3-ton Jack Stands Safe Enough...?

[cgardnerma]

I use 3-ton stands as well, but put some cut off 2x12 wood pads under each. This gives me a little more extension if needed, but more importantly, adds to the stability since the legs dig into the wood and the wood itself grips the concrete a little better so there is less risk of slippage. It's all about stabiity as others have said.

Another tip I follow is that when a wheel is off, I place it on its side under the the body of the truck near where I am working. If the absolute worst happens and a jack stand collapses, I have the wheel holding things up as a last resort so I can get out.

 

[zopperman]

I have a 3-ton stand that can extend to 18". So unless you are running major lifts...it can easily do the job.

I wouldn't say a major lift, but my frame is ~18" off the ground and with no sway bar and 5100s and eibach coils I easily have 2 inches of downtravel. I just think it makes life easy to have them and the 6 ton stands can be bought for 45 bucks a pair at harbor freight. But to each his own.

 

[MikeInNH]

I just think it makes life easy to have them and the 6 ton stands can be bought for 45 bucks a pair at harbor freight.

I'm NOT disagreeing with you. And I specifically said if tall enough. So far the only major advantage I've seen with the 6-ton stands is that it can go higher then 18". But I surely don't need any higher then 18".

The only stands I don't like are the ones made of stamped steel. Some 30 years ago I had one of them collapse on me once. Luckily I wasn't under the vehicle. But it scared the sh*t out of me. That's when I bought my 3-ton stands. Nice cast steel. Heavy as heck...Good wide stance. Easy to use and I never have to worry about them falling down on me when I'm under a vehicle.

As for Harbor Freight. We have one of their stores not too far from where I live. Most of their stuff is from China. Not too impressed with their tools. I know a guy who bought a chisel from them and it shattered the second time he hit with a hammer. That doesn't give me a lot of confidence in the quality of steel they're using. I have the same type of chisel that I inherited from my Dad...and he bought it back in the 40's. It's probably taken several hundred thousand hits over the years...which is what it's designed for.

 

[T4R2014]

A lot of Harbor Freight tools are decent for the price. There can be some good quality stuff from China, look at the majority of electronics. If HF had jack stands falling and killing people then they would be in some big trouble.

 

[Climb14er]

Six Ton jack stands... Three Ton jack...

Always leave the jack in a support mode under the area I'm jacking up!

If I'm working one side of the vehicle, I use two jack stands and leave the jack in a support mode.

Plus... two wheel chocks surrounding the front tire of the other side I'm not jacking up.

Ive seen too many accidents with weak and inferior jack stands and there's no way I'm getting under a vehicle, especially when no one else is home... w/o extra security of strong jack stands, jacks and wheel chocks.

 

[MikeInNH]

Always leave the jack in a support mode under the area I'm jacking up!

I do too. I have a 2.5 ton floor jack. I'll raise the vehicle up and put a stand under it...but leave the jack there just in case.