Is it Safe to use Blocks of Woods with a Trolley Jack?

mgold · Oct 27, 2011

I have a little 2-Ton Trolley Jack, which I find pretty useless. I think the only times I have ever really used it was to change tires or something. It only goes up about 12 inches or so.

I never really considered using Blocks of Woods to get extra height with this jack. I am actually not even sure if this is a good idea, since the pad area is small. What are GJ opinions?

NJHandyGuy · Oct 27, 2011

DON"T do it the safety aspect alone is enough to halt the uses of wood

diesel research · Oct 27, 2011

If you are using it "properly", there isn't a big issue. Properly would mean not going under vehicle while on a jack, and using proper jackstands.

If the wood collapses while tire is still on and jackstand isn't placed yet, what could really happen? Splinter injuries?

I am not telling you this is best method, but am encouraging you to be aware of larger safety factors than the wood itself.

The jackstand and/or tire is going to provide a lot more safety factor.

You don't even want to know about me using old school bumper jacks to turn a car around in a tight space by repeatedly purposely pushing the car off the jack....

05CarbonDRZ · Oct 27, 2011

DO NOT use blocks of wood with a trolley jack!! I have had the wood flip out from the jack and the metal jack pad went right through a $300 Sunfire oil pan,luckily no one was hurt.

mgold · Oct 27, 2011

What are Trolley Jacks good For?

What is a trolley jack good for then? ....Nothing!

DrunkSmurf · Oct 27, 2011

diesel research said:
You don't even want to know about me using old school bumper jacks to turn a car around in a tight space by repeatedly purposely pushing the car off the jack....

That got me laughing remembering times I've done the same when I was in my teens, and also after burying my tires and jacking them up out of the ruts and kicking the vehicle over to side to make new ruts...lol

I've used wood blocks quite a few times when I was younger/dumber. I never had any major incidents, but now that I'm older/lil less dumb I'd suggest finding a safer alternative to wood.

omr · Oct 27, 2011

Re: What are Trolley Jacks good For?

mgold said:
What is a trolley jack good for then? ....Nothing!

using the axle or a lower control arm to lift the tire just high enough to get it off the ground , brake work , tire work ..

Monte · Oct 27, 2011

no...

theoldwizard1 · Oct 27, 2011

I frequently use a 4x6 block of wood with my full size floor jack. It has a full size saddle.

wafrederick · Oct 27, 2011

I put a 2x4 between an oil pan and floor jack on most cars to prevent damaging the oil pan.I replaced an engine in a 1995 Buick Lesabre with the 3800 because someone jacked the vehicle up undernearth the oil pan putting a huge dent in the oil pan.Starved the rods of oil and did not sound very well with squaking noises.

mgold · Oct 27, 2011

Re: What are Trolley Jacks good For?

omr said:
using the axle or a lower control arm to lift the tire just high enough to get it off the ground , brake work , tire work ..

Ohhh.... nobody told me to do that! Still this Torin jack is pretty useless!

ZRX61 · Oct 27, 2011

I've done it... no issues, altho it's not an everyday thing obviously..

joeswamp · Oct 28, 2011

I think it sort of depends on how you're using the wood block. I've seen riggers use carefully stacked wood to temporarily support a big milling machine (this was done because they had to bring the machine in through a window and couldn't lower it all the way to the floor).

Obviously you don't want to get under a car that's balanced on a 2x4 on edge, but if you carve a piece of wood such that sits in the jack saddle and are careful about lifting the vehicle, I don't see what the big deal is.

RidX · Oct 28, 2011

If you need extra height get a 2x big enough for the jack to sit on top of with room to spare and after the first few pumps under load the jack will make depressions in the wood that should make it fairly sturdy. NEVER get under a vehicle without jack stands.

Drew_flux · Oct 28, 2011

as always: it depends. i have done it plenty of times. have also heared some bad stories. do it at your own risk.

dankicksass · Oct 28, 2011

Those folded sheetmetal screwjacks are deathtraps, best turn it into something more useful.

Rural53 · Oct 28, 2011

/OT On

diesel research said:
You don't even want to know about me using old school bumper jacks to turn a car around in a tight space by repeatedly purposely pushing the car off the jack....

In the 4wd world an "old school bumper jack" is known as a hi lift jack. I've used them several times to jack the front of a vehicle up then winch over them if I'm diff'ed or the front is digging into a bank.

Here the diff is sitting on the ridge between two ruts. We straightened the right hook trying to shift it with a ****** strap. It wouldn't winch out so we hi lifted the front up about six inches to clear the ridge and winched it out.
/OT Off

bhalv · Oct 28, 2011

wood blocks can come in handy if you are in a pinch or frankly have no other option. When I was in Africa we would use old rail road ties under the jack to get the needed height and partly because using a jack on sand wont get you anywhere. then again i'm talking about using a 24x 14x 8 block under the jack, actually putting one on the lift point would probably be a last ditch sorta idea.

larry_g · Oct 28, 2011

Wood has a definate place in rigging and cribbing of things. If you have quality wood then using it for spacers is no problem. I have some sections of RR ties, sections of 6x6 pt from the poles in the pole building, and various other blocks and timbers to use as needed. Set your jack on a 4x12 3' long and you'll have no problem. Set it on 4 little pieces of 2x4 under each wheel then let me out of the area before you start pumping. If you are smarter than the piece of wood then think about what your doing, keep the wood only in compression, and make it have a large enough footprint so that there is no way it can tip and you should be good to go.

lg
no neat sig line

ajchien · Oct 28, 2011

I've used short blocks of 2x4s before, to get extra height before putting in jack stands but was always really wary and never got under the car until the jack stands / chocks we're set.

In retrospect I wonder if plywood is a better choice? And I also wonder if putting the wood under the jack rather than on the saddle would be better. I also wonder how much the wood would sag and compress, and if ever I couldn't re-lift the jack up to get it off the jackstands.

TommyK · Oct 28, 2011

"Cribbing" is used for a variety of heavy load support situations. It is common practice to use hardwood dunnage to level shoring towers used to jack bridges requiring bearing replacement or other repairs. We routinely support heavy equipment in excess of 100,000 lbs with hardwood dunnage to effect repairs. The wood isn't the problem. Its the technique that needs to be carefully considered.

mgold · Oct 28, 2011

I don't think the issue is the weight on blocks of wood. I have used blocks of woods on lifts all the time. It is the saddle diameter is small.

larry_g · Oct 29, 2011

mgold said:
I don't think the issue is the weight on blocks of wood. I have used blocks of woods on lifts all the time. It is the saddle diameter is small.

Get a large block of wood or a stack of plywood sheets and put the whole jack on it..

lg
no neat sig line

BigAl62 · Oct 29, 2011

How about get a jack that lifts your vehicle high enough so you don't need Mickey Mouse solutions? Yes, you can use wood, I've done it, but you risk having the wood break and having the vehicle come crashing to the ground. After this happened to me, I got a jack that works properly! The wonderful thing about experience is that you recognize a mistake when you make it AGAIN!

mgold · Oct 29, 2011

I agree BigAl! That is why I am looking to buy that Arcan 3.5 Ton per GJ members suggestions!

Is it Safe to use Blocks of Woods with a Trolley Jack?

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