I am about to install my leveling kit and am wondering what kind of jackstands ya'll are using? The ones I have now are not tall enough and I want to buy some that will work now and when I install the 6" fabtech in a month or two. What brand/height are you using and where did you get them?

Thanks,
Matt

 

When I had to raise the backend of my truck this past week for the installation of some Ground Force shackles and a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, I found that my jackstands weren't exactly tall enough for the truck.

As such, I had to "boost" their effectiveness by inserting a piece of 2x4 lumber between the frame rail and the jack stands, and also had to place the stands much closer to the center of the vehicle than I normally would have. As you near the rear axle of this vehicle, the frame rails really rise in height -- so much so that I'm not sure many stands on the market would give you the height you would need to support the vehicle by the rear frame rails.

FYI -- I had to support the truck by the frame rails so my rear suspension would hang free.

 

when i worked on the torino engine, i just went to autozone and bought a pair of their huge stands, the cradle on top is actually 3/4 inch thick steel, and it uses a lock pin to hold it in a certain position. i think it goes up about 2 feet max. dont remember what i paid but jackstands arent usually that expensive anyway

 

Go to a Harbor Freight or similar tool store. Buy sturdy jack stands.

I don't really like the idea of adding a 2 X 4 on top of the jack stand to gain height.
You have to remember that "YOU" are under this your truck and you want it as stable as posible. Also, jackstands at their maximum height also arn't the most stable.

I've been in the auto/tk repair business over 35 years and have seen my share of accidents when vehicles fall, slip or what have you. Not a pretty sight. Once the vehicle starts going, there is no stopping it till it hits something solid, like the ground.

Please be careful when getting under your trucks. NEVER TRUST A HYDRALIC JACK alone without a jack stand. The life you save, could be your own.

 

[QUOTE=ddellwo]When I had to raise the backend of my truck this past week for the installation of some Ground Force shackles and a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, I found that my jackstands weren't exactly tall enough for the truck.

As such, I had to "boost" their effectiveness by inserting a piece of 2x4 lumber between ...QUOTE]



Not Me brother...

 

I love that pic...it was the first thing I thought of when I read the post, but I couldn't find it to post. Thanks for reading my mind!

 

at least he has the rear wheel chalked

 

Safety first...

 

Even more importantly he had them CHOCKED too.


I think CHALKING is what the cops do to see if you have been parked in the same spot too long....

 

[QUOTE=KP SCAB]


Naw -- it wasn't quite that bad! But believe me -- I wasn't thrilled about it and made sure that if I had to do any tugging on the vehicle, I was somewhere where I wouldn't get pinched if it came down!

If the vehicle was just sitting there it was solid, but I was apprehensive about shaking the vehicle mostly because my stands were at their maximum height. If I was planning on doing regular work under the truck, I'd definitely spring for a taller set of stands!

 

6 Ton Jack Stands - Height 15 1/8" to 24"

You can catch them on sale for $19. bucks at Harbor Freight and the height is just right for trucks

 

I have a bone-headed jackstand related question. When you guys rotate your own tires in the driveway... how many JS do you use and where are they placed? What's your tire-rotating procedure?

 

I jack up the front and put a jack stand there and take the jack to the back, jack it up and leave it untill I get them switched. Break the lugs first before you raise it off the ground

I rotate front to back and vice versa

 

I think the question is about where you put the jack stand under the truck. On my truck, the two places they want you to jack from have no room to add a stand, even a small one, when the jack is there.
I have two sizes of stands, nothing wanted to fit. Rotating the tire you need two off at the same time, so I actually used the stock jack.
Figured it was good emergency practice, anyway.
I don't trust hydraulic jacks to hold anything, and I no longer have any scissors/screw jacks.
So I supported it at one end with the stock jack, then used my speed jack at the end where I was just taking one tire off, and putting the other right back on.
You don't want to put a jack or a stand under an axle tube on these trucks, and I am not crazy about frame jacking, after watching a jack pump it's way right into the steel on several other trucks.
Chris