Jack stands and lift height question

[dakotapage]

Hello,
I am looking to purchase a hydraulic floor jack and jack stands for my son.
I have looked at the US JACK and the lowest height on the D-41608 is 19" or the US JACK D-41610 lowest height is 16.25".

The floor jack I am looking at is the HW93642 2 ton jack which has a maximum lift height of 20''.

Will the 20" lift raise it high enough to get the the 19" jack stands under the car? It is a 2006 Toyota Highlander.

Thanks for your help.

 

[zkling]

Not to be a smart a$$, but it depends. What I mean by that is where you jack from and where you put the stands. It has been a few weeks since I've worked on one but IIRC they have a front center jacking point right under the engine. Then you can place the stands off to the side on the factory lifting points, which IIRC are coplanar with the jacking point.

Personally I'd go with the shorter ones. The ones i made are 13" bare and 14" with a pad and they work for anything but lifted vehicles. The 10ton ones you are looking at are not only $, but way overkill. IMHO. They will also give you more room to play instead of having to possibly tilt the stands and max out the jack all the time.

 

[dakotapage]

I agree the jack stands are overkill, but I like the idea that if they fell then he would still have 20 inches to hopefully get out. He has decided to study Automotives in college and I thought this would be a good gift, but the more I read the more confusing it becomes.

Thanks for the response.

 

[zkling]

The problem will be if he can't set them properly, then they will not be any safer than ones of a lower tonnage. With the 16" min you have room to play, the 19" ones you are stuck at the minimum. Or you could get him a higher lift jack.