Why you never work under a car held up by a trolley jack

[Baboon_AU]

hey mate go to glenfords in canningvale on bannister road there.. i got an awesome jack there. 3.5 tonne.. its a big mother f*cker and its really low at the front so u can get under really low cars. worthwhile investmemt.

[aussiblue]

If the wife will let me (given I now have four trolley jacks of various types and vintages it will be difficult to justify). Actually if I can't get a car lift I want one of those lightweight aluminium race jacks next as I am getting too old to drag th large iron ones about.

[kryzak260]

Probably a silly question, but where are you guys jacking your cars up from?

I have used the scissor jack to change a wheel and i put it in the little slot in the body (sill i guess you would call it) where it tells you to, and the metal bent back towards the middle of the car because of the weight. Since then i have avoided jacking the car up...

[aussiblue]

There is a jacking pad inside from the sill at front and use the diff at the rear.

[kryzak260]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

There is a jacking pad inside from the sill at front and use the diff at the rear.

Are there jacking pads at the rear inside the sill aswell? I just cant see myself jacking the whole rear of the car up on a dirt shoulder to change one tyre ;)

[Hords]

Any input on where to "safely" put the axle stands once the jacking pad is occupied by the trolley jack?

[Casper]

Originally Posted by hords

Any input on where to "safely" put the axle stands once the jacking pad is occupied by the trolley jack?

under the chassis rails that run from in front of the rear wheels to behind the front wheels.

[Scott]

I often worry about young blokes who buy these cheap jacks. I own one and use it often but only to get the car high enough to use my big fella - I reckon that's all they are good for.

[Hords]

Originally Posted by Casper

under the chassis rails that run from in front of the rear wheels to behind the front wheels.

Thanks Casper,

I take it they're the outer rails running adjacent to the sill and not the inner ones adjacent to the exhaust (RHS)?

[aussiblue]

Here's the answer a jack that is also a jack stand http://www.alltradetools.com/index.h...d/3693/lang/EN

6000lb Capacity. Patented design combines jack stand and bottle jack in one unit. Safety bar locks unit at desired height. Wide steel base for stability under load. Height Range: 13-1/2” to 21-1/2”. Perfect for SUV’s, off-road vehicles, construction jobs, framing and floor joisting

[gozza]

You call that a trolley jack?

[HLC]

looks like this thread is back from the dead, so ill kill it,


but this is a safety lesson to all of us. axle stands are a must when working under a car. better to be safe than sorry.