4 jack stands vs 4 ramps

[DakotaMan]

I need to do some exhaust work and rust remediation on my foxbody over the winter. My plan is to put on the stands or ramps for about the whole winter. (Nov thru February). Which is safer?

I really like the race ramps wheel cribs in 10” but that’s sorta $$.

Anything else I should consider?

 

[Dadillac]

I prefer the 4 ramp choice. What I do is jack up the side of the car and place 2 ramps, facing in opposite directions, under the tires. Then the other side. I put the ramps in opposite directions so that the stops kind of box in the tires so no rolling is possible. As far as 4 jack stands. I do this on occasion but do not feel 100% sure that the car will not shift at any point. Ramps is my vote

Don

 

[Jay H 237]

I prefer the 4 ramp choice. What I do is jack up the side of the car and place 2 ramps, facing in opposite directions, under the tires. Then the other side. I put the ramps in opposite directions so that the stops kind of box in the tires so no rolling is possible. As far as 4 jack stands. I do this on occasion but do not feel 100% sure that the car will not shift at any point. Ramps is my vote

Don

I do the same thing as Don as long as I don't have to take the wheels off. I do feel it's much more stable too.

 

[DakotaMan]

I prefer the 4 ramp choice. What I do is jack up the side of the car and place 2 ramps, facing in opposite directions, under the tires. Then the other side. I put the ramps in opposite directions so that the stops kind of box in the tires so no rolling is possible. As far as 4 jack stands. I do this on occasion but do not feel 100% sure that the car will not shift at any point. Ramps is my vote

Don

Thanks. If I were doing brakes or something that necessitated the wheels to be off, then certainly jack stands is all I could do. But I’m thinking ramps are better here. To make sure I got the visual, each side of the car is in opposite directions as well as front vs back. If so, how are you jacking up the car tire over 10” in the air?

 

[rob0781]

Keep in mind depending on the extent of the body work sometimes things are easier if you can have the wheels off.

 

[nikerret]

I would do the jack stands. Easy and cheap. Good stands have never made me uneasy.

 

[JRC3]

Do you need the rear axle to droop for the exhaust work?

I used two sets (4) of these for years before I got a mid-lift. Tall enough to do transmissions and so on. https://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-steel-jack-stands-61197.html Nearly 24" tall.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Keep in mind depending on the extent of the body work sometimes things are easier if you can have the wheels off.

Do you need the rear axle to droop for the exhaust work?

I used two sets (4) of these for years before I got a mid-lift. Tall enough to do transmissions and so on. https://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-steel-jack-stands-61197.html Nearly 24" tall.

This is why I would do the jack stands. Pull the wheels/tires off and allow for axle drop for the exhaust.

I'd also recommend buy 4 of the taller bigger tonnage jack stands. Buy them once and you'll have them forever.

 

[pbon]

You can jack in stages and use blocks on the back to get the height to use 6 ton stands. Or get a higher lift jack. At some point you should think about a set of quick jacks or Max Jax or even a real lift. A mid rise scissor is the one I like least though others think they are great.

 

[DGersic]

Cribbing built from 2x4 and 3/4” plywood will give you more room to work than ramps.



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[ericlar80]

ESCO jack stands are very stable. You can also buy the saddle style if you want to put them under an axle.
https://www.amazon.com/ESCO-10498-Jack-Stands-Capacity/dp/B01J5ZB8K6

 

[Gotcha640]

Another for cribbing if you really want the wheels on.

But, flat spots. My 69 beetle has been in the garage all summer, way too hot, and I fully expect a bit of a lumpy ride when I get it back out after this turnaround.

 

[JRC3]

One of my old mechanic mentors would put a car on stands then he would grab onto it and jerk it around like he was trying to get it to fall, as he was!

I do that too, especially with my extra tall stands (up to 48"). Then I tap them low from side to side with a dead-blow to get all the feet to sit even and equal on the floor.

 

[bad_idea]

The fox body is a unibody. If you are cutting out any of the floor pan, I would go with cribbing under the tires. I have a second gen Camaro, similar chassis design to the fox bodies, and those cars flex bad. Jack up one tire and the door won't open!

I recommend you build the cribbing like the last pic in this thread: http://nastyz28.com/threads/cribbing-pics-and-details.242069/page-3

 

[finn]

Ramps get in the way, so go with jackstands. Get the large ones though. The small ones don’t get the car high enough and are unstable at full extension. Tall, wide base stands...avoid the cute little aluminum stands.

 

[rattle_snake]

Another issue with ramps is that many don't work well with wide tires.

 

[ItsNemo]

Ramps get in the way, so go with jackstands. Get the large ones though. The small ones don’t get the car high enough and are unstable at full extension. Tall, wide base stands...avoid the cute little aluminum stands.

This, I used big 6 ton ones on little cars before I got my lift...it was such a huge upgrade over using 2-3 ton stands. As tall at their lowest setting as the small ones on their full extension, and way bigger base and general rigidity/stability.

 

[Dadillac]

Thanks. If I were doing brakes or something that necessitated the wheels to be off, then certainly jack stands is all I could do. But I’m thinking ramps are better here. To make sure I got the visual, each side of the car is in opposite directions as well as front vs back. If so, how are you jacking up the car tire over 10” in the air?

I jack up one side as high as my jack will allow. Place wood under the tires. Then the other side as well. Then I place large 2x10's under the jack and jack higher. Place the ramps under the tires and then the other side. I place the ramps that are under the front tires so that the back stop is towards the rear of the car. And place the back stop on the rear set towards the front of the car. This way the wheels are "locked in" so no rolling is possible. Works out very well. As stated by others this will only be effective if you do not need the axles hanging. Not sure what exhaust work you are doing but if it is a new cat back it will work out fine. You can cut out the old exhaust and piecing in the new will be no issue

Don

 

[finn]

I jack up one side as high as my jack will allow. Place wood under the tires. Then the other side as well. Then I place large 2x10's under the jack and jack higher. Place the ramps under the tires and then the other side. I place the ramps that are under the front tires so that the back stop is towards the rear of the car. And place the back stop on the rear set towards the front of the car. This way the wheels are "locked in" so no rolling is possible. Works out very well. As stated by others this will only be effective if you do not need the axles hanging. Not sure what exhaust work you are doing but if it is a new cat back it will work out fine. You can cut out the old exhaust and piecing in the new will be no issue

Don

Are you sure? All the cars and light trucks I have replaced the exhaust on require suspension droop in order to get the tailpipe over the axle.

 

[DakotaMan]

I am not sure if these will or won’t require the axle to drop. But thanks guys for all the ideas.

 

[56Safari]

This, I used big 6 ton ones on little cars before I got my lift...it was such a huge upgrade over using 2-3 ton stands. As tall at their lowest setting as the small ones on their full extension, and way bigger base and general rigidity/stability.

Yup, I use 6 tons on everything now... bought them once to R&R a transmission, now it’s my go to.. found it helped to use 2 jacks at a time, front/back... otherwise you’re bringing one jack to all 4 corners 8 times incrementally if you’re getting it up in the air at all...

2 post lift is happening the next time I move though... I’m over jack stands


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