Are these jackstands any good?

[PoorOwner]

I was looking for better jackstands, then remembered I have these.. do you guys know anything about this style of jackstand with the pin?

I inherited it from my dad.. they look heavy duty, I don't know anything about them. The lowest slot is still kind of high already, but I think I will try to use them more often. Sometimes I put them under solid rear ends.

 

[Junkman]

I have a bunch that look like the orange one, but without the nice paint job, and they work well for my use. Haven't ever seen the other type before, except for a similar design, but none that are exactly like the one you have. Both should be good, but I prefer my jack stands to be in pairs, so they support the car evenly. Jack stands are the only thing between you and the weight of the car, so make sure that what you use will properly support the weight. If a jack stand fails, you don't get a second chance usually, and the result is not a pretty one. I don't trust the jack stands completely, and if working under the car, I will put a second set of stands under it as a safety. I am one of the lucky ones that survived when a jack stand failed. The stand was good, but there was a thin spot in the concrete and the ground under it had been eroded away. It was in a very old garage built in the early part of the last century.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I would not hesitate to use those jack stands. Junky shared some good rules for use.

 

[jimvannoy]

I also always try to leave the jack under the car. I let it down onto the stands then jack it up just enough so the pad barley touches the frame.

 

[Coach James]

Mine are like the orange ones and I have 99% faith in them. My dad's have bases like the orange ones but pins like the blue ones. He's had them for years, kept them rust free and they do fine. I also do as Jim does and keep the jack under the car with slight tension.

Coach

 

[Uncle Buck]

I also always try to leave the jack under the car. I let it down onto the stands then jack it up just enough so the pad barley touches the frame.

Just exactly the way I do too!

 

[PoorOwner]

I like the blue ones, I checked around they are expensive to buy.. for example like AC hydralics.

The red ones are the walmart specials, I had used for a long time I am afraid of the wear and tear, there is some bent on the straps, sometimes dig into my floor and also stand on 3 legs.
I am considering retiring the red ones for backups only and "upgrade" to this style (beefier) design what do you think? They support more weight too. $25 at kragens.

Or buy 2 more AC Hydralics jackstands to match the blue pair to work with. They are so expensive though.

 

[BoostAddiction]

I was looking for better jackstands, then remembered I have these.. do you guys know anything about this style of jackstand with the pin?

I inherited it from my dad.. they look heavy duty, I don't know anything about them. The lowest slot is still kind of high already, but I think I will try to use them more often. Sometimes I put them under solid rear ends.

I almost killed myself while semi-under a car with stands just like the orange stands you have in the picture: one of the stands collapsed while under some lateral strain and I just made it out of the way before the car fell. As it fell, it cut a fuel line, and started to spill fuel all over the floor.

In another failed jackstand case, the then-editor of Keepin Track, a Corvette pub, died when his car crushed him under similar circumstances.

After that, I swore I'd only work under a lift. It's just not worth the risk to me.

Obligatory pic:

Everyone makes their own risk/reward assessments, but for me, most jackstands don't measure up.

-Will

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Different brands of identical looking stands are made differently. The quality from China varies with the specifications from the buyer. I bought four Snap-On stands, typical stamped in two halves and welded together. But these have little flat feet welded to each corner, won't mar the floor. The metal is at least one if not two gauges thicker than the cheapies you find in parts places. There is alot of weld and it has good penetration. The SO stands are Chinese made, and I paid $40 a pair for them, twice what the cheapies cost, but it is the subtle differences that made it worth it.

I also have four 5 ton stands, ratchet type, about 35 years old. I recently bead blasted them, primed and painted them. Discovered an open casting fissure under the head on one of them, been there since new, but that stand now has the head painted red and labeling all over it for "secondary use only"

Charles

Charles

 

[bmwpower]

I almost killed myself while semi-under a car with stands just like the orange stands you have in the picture: one of the stands collapsed while under some lateral strain and I just made it out of the way before the car fell. As it fell, it cut a fuel line, and started to spill fuel all over the floor.

In another failed jackstand case, the then-editor of Keepin Track, a Corvette pub, died when his car crushed him under similar circumstances.

After that, I swore I'd only work under a lift. It's just not worth the risk to me.

Obligatory pic:

Everyone makes their own risk/reward assessments, but for me, most jackstands don't measure up.

-Will

Yea, but are they really meant to take lateral strain? I'm not sure. I still have mine (similar to the orange but a lot beefier), but they've done nothing but collect dust lately. Lifts are nice for making some of your tools obsolete.

 

[Ironcrow]

Here's enough safety factor for most of us:
http://www.norcoind.com/norco/products_81222.shtml

 

[mhoffm911]

Or buy 2 more AC Hydralics jackstands to match the blue pair to work with. They are so expensive though.

Note: I am not a mechanic at all. You could not pay me to crawl under my truck. However, I certainly value my life - and the "expensive" part would not even enter into my mind if I were going to buy something that was going to keep my life SAFE.

For heaven's sake, just buy the best you can afford.

 

[PoorOwner]

Err, sometimes it's good to be ignorant to not realize there is alot of crappy products huh. I am not sure how these little stands fall out, at the end of the range they are a bit crooked, is someone trying to slide hammer an axle out or something when they fall down (lateral force??)

I talked to my wife and told her the horror stories and how I have been crawling under for so many years. Still this afternoon I am using those crappy red jackstands and big breaker bars..

Look here,
http://www.asedeals.com/jack_stands.html

$130 for the pair do you think they are good (3000N)? Bimmer guys seem to like it. I only need 2 because my blue ones almost the exact height range and more adjustment to match for the rear of the car.

 

[bmwpower]

Err, sometimes it's good to be ignorant to not realize there is alot of crappy products huh. I am not sure how these little stands fall out, at the end of the range they are a bit crooked, is someone trying to slide hammer an axle out or something when they fall down (lateral force??)

I talked to my wife and told her the horror stories and how I have been crawling under for so many years. Still this afternoon I am using those crappy red jackstands and big breaker bars..

Look here,
http://www.asedeals.com/jack_stands.html

$130 for the pair do you think they are good (3000N)? Bimmer guys seem to like it. I only need 2 because my blue ones almost the exact height range and more adjustment to match for the rear of the car.

They are the "best", IMHO. If you option them out, they're even better...

Ultgar sells these, too. Should PM him.

 

[Rrumbler]

One of my sets is similar to the blue one you show, Poorowner; the other the more common (today) type with the toothed post and lever dog setup. The only difference between mine and the blue one, is that I welded a 1/4" plate across the bottom between the legs - for two reasons: one, to prevent them sinking into the ground, because I used them in the field, and two, to keep the legs from spreading out under a load. I've had them for over forty years, and still prefer them to the others. The other thing I prefer is the pin adjusting system; much more positive, than the racheting dog, and no chance to bump the handle and make it fall. I like to consider a safety factor of about 3 to 1, so the smallest stand I will buy is one rated at six tons; that way, it should be good for at least 4000 pounds. I also like to crib up under a vehicle with a solid stack of timber pieces, just for extra paranoia.

 

[Lloydthumper]

I have a friend of mine that his uncle was killed when he jacked up his car to work on the front brakes and stuck his head under the wheel well and the jack collapsed for reasons unknown (Because it still worked after the accident). The really sad part is there were 4 jack stands with in 10ft of him in the garage. My friend found him and he is a mechanic himself. They use lifts in there shop but if someone has to jack a car up he goes and gets jack stands before the jack now.

 

[PoorOwner]

BMWPower do you have these stands? Do you know its the best to get the flat top or not. Does it fit the car still because I have some cars where the typical pinch weld is crushed to hell, recessed from the rest of the rail, not sure if the circular pad is going to be too WIDE for it. but then I also have newer cars that I want to take care of.

 

[mikeyr]

I liked the curved top on my AC but next set of AC's will most likely have the flat top, just so I can one pair of each...

Looking for a place to get the AC's last pair I got from a Vendor a at Laguna Racetrack.

 

[PoorOwner]

What I understand here is that the newer or expensive cars have a flat circular area for you to put a jack or stand where the flat top version will be perfect. But I've always just put on the side of the car in the pinch rail.. I think the flat tops might be too bulky for there some cars have a side skirt piece that are close to, and lower than the rail.

 

[Rickster]

I have both styles of jack stands you have pictured there. The one with the pin in it is the old-school version. I still use them today. Mine have a cross brace thats welded between each of the legs. Those in your pic make me a bit nervous, I'd opt for getting a cross brace added to them.

 

[BoostAddiction]

Yea, but are they really meant to take lateral strain? I'm not sure. I still have mine (similar to the orange but a lot beefier), but they've done nothing but collect dust lately. Lifts are nice for making some of your tools obsolete.

They weren't made to take lateral strain, or at least not much. The problem is that things shift, especially when lifting one end of the car while the other is on stands. They also get more lateral load when one end sinks in softer surfaces, so you can't use them on even warm asphalt, much less grass.

The thin sheet-metal orange stands (they look just like mine) just deformed under load (and not much of one- they were holding the rear of a Scirocco).

If I had to use them, the AC Hydraulics ones or similar would be my choice.

-Will

 

[bmwpower]

BMWPower do you have these stands? Do you know its the best to get the flat top or not. Does it fit the car still because I have some cars where the typical pinch weld is crushed to hell, recessed from the rest of the rail, not sure if the circular pad is going to be too WIDE for it. but then I also have newer cars that I want to take care of.

No I don't have them, but I was really close to getting a set...then I bought my lift and have lost interest in jack stands. I was going to get BOTH tops since I could see the need for both - rubber pad on delicate areas, curved top for axles and such.

Maybe Ultgar can get you the specs, but I'm gonna guess the rubber pad is the same size as the AC jack pad on my jack.

 

[mikeyr]

ok so where are you guys getting your AC stands ? I see the reference here to utgar, I assume that is some nick for the website Ultimate Garage ? I saw the we link to asedeals up above but I am looking for a pair of 3000s with both the flat top and the curved one.

I am going to look at Ultimate but was wondering if that is who you guys were talking about.

 

[bmwpower]

ok so where are you guys getting your AC stands ? I see the reference here to utgar, I assume that is some nick for the website Ultimate Garage ? I saw the we link to asedeals up above but I am looking for a pair of 3000s with both the flat top and the curved one.

I am going to look at Ultimate but was wondering if that is who you guys were talking about.

Yes, Steve D of Ultimate Garage. He has an account here, hence "ultgar". He will probably chime in sometime soon.....wait.....wait....

 

[thefairlaneman]

I have several differant brands. No matter which stand I use .if I have to go under the car for more than a few minutes I use a second stand placed near my head .

 

[ultgar]

These were the best ones but they are no longer available from the factory.....

I sold the last 4 sets last week and the next ones like these will be coming in from China (through the current AC Hydraulic importer). I guess I'll have to find a fabricator here in the US to make up some flat top versions for me with a few improvements in design and finish. I still have some of the standard 3000n's available for pickup or shipment.

 

[ImportTuner]

These were the best ones but they are no longer available from the factory.....

I sold the last 4 sets last week and the next ones like these will be coming in from China (through the current AC Hydraulic importer). I guess I'll have to find a fabricator here in the US to make up some flat top versions for me with a few improvements in design and finish. I still have some of the standard 3000n's available for pickup or shipment.

Say that isn't true ... the AC Hydraulics are the best jacks I've ever used .. very stable even on a sloped driveway ...

 

[W-Cummins]

Looks like they would be an easy stand to fab up should be able to crank out 4 of them in an afternoon with out any problems. How much do they cost it might be worth it to make your own. The old Lincoln electric welding projects book ( I think it was volume 2) had a few stands. One of them looked better than the AC design.

William...

 

[PoorOwner]

Looks like they have the horiztonal brace for the 3000N now?
I looked at pictures on the net they did not have the brace

Ultagar are you saying these used to be made in US and now is going to be made in China?

 

[ultgar]

Looks like they have the horiztonal brace for the 3000N now?
I looked at pictures on the net they did not have the brace

Ultgar are you saying these used to be made in US and now is going to be made in China?

The only AC Hydraulic product that is going away is the 3000n flat top stand. The jacks and basic stands will still be made in Denmark.

Esco, the current importer, sent a 3000n flat-top to China for quotes on production. I don't have any pricing info and have no idea what the quality level will be. SD

 

[ImportTuner]

The only AC Hydraulic product that is going away is the 3000n flat top stand. The jacks and basic stands will still be made in Denmark.

Esco, the current importer, sent a 3000n flat-top to China for quotes on production. I don't have any pricing info and have no idea what the quality level will be. SD

I bought mine from the Ultimate Garage; didn't know you had an account here .. Excellent service .. thanks again!

 

[mikeyr]

So do the 3000's have the side brace or not ?

Can I PM you to buy a pair ? or are they available on your website ?

 

[mhoffm911]

There is a nice article in The Family Handyman magazine's October issue (just bought mine from the store this week) all about the proper use of jack stands and their placement under the car (lots of photos).

If you don't get this magazine, your missing out on some great tips (in my opinion).

http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/openLandingPage.do

 

[73super]

I prefer the "pin" type. Those ratchet ones for whatever reason I don't trust. I do have both and use both, but as someone else said earlier, I also have the jack under there too just in case.

Common sense is one of the biggest safety devices that should be used. If your pushing or putting force on the side of the car they are easily toppled. I think alot of accidents happen with jack stands with guys that think.. "OK, I've got my stands under the car, now I can perform any task without worrying about it."... got to think about what your doing.

Both those jacks are fine as long as you use common sense.

 

[ultgar]

So do the 3000's have the side brace or not ?

Can I PM you to buy a pair ? or are they available on your website ?

The 3000n's I keep in stock now have the lower cross bracing....they are available on the site.

 

[PoorOwner]

What do you guys think of these? 22 tons! but 12-20" still perfect height for cars. 34 lbs each doubles as a dumbell on weekdays.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/atd-7449.html