Harbor Freight Jack Stands OK?

[j789139]

Hello all,
Now, that you've helped this homeowner/DIYer select my first floor jack (XL35, thanks again!), to work on 96 Civic & '05 C-RV; I'm looking at these HF 3-Ton Steel Jack Stands, which I can get for $17.99/pair. I appreciate your feedback.

 

[Gittgo]

That's an area their law team makes damn sure they're very careful. Yes . Those stands will do you just fine.

 

[wazzabie]

3 ton jacks are terrible as I find the base to small and concern they will tip over and capsize

 

[Skin]

I wouldn't trust my life to them but that's me. Their "law team" has nothing to do with anything until someone gets injured or killed. Before that happens priority is on finding the lowest bidder.

That said its a pretty idiot proof product to manufacture so the odds are in your favor. Probably a higher chance you get hit by another vehicle pulling out of your driveway than their stand failing.

Simply make sure the pawls are actually engaged before putting the vehicle down. Vast majority of complaints of failure are due to people having the pawls not fully engaged when they put weight on it then some time later it slips.

 

[bdelmar2]

I have a pair of the 6 ton ones we use at the shop daily and they have held up well.

I wouldn't get the 3 ton, for another $20 you can get the 6 ton. 3 tons jacks are really only good for slipping under a vehicle quick for a little extra safety if you aren't going to get under it. Say if you are doing brakes on the ground.

Being over capacity on jack stands is way better than coming up a little short.

And one never knows what the future will bring, you might end up getting a full size truck someday, or working on a friends, or somebody may borrow them.

I personally leave the jack under the vehicle along with the stands whenever I use them, but that's just me.

Right now mine are under a one ton box van with the trans pulled, and they get used for this a lot.

So you should be fine with your vehicles as they aren't that heavy, still heavy enough to kill you though.

The main issue I see with jack stands is not having them on a good surface. It needs to be flat, basically level, and hard. Ideally concrete.

Hot asphalt for instance is not good as the stand can
sink into it and often tilt when they do.

 

[bczygan]

Don't forget to get a wheel chock as well.....and use it!

Bill

 

[jdlong]

The base is rather small. The pig iron they use to make the pawls is scary enough as it is. When you extend them, they are flimsy enough you need to be wearing a diaper. Important to think about if you intend to put a breaker bar on a stubborn bolt. Jack stands are not something to pinch on for obvious reasons. I would go for better quality and try to pick a size that fits under your vehicle nicely with the jack pawls fully retracted and you only have to extend them a notch or two. That way, you get the largest base practical. I keep 3 sizes handy for this reason along with an old tire on wheel I lay under the vehicle for the event something ever fails.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Another vote for the 6 tons if you can get your car up high enough to get on them. I've been using them for about 10 years and have no problem whatsoever trusting my life to them. However, I do still throw a tire under the truck as a backup.

 

[deberly12]

3 ton jacks are terrible as I find the base to small and concern they will tip over and capsize

Is that a reference to Senator Hank Johnson and the Island tripping over???? If so you my friend are awesome!!


While it can't hurt you to buy extra heavy duty jack stands it isn't necessary. Anything that has a weight rating must be tested and also have a factor of safety. Typically 3. This means that when you properly a set of 3 ton jack stands will not fail untill you put 9 tons on them. There are qualifiers here. As stated if it is on an uneven surface, it is shock loaded or even how much it has been used. A low quality stand may wear faster but out of the box any 3 ton stand will hold about the same amount of weight.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[lightning02]

Pass on thd 3ton. Get the 6tons. I have them and they seem to be just fine.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Agreed, when it comes to safety always work in excess

 

[bobcatdan]

They are no different then 99% of the rest of the jackstands out there. 100% identical to the matco and OTC stinger series stands I have. I'm the farthest from a regular HF shopper, but their stands work fine for me.

 

[j789139]

I wouldn't trust my life to them but that's me. Their "law team" has nothing to do with anything until someone gets injured or killed. Before that happens priority is on finding the lowest bidder.

That said its a pretty idiot proof product to manufacture so the odds are in your favor. Probably a higher chance you get hit by another vehicle pulling out of your driveway than their stand failing.

Simply make sure the pawls are actually engaged before putting the vehicle down. Vast majority of complaints of failure are due to people having the pawls not fully engaged when they put weight on it then some time later it slips.

Thanks!
Great advice! >>>Making sure pawls are actually engaged. That leads me to another question...How do you feel about jack stands with a safety locking pin?

 

[driftpin]

Another vote for the 6 ton set, which I recently purchased. Good points on safety raised. You don't want the adjustable bar raised above half its length. Try the 3 ton, in the store, and raise it to the typical height you wuld have clear underneath the vehicle, and see how side-to-side floppy it is, and the small 'footprint' of the base. Not a very reassuring setup! Bigger is better for jackstands. I just pitched a set of jackstands that were probably 6 tons, they were old, and started to rust to the point they needed to be scrapped.

I use a piece of plywood under jackstands on asphalt to keep the legs from digging-into the asphalt, since they do not have wide flat surfaces on the leg bottoms. And, yes, chock two wheels, not just one. Redundancy may save you one day.

As was mentioned, I also leave the jack under the vehicle after using it to lift, and placement of the jackstands, loaded with the vehicle weight. At times I have used the full wheel/tire under the vehicle to provide a safety margin.

I recently bought the wheel dollys from HFT, to be able to move a vehicle around inside the shop. I am space limited, so these should help in being able to do work.

I check and re-check about the pawls being engaged before I remove the hydraulic jack, and a few times in near 50 years of working on vehicles, have found them to be not fully-engaged.

I have used and still have a pair of pin instead of pawls jacks, and the shear strength of a probably 3/8" steel pin is fine for the use.

 

[j789139]

I have a pair of the 6 ton ones we use at the shop daily and they have held up well.

I wouldn't get the 3 ton, for another $20 you can get the 6 ton. 3 tons jacks are really only good for slipping under a vehicle quick for a little extra safety if you aren't going to get under it. Say if you are doing brakes on the ground.

Being over capacity on jack stands is way better than coming up a little short.

And one never knows what the future will bring, you might end up getting a full size truck someday, or working on a friends, or somebody may borrow them.

I personally leave the jack under the vehicle along with the stands whenever I use them, but that's just me.

Right now mine are under a one ton box van with the trans pulled, and they get used for this a lot.

So you should be fine with your vehicles as they aren't that heavy, still heavy enough to kill you though.

The main issue I see with jack stands is not having them on a good surface. It needs to be flat, basically level, and hard. Ideally concrete.

Hot asphalt for instance is not good as the stand can
sink into it and often tilt when they do.

Thanks!
AGREED! >>>"Being over capacity on jack stands is way better than coming up a little short". Now looking at 6-ton.

 

[j789139]

Don't forget to get a wheel chock as well.....and use it!

Bill

Thanks!
I recently bought 4 of these, at NT on sale for $4.99/ea (Was $9.99/ea).

 

[j789139]

Another vote for the 6 tons if you can get your car up high enough to get on them. I've been using them for about 10 years and have no problem whatsoever trusting my life to them. However, I do still throw a tire under the truck as a backup.

Pass on thd 3ton. Get the 6tons. I have them and they seem to be just fine.

Agreed, when it comes to safety always work in excess

The base is rather small. The pig iron they use to make the pawls is scary enough as it is. When you extend them, they are flimsy enough you need to be wearing a diaper. Important to think about if you intend to put a breaker bar on a stubborn bolt. Jack stands are not something to pinch on for obvious reasons. I would go for better quality and try to pick a size that fits under your vehicle nicely with the jack pawls fully retracted and you only have to extend them a notch or two. That way, you get the largest base practical. I keep 3 sizes handy for this reason along with an old tire on wheel I lay under the vehicle for the event something ever fails.

Thanks to all!
Definitely looking at 6-ton, now...And to future proof.

 

[j789139]

They are no different then 99% of the rest of the jackstands out there. 100% identical to the matco and OTC stinger series stands I have. I'm the farthest from a regular HF shopper, but their stands work fine for me.

Cool, thanks!
One of favorite local stores is Northern Tool...They have these Strongway Double-Locking 6-Ton Jack Stands — Pair on sale for $39.99 (Was $49.99) Save $10.00 + Free Shipping (Lower 48).
Anyone have thoughts or experience with these or similar "double locking" technology with safety pin design, which is claimed to add extra safety and security when working beneath a vehicle?

 

[lightning02]

I might pick up a set of those for that price since I need anther set. Can't remember what I ended up paying for the Hf ones.

 

[j789139]

I'll take that as a

 

[poriggity]

I've used the HF jack stands a ton and they have never let me down.

 

[Jazzman442]

I have the 6 ton. Like some one said dont get the 3 ton the 6 ton is what I have used for years. I also have a set of Craftsman that I use.

 

[bpjr]

I've been using the HF 3 ton stands for maybe 5-6 yrs without a problem. They get used monthly for several cars. I don't get under the car without dual stands and a jack...Lincoln Town Car, Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Camry, Nissan 350Z, Honda Civic. I also have a pair of Husky stands and they appear to be identical except for color.

I tried to knock my Towncar off two front stands and couldn't budge it on concrete.

 

[619DioFan]

I have both 3 and 6 ton hf stands. never any issues with either. have found in some instances that the 6 ton were a little large when used under a smaller vehicle such as my older honda civic. always use them for my dodge ram p/u. always have the jack under there as well for added safety.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I've got 4 of the 3-ton jack stands and have never had a problem with them. Just used them the other day to rotate the tires on the SUV. Had my one ton dually sitting on four of them multiple times to rotate the tires and never had a problem. All the welds on mine look good, just be sure to use them properly. Any jack stand is unsafe if used in an unsafe manner.

 

[dar24601]

Lot of good safety tips I'll add 1 more. If your going be under the car make sure someone else is home and knows to check in on you. Yeah you took precautions and car didn't crush you but don't want to be pinned underneath it when your wife took off for the weekend.

In addition to having someone check in on me. I've gotten into the habit of having an air horn around when doing potentially dangerous work. Under car, using table saw, chain saw and let whoevers home know if they hear it grab phone, trauma kit and come help me.

 

[Whiskeymike]

I have a 6 ton set from from HF and a 6 top set from Northern. The HF are fine, but I use the Northern set first if I’m not using both because of the safety pins. Might be psychological, but it makes me feel better having the pin in them.

 

[jgromada]

The jack stands should be fine there's nothing inherently wrong with them.

The thing to keep in mind is to jack up the car and support it on a solid surface, even asphalt when it is very soft or thin can tip over. Level concrete is much better in this regard. It is always a good idea to make sure you chock the wheels as well. A large block of wood is fine but actual wheel chocks are better. It is also a good practice to keep the jack you used to jack up the car with there as well in addition to the jack stands you are talking about getting.

The bottom line is if you ever jack up the car and it feels precarious and you sense danger DO NOT get under it. I have seen a car fall off a jack stand (soft asphalt) and off a bumper jack (remember those?) .. not pretty

 

[d.mcfarland]

Torin red jack stands are the same as HF and others I bet. They are available on Amazon.

 

[j789139]

I have both 3 and 6 ton hf stands. never any issues with either. have found in some instances that the 6 ton were a little large when used under a smaller vehicle such as my older honda civic. always use them for my dodge ram p/u. always have the jack under there as well for added safety.

Thanks!
Well, I'll definitely be working on an older Civic. Perhaps a combination of a pair of 3-ton & 6-ton, would be a good idea, to have. Will you share details, on the instances, when 6-ton was a little large?

 

[j789139]

I've been using the HF 3 ton stands for maybe 5-6 yrs without a problem. They get used monthly for several cars. I don't get under the car without dual stands and a jack...Lincoln Town Car, Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Camry, Nissan 350Z, Honda Civic. I also have a pair of Husky stands and they appear to be identical except for color.

I tried to knock my Towncar off two front stands and couldn't budge it on concrete.

Thanks!
Do those Husky stands have safety pins?

 

[j789139]

The 6 ton people keep recommending are too big for some jobs. On our smallish cars, my 6-ton stands are rarely used.

It really depends what you'll be lifting.

Thanks!
For the foreseeable future, I'll primarily be lifting a '96 Civic & '05 C-RV but there may be a pickup in my future, too.
Which jobs are the 6-ton too big for?
How many pairs of each size do you own??

 

[j789139]

I've got 4 of the 3-ton jack stands and have never had a problem with them. Just used them the other day to rotate the tires on the SUV. Had my one ton dually sitting on four of them multiple times to rotate the tires and never had a problem. All the welds on mine look good, just be sure to use them properly. Any jack stand is unsafe if used in an unsafe manner.

Thanks!
As for welds, what are you checking for to tell, whether or not they look good?

 

[j789139]

I have a 6 ton set from from HF and a 6 top set from Northern. The HF are fine, but I use the Northern set first if I’m not using both because of the safety pins. Might be psychological, but it makes me feel better having the pin in them.

Thanks!
I like the idea of that NT set has the additional safety pin, although some say a pin is a PIA!
What are you lifting and what type of jobs are you doing with the 6-ton sets?

 

[unslow1]

Torin red jack stands are the same as HF and others I bet. They are available on Amazon.

Torin, Husky and HF are among several brands that I have. They really look like they were all made on the same assembly line. I always leave the jack in place if possible for a safety. Then I also toss the wheels I take off under the side.

 

[TractorMechanic]

I kind of wish HF would sell the HD stands similar to what Sunex has. Ended up buying several of those for heavier machines. But I still use the flat based Sunex stands for pickups and cars.

 

[jonesg]

Hello all,
Now, that you've helped this homeowner/DIYer select my first floor jack (XL35, thanks again!), to work on 96 Civic & '05 C-RV; I'm looking at these HF 3-Ton Steel Jack Stands, which I can get for $17.99/pair. I appreciate your feedback.

They lack safety pins, I buy stands with big safety pins.
2 for $18, gee what could possibly be wrong with that picture.

 

[j789139]

They lack safety pins, I buy stands with big safety pins.
2 for $18, gee what could possibly be wrong with that picture.

Thanks!
Care to share, which stands you prefer with big safety pins?

 

[j789139]

Torin red jack stands are the same as HF and others I bet. They are available on Amazon.

Thanks!
Those Torin Big Red Double Locking on AMZN look an awful lot like NT's Strongway Double Locking...Hmm?

 

[bpjr]

Husky doesn't have safety pins. They were a compulsive buy in a closeout at home depo and included a three ton jack and crawler for something like $50. The jack is same as a craftsman jack with the gear in the back for pump pressure. Not even close to the quality of my HF jack.

I jack up the vehicle, put a stand under and then let down until the jack and stand are both holding the car up on each side...that is if I am getting under the car. I have four jacks and six stands to help make it safe. Hey, I also put the wheel under like already posted