Jack trays. How are you supposed to use them?

[FuzzyTiger]

I have a 4 post lift which came with a jack tray and after having had the lift for 2 years now, I've never found a use for this tray beyond holding tools and things while I'm working.

From what i understand they are meant to be used with a jack to lift up your vehicle but where are these mythical jacks that are short enough to actually work? Do they expect people to stand under a car lifted 6ft up and use a scissor jack to lift it from a central point?

Do compatible jacks exist and I've just never seen them?

 

[Chevy-SS]

On my jack tray, I've used either small bottle jacks, or small floor jack. Eventually I realized how dangerous that was, so I bought a second rolling jack, 3500lb capacity. I have 4500lb capacity rolling jack up front. Two rolling jacks is the way to go on a 4-poster.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

On my jack tray, I've used either small bottle jacks, or small floor jack. Eventually I realized how dangerous that was, so I bought a second rolling jack, 3500lb capacity. I have 4500lb capacity rolling jack up front. Two rolling jacks is the way to go on a 4-poster.

They're something like $2000 each here in Canada. Add more for shipping since I'd never find them locally.

In comparison I can buy a 2 post lift for $2000-3000. At $4000 I could buy a name brand 2 post.

It's just insane how over priced bridge jacks are. About a year ago they were around $1000-1500 each which was already crazy pricing.

At this point maybe I need to look at using my jack tray as the base for a home made jack. The idea is setting off alarm bells in my head but maybe I can convince one of my mechanical engineer friends to figure it out and get a professional welder to put it all together. I wouldn't trust my welding abilities with my life.

Either that or I just need to sell my 4 post and get a 2 post instead. I can probably sell it for enough to cover the cost of a 2 post.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I used the bottle jack to just get the tires off the ramp, then I'd support the diff on large wood blocks and lower the bottle jack, so that the weight rested solidly on the blocks of wood. It can be pretty safe on a jack tray, but like anything, you gotta be careful.

I hear ya on the prices of the rolling jacks, especially in CA. Everything seems to be more money up there in my home country. I oughta know, I was born in Halifax, NS. But we are talking about the safety of your life here, haha..... so price is a secondary consideration.

The main danger that I noticed when using something like a bottle jack is: when you jack up in the front, and if the vehicle is in Park, then as you jack the arc of travel would normally make the vehicle creep forward a bit, but since the vehicle won't creep, then something starts tilting, and that something is the bottle jack. I had it kick out on me a few times, very scary. The rolling jacks will move (roll) a little bit as you jack up, eliminating that particular hazard. I'm extremely cautious now, even using the two big rolling jacks. I go slow and carefully.

Good luck!

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I used the bottle jack to just get the tires off the ramp, then I'd support the diff on large wood blocks and lower the bottle jack, so that the weight rested solidly on the blocks of wood. It can be pretty safe on a jack tray, but like anything, you gotta be careful.

I hear ya on the prices of the rolling jacks, especially in CA. Everything seems to be more money up there in my home country. I oughta know, I was born in Halifax, NS. But we are talking about the safety of your life here, haha..... so price is a secondary consideration.

The main danger that I noticed when using something like a bottle jack is: when you jack up in the front, and if the vehicle is in Park, then as you jack the arc of travel would normally make the vehicle creep forward a bit, but since the vehicle won't creep, then something starts tilting, and that something is the bottle jack. I had it kick out on me a few times, very scary. The rolling jacks will move (roll) a little bit as you jack up, eliminating that particular hazard. I'm extremely cautious now, even using the two big rolling jacks. I go slow and carefully.

Good luck!

Honestly jacks and jack stands in general seem to be designed by people that have never seen cars before in their life.

Jack stands pretty much all support the car in a really questionable way, leading to all kinds of after market rubber pads and things to solve a problem that should be rather simple if the designers just looked at a car. It's like they expect everyone is supporting their cars from the axles - I can't think of any vehicle manufacturers that recommend that.

A lot of jacks on the other hand struggle to have enough height to actually get wheels off the ground.

And of course jacks and jack stands are pretty much never made to work together because on a lot of modern cars there's just no room.

I think maybe I might just sell my 4 post and get a 2 post. Id probably spend $1000-2000 on that switch and I'll end up with a more useful setup.