Harbor Freight Jack Stands - Failure/Recall

[TexasTJ]

I’m pretty sure most jack stands unless they are home built or incredibly expensive are likely made in the same factory as the HF stands.

I run the Largest jack stands that HF makes when working on my rock crawlers and haven’t ever had a problem.

Ready for the flak now.

I use the same 6 ton stands all the time as well. Did front/rear axle swaps on two Jeeps at the same time with them over Christmas break.

 

[itr1275]

As a friend of mine said, "Don't by anything that is mission critical from Harbor Freight". I think jack stands are included in that.

I have a set of Craftsman stands and they are pretty good. Not sure of the rating but I have had the 4runner and a Tacoma on them many times.

BTW the 4runner is ~5K lbs (2.5 tons), so you you can probably use a 1.5-2 ton jack stand because the entire weight won't be on one stand.

 

[mcat707]

Finally got this damn recall notice in the email this morning as my local store is requiring it to show as proof to take it back. Drove down to my local store and as I’m wheeling a shopping cart with the jack stands in it, the cashier immediately asks me if those are here for the recall and says their system is not set up yet to process the recall to take them back and says come back tomorrow.

Wasted time and 4Runner gas going there.

 

[Mutant138]

Yup mine tried to kill me. Some of them have partial teeth let alone being too short to properly engage. Claws are also not wide enough to really grab the frame rails.

I'll have to get on this asap. About to hit 20K.

 

[paddy1337]

I'm scared to even check my model numbers. I let my 4yo son get under the 4runner this weekend while I was changing the oil...

 

[Mutant138]

I'm scared to even check my model numbers. I let my 4yo son get under the 4runner this weekend while I was changing the oil...

Ooof yikes.

Yeah honestly I should know better then to cheap out on safety equipment by now. Lucky mine fell the moment I put the vehicle weight on the jack stand. I'm lifted with 285's so it was just surprising. I always keep my extremities out from under the vehicle, leave the wheels on, until I give the truck a good shake while supported.

Let it be a lesson to everyone reading.

Always ALWAYS put a wheel under the frame rails BTW. Homeboy a few posts back is lucky his femur didn't get crushed.

 

[thuanvu]

Man I have a new set in box that doesn't have the affected lot numbers, but it makes me wonder if I should even bother with them at all.

 

[thuanvu]

I had a HF one collapse on me. It completely failed, the weld busted and the entire stand collapsed. Truck fell on my leg, the rear disk landed on my thigh, and I reacted instantly and got my leg out.

1st Pic is immediately after

2nd is about 3-4 hours later

3rd is the next morning (12 hours)

4th is at the dr (2.5 days)

5th is 4 days - Front

6th is 4 days - back

This was April 2018

I still have an indentation in my leg from the rotor - just not as noticeable as the first year.

I wouldn’t trust a HF jack stand again.

Jesus dude, I'm glad you're alive and still have your leg. Maybe I'll just chuck these new ones in the trash anyways.

 

[STX4Runner]

Man I have a new set in box that doesn't have the affected lot numbers, but it makes me wonder if I should even bother with them at all.

I'd return them for sure. HF is great for a lot of stuff. I have a $35 electric impact wrench from them that's 13 years old and is doing fine for my light usage. Same with an angle grinder and heat gun. But don't cheap out on jackstands. I have some from Auto Zone that look really similar and now I'm nervous. I'll probably go look at how well the teeth engage, but truthfully I might just get rid of them at this point. It's not worth trying to save a few bucks.

 

[Muskrat14]

I'd return them for sure. HF is great for a lot of stuff. I have a $35 electric impact wrench from them that's 13 years old and is doing fine for my light usage. Same with an angle grinder and heat gun. But don't cheap out on jackstands. I have some from Auto Zone that look really similar and now I'm nervous. I'll probably go look at how well the teeth engage, but truthfully I might just get rid of them at this point. It's not worth trying to save a few bucks.

Same with me. I have a set from Autozone as well. Gotta think they’re made by same company. I also have a 6 ton set from HF. I guess the question for me is who builds really safe ones?


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[Gamma Ray]

Man I have a new set in box that doesn't have the affected lot numbers, but it makes me wonder if I should even bother with them at all.

I'd nope out of that set so fast if I were you.

 

[Muskrat14]

Thats scary.


.

My thoughts are if you are at the point where you have the stands fully extended you need higher stands or wood blocks underneath.


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[jrandom]

Same with me. I have a set from Autozone as well. Gotta think they’re made by same company. I also have a 6 ton set from HF. I guess the question for me is who builds really safe ones?

I posted to the first page.

Support Stands | ESCO

You get what you pay for. When it come to something that can kill or maim me, I’ll usually opt for not being a cheap bastard and spend an extra $100.

 

[mcat707]

I got the Sunex 10 Ton jack stands as someone posted pics of them earlier in this thread. These are solid and worth the extra costs! They can probably hold up a tank! Perfect height adjustments for lifted 4Runners also. With these, I would feel confident that I don’t have to leave the floor jack or a spare wheel under my rig while under it for extra support.

 

[sn_85]

I'm scared to even check my model numbers. I let my 4yo son get under the 4runner this weekend while I was changing the oil...

You lift up your truck to change the oil? I haven't had any issues changing the oil by just crawling underneath to change it. Less steps I have to do and less danger as I still have all 4 tires on the ground.

I've had my HF 6 ton stands for about 3 years or so but they're going back immediately. Now I just need to find a suitable replacement.

 

[chester4Run]

I have a set of MVP Pro Lift stands (like these, but older: Amazon.com: Pro-LifT T-6903 Grey Jack Stand - 3 Ton Capacity: Automotive) that I use with smaller vehicles and a set of taller stands made in the 1970s with no discernible name on them that I've used for years. I'm actually not even sure what weight they are rated for, but they are built heavy. There's some solid wisdom in this thread no matter what stands you're using:

1. Don't trust your life to anything holding up a vehicle. Use jack + stand + wheel + and maybe more in some situations. Go even crazier when you're lowering or lifting heavy things into/out of a vehicle (trans, engine, axles, etc).
2. Be safe. It's fun and rewarding to work on vehicles, but your parents, spouse, kids, friends, etc need you around. That five minutes you might save isn't worth it. When you start to think it is, it's time to take a break.

Those sunex stands look impressive, but I think they're too tall for the work I do. (at least the 10 ton version)

 

[mcat707]

I have a set of MVP Pro Lift stands (like these, but older: Amazon.com: Pro-LifT T-6903 Grey Jack Stand - 3 Ton Capacity: Automotive) that I use with smaller vehicles and a set of taller stands made in the 1970s with no discernible name on them that I've used for years. I'm actually not even sure what weight they are rated for, but they are built heavy. There's some solid wisdom in this thread no matter what stands you're using:

1. Don't trust your life to anything holding up a vehicle. Use jack + stand + wheel + and maybe more in some situations. Go even crazier when you're lowering or lifting heavy things into/out of a vehicle (trans, engine, axles, etc).
2. Be safe. It's fun and rewarding to work on vehicles, but your parents, spouse, kids, friends, etc need you around. That five minutes you might save isn't worth it. When you start to think it is, it's time to take a break.

Those sunex stands look impressive, but I think they're too tall for the work I do. (at least the 10 ton version)

They have these itty bitty ones for lower vehicle heights.

 

[M22]

Looks like the maximum lift height is 21”, that might be a problem with lifted rigs. I’d consider getting 2 of these if they had at least 23-24” of height. Cool set up though. I like the all in one package idea.

I have 2 of these (3 ton) and they work fairly well. Under rear axle and various locations in the front work perfectly with no problems. They will work under the frame rails as well stock or with mild lift. I have the eibach lift level and it will just barely lift the tires off of the ground using the frame rails but its close. They do work very well though (my regular 3 ton jackstands (i think i have a pair of craftsman and Mack truck and neither were tall enough to use after the lift). The safety interlocks plus having the hydraulic jack together seem fairly safe. As others mentioned i still shove a wheel/tire under just in case.

 

[mcat707]

Here are the Sunex 10ton jack stands that I have. I have the steel pin in the first hole and the tire is about 3-4inches above the ground.

2nd pic is the show the size compared to my 285/70/17 tire. They are about 60lbs each.

The 3rd and 4th pic is to show the 3/4” thickness of the solid steel pin and platform stand.

These jack stands are stout and solid.

 

[M22]

Here are the Sunex 10ton jack stands that I have. I have the steel pin in the first hole and the tire is about 3-4inches above the ground.

2nd pic is the show the size compared to my 285/70/17 tire. They are about 60lbs each.

The 3rd and 4th pic is to show the 3/4” thickness of the solid steel pin and platform stand.

These jack stands are stout and solid.

Those are nice, you cant really get any better than that. So sturdy looking!