Safety of Jack Stands

[WES51]

I have always been wondering about the safety of these things, particularly the tripod style notched center column for the height adjustment type, with height being adjusted using a simple ratcheting lever. Or in other words a simple regular jack stand.

Provided of course that the correct weight/load rating IS used and NOT exceeded, how safe do you guys feel about these?

Would you feel safe with a car standing on 4x of these, 1x at each corner? Or would you use 6x just in case?

What are your thoughts and experiences.

 

[cj7jeep81]

Perfectly fine with one at each corner.

 

[The Other Sean]

2, not a worry, but I normally slide one or both wheels I took off the vehicle underneath. One at each corner? At least two wheels under.

 

[Lou's Garage]

Throughout the late 60's, 70's, and most of the 80's I worked on cars daily, for a living. Lifts were not nearly as prevalent then so we did a lot of work on jack stands. We never had a problem with a jack stand as long as it was correctly spotted under the car (or truck) on even, stable, solid ground and not overloaded. I can't list all the "what if's" without missing at least one but I would be reluctant to use stands on blacktop on a hot day. It is likely they will sink in.

Lou

 

[shoegazer]

Get the kind with a pin that goes through.

 

[Jhoff310]

As long as you follow their weight ratings, I wouldn't have a problem. I also use 4x4 cribbing just for extra measure. Years ago My uncle Joe was killed by a failed jackstand.

 

[BillK]

Wes,
As I get older I feel less comfortable with them but still use them. I remember doing clutches and transmissions in my Chevelle with all four corners up as high as the stands would go. Not sure if I would do that now. I will say that I think some of the older heavy duty stands seem a lot sturdier than some of the new stuff I have seen. The ones I have are probably 50 years old.

 

[Bluedodge]

UNSAFE....

In the 80's, the parts store sold a **** load of these tri-pod stands:



Their stability was at the mercy of six chintzy tack welds at the bottom. It is my understanding they're unacceptable by OSHA and are no longer permitted in shops or to be sold in the US.

If you have any of these, please do yourself a favor and get rid of these widow makers.

 

[Jagmandave]

I still have a set of those and I use them all the time - just not to hold a car up! They're great for supporting an exhaust system while you weld it or to support a subframe while I bolt parts to it before I put it in the car or any number of such tasks....I just don't lie on the ground under a car supported by them. So, no reason to throw away a good tool, just use it appropriately......

 

[Bretny]

Yea those are junk. We folded more than one of them up. Jack stands are not expensive, get new ones.

 

[WES51]

Not sure if I would do that now.

Well, that is kind of where I am now.

I have 4x 6 ton Heiner Werner jack stands for my 1500 GM truck and think about buying 2x more, but storage is an issue in my 'little' garage. I'm running out of space to put things.

I have 2x more of tbe shorter 3 ton Heiner Werner jack stands as well, as well as 2x more small ones to place under parts as support.

 

[Bondo]

I have 4x 6 ton Heiner Werner jack stands for my 1500 GM truck and think about buying 2x more, but storage is an issue in my 'little' garage. I'm running out of space to put things.

Ayuh,..... Yer truck weighs nowhere near 24 tons,.....

I have much more faith in the rachetin' jack-stands than the flimsy tube ones,....

 

[lilredex]

Was never a fan of those tripods or ratcheting types of stands. So in the early eighties I made a set I was comfortable with.

Recently saw some hydraulic types that would be good for newer vehicles with jack points only.

 

[txvwnut]

UNSAFE....

In the 80's, the parts store sold a **** load of these tri-pod stands:

Their stability was at the mercy of six chintzy tack welds at the bottom. It is my understanding they're unacceptable by OSHA and are no longer permitted in shops or to be sold in the US.

If you have any of these, please do yourself a favor and get rid of these widow makers.

My brother murdered many of those sheetmetal stands back in the day.

 

[ericlar80]

I have a set of these for holding up whatever I work on. They are very stable and I like them for the through-pin.
https://www.jbtools.com/esco-equipment-10498k-3-ton-performance-jack-stand-kit

I can't bring myself to trust the ratcheting style jack stands with their brittle cast iron posts, and chintzy ratchet mechanism, and loose tolerances. Through pins and solid steel can't be beat (in my opinion).

BTW - if you don't require the rubber pad on top, I would suggest these ones:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610848_200610848

 

[finn]

The sheet metal tube stands are dangerous. They collapse easily and dig into the ground and tip if the ground isn’t solid. I still use mine, but only to hold a trailer tongue or perhaps a rear axle, not attached to the car.

The small two or three ton stands with the ratchet height adjustment locks are a little better, but I rarely use them. The larger six ton stands have a larger base and are much more stable, plus are taller, so that’s what I use and recommend.

Some of the small aluminum stands that are sometimes packaged with the light weight aluminum jacks look sketchy, at best.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Used them all the time, but I was always taught to stick the wheels under the sides or leave the floor Jack pumped up under the lifting point. I now mainly use my quickjack for convenience, will stick a Jack stand or a wheel under the car just in case.

 

[Bretny]

Ayuh,..... Yer truck weighs nowhere near 24 tons,.....

I have much more faith in the rachetin' jack-stands than the flimsy tube ones,....

That's max weight and some times it's about max height and not weight.

 

[Bretny]

Was never a fan of those tripods or ratcheting types of stands. So in the early eighties I made a set I was comfortable with.

Recently saw some hydraulic types that would be good for newer vehicles with jack points only.

I made a set too. They go up to 48in high. I had a lifted truck with a 2in tube bumper.

 

[Randy in Maine]

I like the 6 ton jackstands myself as they seem to be a little more beefy.

 

[SGKent]

that style in the photos above is known for several modes of failure.

 

[Jeepster04]

I've got the 6 ton (per pair) craftsman jack stands and use them anytime I'll be under the vehicle. Otherwise I use the small 2 ton craftsman jack stands for brake jobs/tire rotations or whatever.

I dont feel a bit nervous using the 6 ton jack stands at max height on flat ground. When I spray fluid film/wool wax under my vehicles I get them up to max height. Im certain 1 of them would hold my vehicle so Im confident Ill never have any issues using 4 unless I do something stupid.

I would steer way clear of those tripods....

 

[driz]

Used them all the time, but I was always taught to stick the wheels under the sides or leave the floor Jack pumped up under the lifting point. I now mainly use my quickjack for convenience, will stick a Jack stand or a wheel under the car just in case.

That’s me since the 70s. I don’t trust nothin or nobody always a backup. Only once did I have a car fall off a jack or stand . It was a cheapo Walmart short jack. The one that is quite narrow stance. It got a sideways lean going and finally flipped sideways. Even then it stayed put far longer than you’d expect.
Those sheet metal stands really do a job on an asphalt driveway too. Close behind is all the trolly jacks today. Those wheels leave nice dents on a hot summer day. I keep some pieces of steel plate handy to put under the front of the jack and those [emoji90] jackstands



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[NETexas]

Used them all the time, but I was always taught to stick the wheels under the sides or leave the floor Jack pumped up under the lifting point. I now mainly use my quickjack for convenience, will stick a Jack stand or a wheel under the car just in case.

Same here!


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[DFB]

Omg those tube style flate brace with pins are **** for sure.

I have a an old, old set od them I use for small lightweight stuff only. Mostly for motorcycle support.

Same with a set of little ratchet ones Craftsmans and they are and actually not much to write home about for either. I kept them as part of a package deal after I sent back their tweaked floor jack that wobbled and wouldnt sit right on the concrete floor

Yup get yourself some of the 6 ton...for added height too

I have 2 sets.

If your only doing one corner at a time the smaller ones will do though.

No matter what solid ground support underneath is essential.


Tire and rim under axle...good security


Cripes I even bent up a set car ramps once on gravel when they sunk in :eyecrazy

 

[Jazz1]

I use 6 ton jack stands and still set a block of wood under the vehicle. New stands have a warning on them not to go under vehicle when on stands.

 

[robinsoc]

We use them all the time at work for full size school buses. Never an issue as long as they are in the appropriate position and have the correct weight rating for what you are supporting.

 

[JRC3]

I made a set too. They go up to 48in high.

Luckily now you can but something way beefier and totally adjustable for around $200 a set (2). 10 ton ea.

 

[RossABQ]

Ayuh,..... Yer truck weighs nowhere near 24 tons,.....

I have much more faith in the rachetin' jack-stands than the flimsy tube ones,....

I learned on here some time ago, jack stands' ratings are for a pair, not per stand. 4 x 6-tons rating = 12 tons capacity (if evenly distributed).

I used to worry about the ratchet style, not knowing whether they were cast iron (brittle), malleable iron (much less brittle), or forged steel. Someone on Reddit posted a picture of one that broke, it was clearly cast iron. Chinese cast iron, of course. I set the load down on mine very slowly.

 

[driz]

Luckily now you can but something way beefier and totally adjustable for around $200 a set (2). 10 ton ea.

Notice that there’s that nice little touch with those . Actual feet to spread the Weight around and reinforce the base of the legs. Nice touch. Also notice the simple pin height settings, cheap but simple . No way it’s going to cam off a not completely engaged or worn tooth.
Like the old Sarge always said, “ Keep it simple stupid”. Hell if I have to get right under there for something rough I’ll set it on wooden 8 x 8 or 12 x 12 blocking. If it’s gotta go really high it gets a pair of 12-14” tree trunk sections with a steel cross member between them . That’s as solid as a rock .
Give me a lift any day though and my soon to be next garage is going to get one!



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[wssix99]

Would you feel safe with a car standing on 4x of these, 1x at each corner? Or would you use 6x just in case?

As long as the footprint of the jackstands is equivalent to the contact patch of the tires (most are for cars), 4 in the corners is going to be really stable - just like the car sitting on it's tires.

If these footprints are equivalent and you aren't doing anything weird (lifting areas of the car, torquing the whole thing, etc.), things will be just lovely.

That being said, some jack stands also have other safety feature like bolt or slide locks that hold the ratcheting part in more securely and permanently.

 

[JRC3]

You guys ever seen anyone use cinder blocks?

 

[CraigStu]

So this thread got me thinking. I want the ratchet style but I have seen some where the tooth chipped off. So maybe 'Made in USA' would be a good thing. Amazon has these in 3 ton
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011O4WCG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Says right on the label Made in USA. Then I look for the 6 ton version and find
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011O2RYQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I can't zoom in close enough to read the words but there is a US Flag like the 3 ton. You guys think these are GTG?

 

[JRC3]

^
http://heinwerner-automotive.com/ProductDetails/Hein-WernerAutomotive/6TonJackStands/HW93506/547

HW93506

6 Ton Jack Stands
HW93506 6 Ton Jack Stands
Features:
...
Assembled in the US with US and Global components

Probably the exact same as HF Pittsburgh and the like but different paint and stickers. I have 2 sets of the 6 ton and a set of the 3 ton HF P(Sh)ittsburgh . Worked flawless in the past though I haven't used them to support a whole vehicle for in 5 years or so.

 

[619DioFan]

You guys ever seen anyone use cinder blocks?

As a teenager I grew up next door to a retired navy captain. he would use a brick , a piece of 4x4 and a piece of firewood stacked up as a jackstand. then sit with his legs under the car while yanking on things. amazed he was never squashed.

 

[619DioFan]

I use the HF 6 ton stands with my 95 dodge ram 2500 4x4. I have had the whole truck off the ground on 4 of them with no worries. I have 2 HF floor jacks and always have one under each end as well.

 

[glentre]

I'm another guy who never gets under a car on jack stands unless there is a secondary support.

Glen

 

[Farmall450]

I use good 6 ton (Snap-on/HW, US Jack, and now I added a set of AC Delco (imports but nicely made). No worries by me, they're well made.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Back in the 80s I was using oak cribbing, like used by fire departments/rescue workers. Someone thought my cribbing wasn't safe and gave me a set of those sheet metal stands. I don't recall if I ever used them succesfully but sure do remember hearing/seeing them began to fold as I moved out from under the car.

I haven't had any problems with the ratchet style stands.

 

[Bighead38]

Since I work on everything in the driveway I always use jack stands. I put wood under them so they can’t dig into the blacktop. I’ve done everything you can to a car on jack stands, motors, transmissions, rear ends, suspension, brakes, etc.