Bottle Jack Awareness Thread - Pics

[Singtoe]

Nothing wrong with using a bottle jack. Just throw the tire under the truck so that if it does fall , the tire will prevent the truck from crashing onto the ground.

Never go under a car while it is on a jack (any type). It needs to fully rested and secured on some jack stands.

My neighbor (the weekend i won my winch at a FJ show) was install a tranny into a dodge and he had his truck up on drive up ramps. It rolled backwards while he was under it . squashed his head in. Blood everywhere. They had to airlift him to Duke. They put humpty dumbty back together. He lost one ear, crushed the inner drum.

Morel of the story. Get some good jack stands and use them.






This was stupid.

 

[theizzardking]

much love man and glad your ok, but can i suggest that before some of you ever even think of using a hi-lift jack to get someone who knows how to use one to show you, if you think bottle jacks are dangerous you have no idea how bad the hi-lifts can be. personally i works as others floor jack supporting the weight with jack stands locked just underneath hhe frame and i like to stick the tires under the axles as well.

i can't claim to be 100% safe though as i use a 5 inch thick piece of alum block on top of my jack as i don't own a jack that can even reach the frame of the truck, i hate this and should really just go out an buy a jack capable of lifting the truck without some block that can teeter or shoot out the side.... not to mention the dreaded handle to the face issue....
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UamsadYk25s?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

google hilift accidents for an idea.....

that said, there are ways to do things and ways not to do things, both bottle jack and hilift are safe enough it's just where your awareness level is on each, you gotta know whats going on and beware of the dangers,not lecturing the OP as he has learned a lesson (rather cheaply might i add) that will last for rest of his life as we know he won;t be doing that again, lol, better to learn from his mistakes than to make your own and loose a foot,toes, or even you head, plenty of people die every year from this sort of thing.......

glad you are ok OP and thanks for taking a bit of an ego hit or whatever to get the word out, we all love our trucks and love to work on them, but safety should always be number 1, it would be really upsetting to have any members seriously hurt or injured trying to work on their truck. have fun and be safe guys!

 

[Inate]

While we are on this subject of safety, what are some good jack stands to use?

I recently got into the 4runner DIY fun and am fairly new to most of this work myself. My first foray underneath was to grease the drive shaft so I borrowed a car jack from my boss and picked up some 6-ton powerfist jack stands. I just don't trust bottle jacks, too much failure from back on the farm with older ones. The jack stands seem to be of pretty good quality, so here's hoping they stand up!

Glad to hear you're okay OP, that could have been much worse than it was! Hopefully someone can take this as a lesson!

 

[Qyota]

These are good: 6 Ton Jack Stand Set

 

[JWaldz]

wow man, you are one lucky SOB. I managed to escape near death like this before in a hi-lift jack incident. We were working on the trail, in a very rough tight spot, attempting to remove a broken cv axle. Long story short the jack slipped and barely re caught itself before crushing the 3 of us that were working/helping in the tight spot we had available. If the jack hadn't of caught the truck after slipping I would probably not be here telling this story. I escaped only with a small cut on my hand and a bruised shoulder.

You never realize how horribly wrong something can go when working on your (or others) vehicles until it actually happens. I now take every precaution and steps I can to make sure I won't become a statistic. Be aware of you're surroundings and your equipment at all times.

I'm glad you survived the brutal malfunction. Very lucky it wasn't any worse. Good luck with your healing process and I hope this doesn't deter you from working on your truck again. Just make sure you double check everything and use the proper equipment. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope others become just as aware.

 

[nghiS4]

Wow came across this today. A good reminder for all of us to be extra extra extra safe.

 

[nissanh]

As Singtoe said "Just throw the tire under the truck"

I've been doing it since I first learned to jack up a car.

Remember: Murphy's Law
"It is found that anything that can go wrong generally does go wrong sooner or later" AND it takes LESS THAN A SECOND!

 

[white_n_slow]

Ouch.

I was hoping for a "car fell on bottle jack and punched a hole in the fender" picture, not actual injuries.

While we're on the topic, could be worse!

 

[T4RFool]

As Singtoe said "Just throw the tire under the truck"

I've been doing it since I first learned to jack up a car.

Remember: Murphy's Law
"It is found that anything that can go wrong generally does go wrong sooner or later" AND it takes LESS THAN A SECOND!

I typically do throw the tire under the vehicle to catch it should it fall but that was the one day I didn't. I pulled the wheel off for a quick look and didn't plan on doing any lengthy work. long story short, I learned my lesson and I posted it up so that others might learn from my mistake rather than learning from their own.

 

[nghiS4]

Sadly, that's how it usually goes...when we think it'll take just a second. Thanks for sharing so that the rest of us don't kill ourselves.

 

[nghiS4]

While we're on the topic, could be worse!

LOL... gosh, I do believe these are real photos :doh:

 

[Singtoe]

LOL... gosh, I do believe these are real photos :doh:

Of course there real, that's me under the truck trying to weld in a t3/t4 turbo.

 

[nghiS4]

^ mad skillz.

 

[Chuckles89]

Bump for awareness! I had my bottle jack slip off on the trail the other day. Luckily, I wasn't under it and all the wheels were still on. I need to get a better jack lol

The hatch did hit me in the head pretty hard though. Made me dizzy for a minute :faint2:

 

[BrianSD_42]

I'm sorry but what is a bottle jack lol.

Costco 2 ton Aluminum Floor Jack

Costco 3 ton steel floor jack

$150 Amazon 3 ton, 55 lb. Aluminum / Steel floor jack
[X] Portable enough to bring on trips: F#cking confirmed

Amazon.com: Powerzone 380044 3 Ton Aluminum and Steel Garage Jack: Automotive

Buy one now!

:bat:

 

[Chuckles89]

I'm sorry but what is a bottle jack lol.

Costco 2 ton Aluminum Floor Jack

Costco 3 ton steel floor jack

$150 Amazon 3 ton, 55 lb. Aluminum / Steel floor jack
[X] Portable enough to bring on trips: F#cking confirmed

Amazon.com: Powerzone 380044 3 Ton Aluminum and Steel Garage Jack: Automotive

Buy one now!

:bat:

That's too big! I'm probably going to wind up getting a little harbor freight *gasp* jack for $30. I figure if I use it at least once, it's worth it. I really just want something with a base that's going to hold on to the axle tubes decently.

 

[fourfive]

Good to have these reminders

 

[BrianSD_42]

The one I linked to on Amazon is not to big at all, at least for my purposes. It is about 26 in x 7 in. And fits fine behind the rear seat.

 

[amalik]

The one I linked to on Amazon is not to big at all, at least for my purposes. It is about 26 in x 7 in. And fits fine behind the rear seat.

IMO, moral of the story is stands and not *Just* a better jack.

I see what you are saying that this nice 3 ton floor jack can fit in the back seat, but that doesn't mean it can't slip either.

IMO, fitting a 3 or 6 ton jack stand in the vehicle to support it in an emergency situation + the tire underneath is a lot better than just the bottle jack.

In terms of wrenching at home, if you are using the bottle jack itself and no stands, you are probably new to wrenching because you have the wrong jack and no stands -- People need to understand a mistake like that can cost you your freaking limbs or life itself.

I guess we were all new at one point in life, and speaking for myself I'm still learning something everyday.

 

[repo]

I've always wondered about those rear jack points with the bottle jack. The front frame has flats and even a hole and label on the plastic fuel line cover for the jack points, but the rear axle is round. They should have designed the top of the jack with a larger head with a concave in the middle to fit the rear axle. But always chock the wheel and shove the wheel you removed underneath the car, and jack stands of course if you are doing anything more than a roadside flat change.