.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

ChuckE2009?
I'd try US Jack, or HW as already mentioned.

 

[deberly12]

Yeah...that's him...he is pretty entertaining because I relate to his antics.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

I bought 2 sets of 6T, one from auto parts and ordered one, HF maybe? But one set was a gage heavier, don't recall which. There must be 2 or 3 companies make them for the market.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Cant beat these for the money. I've had about a 27000lb truck on them.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Highly recommend hardwood blocking for field use- the jackstands we use for heavy equipment are massive and come with a consumerate price tag

 

[AdamIsAdam]

ok, I've been reading WAY more than I ever expected to read on the subject. I just wanted good, REAL, reliable, safe stands to replace the Pep Boys Torins and another set I have. After reading, and reading, and reading, I see some conclusions:

1) it's VERY hard to buy 100% Made in the USA. US Jack seems to be about it. (But their 2 and 3 ton jacks look so flimsy, no?). Some of the other US brands have some of their parts made in China and assembled in USA like Hein-Werner.
(US Jack: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P248OZC/?tag=atomicindus08-20)

2) My Torins from Pep Boys are actually made in Canada and have some good write-ups.
(https://www.garagetooladvisor.com/auto/best-jack-stands/ )

3) It seems we should be more concerned with the ratcheting/locking mechanisms than the welds and steel strength, especially if you buy well above your weight needs.

SO, WHAT'S THE SAFEST LOCKING MECHANISM? The answer seems to be a stand that uses a locking pin, not a ratchet. But they are scarce and only seem to be available in very heavy duty applications (for VERY high prices).

This site listed best for safety, but honestly,
https://www.floorjackshop.com/top-rated-jack-stands-for-safety/

And don't forget to watch this video, especially towards the end!

Given all of this, I found these two stands to be the best deal so far, what do you all think? Especially, what do you think of Torin's "safety pin" to lock the ratchet in place?

Otherwise, the Esco seems to be an affordable pin design at about $140 a pair except it's 3 legs:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019JVIPM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or this Torin:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007XTGCI/?tag=atomicindus08-20


I just don't know what to do! This is for use on cars in a garage mostly. So 3 tons is fine.

Of the safety rated ones, to me those $35 Torins with the safety pin seem hard to beat, but are they really the safest?

https://www.floorjackshop.com/top-rated-jack-stands-for-safety/

 

[chrisnazzy]

I have read and participated in several jack stand related threads over the last year or two because I have been in search of the same end result as you....a quality set of stands that I can trust and preferably made in the USA.

The Torin and Easco stands you linked to always seem to be in contention. The offerings from Sunex also are very nice.

If I had to order some right now I would probably order the Easco as many other GJ'ers have. The Torin's would be my favorite if they had a larger baseplate. The big Sunex stands another member posted a pic of under the tractor are awesome if you were looking for tall extra heavy duty stands.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

3) It seems we should be more concerned with the ratcheting/locking mechanisms than the welds and steel strength, especially if you buy well above your weight needs.

Based on what? I personally have had 2 stands structurally fail while their ratchet held.
My big ones have pins which cannot come out under load, and I have 6 or so of the ratchet type which also cannot be released under load. Only hazard from the latter being if the limit tab isn't bent in, and the arm falls out and hurts your toe.
I'd say the #1 problem is improper use of an otherwise suitable device.

 

[AdamIsAdam]

I was thinking that if the stand is rated for, say, 3 tons a pair and I'm using them on a 3,500lb car (properly) then I'm well under the weight limit, so I was hoping/assuming that the structure of the stand should be sufficient. I guess if it's a bad stand, it's a bad stand and will/could fail structurally at almost any weight.

But that ratchet scares me. Pins are much more visually satisfying in this regard. I guess if it was a huge issue we'd be reading about accidents constantly.

 

[Rileysan]

I'm a "US made" fan of most everything but I can't argue against the HF (made in China) jack stands. I have been using HF 3 ton and 6 ton (4 of each) for the better part of 15 years and couldn't be happier.

As for a "solid base", you're wasting your time if looking for an all-in-one jack stand. You need to have the proper base to place your jack stands on in the first place, then most any jack stand will do the job well.

Even the best jack and jack stand stand will fail without the proper foundation. Ever seen a boom truck/crane lay down outriggers in the mud without first laying down thick plywood or similar? It's not pretty!

Brian

 

[thatguysb]

the wood is a great option for field work, never had them sink past a 1/4 in any terrain. Even in the rain.

 

[AdamIsAdam]

I went to HF, their 3 ton stands are so short and I'm not crazy about their ratchet lever. Now I see why most buy their 6 ton, it's the size of my Torin 3 ton.

Their aluminum piece is nice and that ratchet is better.

I left with out anything.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I bought these https://www.otctools.com/products/22-ton-capacity-jack-stands a few years back for working on the heavy duty class 8 stuff. Couldn't be happier. For the diesel pickups I like the big harbor freight stands. They're heavy, beefy and solid.