How Many Jack Stands do you use when working on your 4Runner?

How Many Jack Stands do YOU use?

  • (2) 2 ton jack stands

    Votes: 5 7.5%

  • (2) 3 ton jack stands

    Votes: 11 16.4%

  • (2) 4 ton jack stands

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • (2) 6 ton jack stands

    Votes: 17 25.4%

  • (2) 8 ton jack stands

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • (2+) 12 ton jack stands

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • (2+) 2 ton jack stands

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • (2+) 3 ton jack stands

    Votes: 5 7.5%

  • (2+) 4 ton jack stands

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • (2+) 6 ton jack stands

    Votes: 21 31.3%

  • (2+) 8 ton jack stands

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • (2+) 12 ton jack stands

    Votes: 2 3.0%

  • something other than jack stands

    Votes: 2 3.0%
  • Total voters
    67
  • Poll closed .
infamousRNR

infamousRNR

Senior Member
Just curious to see what everyone's safety precautions are when working on your truck (electrical, when welding on your truck, working under your truck, etc)


lettuce talk about & share:

> best practices

> Good Habits

> HAVE-to's when doing _______







but most importantly: HOW MANY JACK STANDS DO you USE? when working on your truck...

~ let's assume everyone is clear on positioning the jack stands on the frame ~





(2) = 2 total jack stands supporting the vehicle
(2+)= 2 or more total jack stands supporting the vehicle






. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 
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depends on the work

I have two 4 ton hydraulic jacks and two 3 ton jack stands on hand.

-CV replacement I used one jack stand on the side of use and a hydraulic jack as a backup.

-Brakes work I used two 3 ton jack stands, one on each side

- Used the same stands when I wire wheeled and painted my rear axle housing. It gave me some more room to slide around underneath.

-I have had to fix frame rust on my drivers side. Took a lot of precaution as the fuel lines and gas tank are there. Used one jack stand and watered down as much as I could and covered everything else with damp shop towels before welding.
 
It depends on the situation but have used as many as six before. For me the most important thing is to have the jack stand touching the ground and NOT on a 2x6, a piece of plywood, etc.

Also when in doubt concerning electrical I remove the negative battery cable to be on the safe side.
 
If I'm just lifting up one wheel for whatever, I settle it on one 3 ton or one 6 ton jack stand depending on what height I need. My 6 ton jacks go taller than my 3 ton jacks.

If I'm lifting up the entire front, I'll settle it on two 6 ton jack stands on the frame.

If I'm lifting up the rear, it will depend on whether I'm settling the truck on the rear axle or the frame. If it's the axle, I'll usually use the 3 ton jacks because the axles sit low and I can get the wheels off the ground no problem with the 3 ton jacks. If I'm settling it on the frame, I'll use the 6 ton jacks because they reach higher.

Some profess you should use a backup jack stands as a safety precaution. I would think if a jack stand was going to fail due to a cracked ratcheting tab or casting imperfection, it would fail as soon as you put the weight of the vehicle on it. But, if it makes you feel safer, by all means do so. But, pretty soon you'll have so many jack stands under the truck you'll have limited space to get any work done.

I don't know if the poll results will work as intended because the number of jacks stands used is dependent on the job to be done. If you're installing a lift, you'll probably be using 4 jack stands unless you only own 2 jack stands and then you can only lift one end of the truck at a time. If you're just doing the front brakes, 2 jack stands. If you need to just lift one corner of the vehicle for whatever, 1 jack stand.
 
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Depends on the job, rear axle, sides of the frame, and lower a arm crossmembers are all fair game in my book.
 
I have two 6 ton stands and two Rhino ramps that use I interchangeably.

If I have a wheel off and it won't interfer with my space, I'll throw it under as well. Same goes for the floor jack. I know they are not meant to hold weight for any lenght of time, and I don't actually put any weight on it, but ill jack it up right under the frame or axle if space permits as one more failsafe.

I figure if shit happens -- that floor jack might give me that extra second I need to scoot my fat butt out from underneath the truck.

But I'm paranoid about this sort of thing.
 
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I think the (main) ones at home are a pair of 6 tons. I use those to hold the truck up, and then always have redundant ones placed under something sturdy. My thought being if somehow the main two fail, or move, there will be 4+ stands under it to stop it falling before it squishes me. Plus I shove the tires under it if possible.
 
If I'm lifting only 1 axle off the ground, I use 1 pair of 6-ton jack stands. If I need both axles off the ground, I use a pair of 6-ton jack stands and a pair of 3-ton jack stands. It's all I have and it works.
 
I have always put chucks under tires and used 2 6 tons stands and jacks... I have 3 floor jacks though which come in handy and I found myself supporting the truck more and more on my tubes that are welded to the frame instead of placing jacks under the frame.


Rafal
 
I typically use 2 6-ton jack stands and then toss whatever tires I have removed under the least supported area. If possible, I'll also leave the jack with just a tinyyyy bit of weight on it.
 
As someone that has had a car fall on me, I'm extremely paranoid about getting under the truck supported by anything but the wheels. I try my best to do work while the truck is not lifted up on any secondary lifting products (jack, jack stands, ramps, etc.).
I have access to a lift for big jobs (like my OME lift) but for little jobs I use at least two jack stand per side I'm working on with chocks and the tire under it.
 
I am old school, I lift it with one hand and work on it with the other. Really, if I am working with one tire I chock the wheels, one 3ton jack stand and I leave the floor jack underneath with a little pressure. I try not to let fear make decisions for me in life
 
If I'm just jacking up one end, I'll just use 2 6-tons on the frame at that end.

If I do the whole truck, I'll use 4 6-tons and put some tires under.

Sometimes if I'm doing something with the rear axle, I'll put 2 3-tons under it too.
 
ShooterMcGavin said:
If I'm lifting only 1 axle off the ground, I use 1 pair of 6-ton jack stands. If I need both axles off the ground, I use a pair of 6-ton jack stands and a pair of 3-ton jack stands. It's all I have and it works.
Click to expand...

Same here, but my second set is only 2 ton. The 6 ton set goes under the side I'm working on. I also put the wheels underneath if they're off, and leave the jack in place just in case.

I really should get another set of 6 ton stands. Technically 2 tons are enough but they look so weak compared to the other set.
 
I normally use 2 @ 3ton, leave the jack snug for extra safety.

However, I need to get taller stands which means they will likely be 6 ton each.

The problem is I keep reading Garage Journal and other places and get paranoid about the Harbor Freight and other cheap ones. I think I might get my buddy to fab some with acme threaded rod and nuts.
 
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