Size of Jack Stands?

[peebee]

I've searched the forums and haven't come up with any answer yet which is why I'm posting a new thread.

I'm getting much more into doing self maintenance on my two trucks. I've got a 1997 SR5 and a 2007 Sport. I'd like to get a set of jack stands and a floor jack. I figured a minimum 3 ton jack and stands should do. But I'm not sure what size "bite" I need to look for in the stands. I want the truck frame to sit perfectly in the curve of the stands but when looking around it's obvious some are built with smaller/large bites, less/more bite, different angles of bite, etc.

My understanding is the stands need to be placed in these locations:

Can anyone please recommend a good minimum rating and/or stands that are already proven to be well fitted for our trucks?

Thanks everyone,
Mike

 

[Brique]

I just went through this process, myself. Got the harbor freight 3 tons and found that they weren't tall enough for the front points. Exchanged them for the 6 tons and they're perfect. For safety's sake, I also made some wood platforms out of 4x4s, just in case a Jack stand were to fail or slip. These i put under the wheels.

As for the floor Jack, the hf 3 ton is fine. Front Jack point is the round circle on your stock skid plate (there's a cross member right above it) and in the rear, Jack point is the rear diff.

If I'm wrong on any of this you old hats can correct me.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you want overkill, but stands that should last 30+ years go with these ....


Hein-Werner HW93506 Blue/Yellow Jack Stands, 6 Ton Capacity (Set of 2) : Amazon.com : Automotive



:tea:

 

[Mr.4runner]

I ran across this same issue once I lifted my t4r. Luckily I found some 12 to jack stands on Craigslist for $40 for the pair and the height ranges from 19" to 30". They have worked great and are pretty beefy. I'm happy with the. Specially for the price.

 

[Kraze]

I have these and they've worked well for me so far: Amazon.com: Torin T46002A 6 Ton Double Locking Jack Stands (Sold in Pairs): Automotive

 

[mrtucker80]

I am not sure I would use a HF 2 or 3 ton Jack stand. There was a thread a couple years ago about some failures.

I have a set of 6T HF and a set of 12T, 2 pair of Torin 6T double locking and some old craftsman 2T. I would recommend the Torin, I have good luck with them and use my 6T for most everything unless I need some height.

I would suggest 6T at least just for the height range. The 2 and 3T ones are pretty short and you will most likely not be happy with the working room. The 12T are super overkill, but they will give you the best height, but bear in mind that they are like 14"+ tall when at their starting position, so you will need some room just to get them under most things.

A 3T jack will do anything you need it to. I also have a small 2 1/4T one that came with my 2T stands that I used for many many years.

Major thing to remember is that stands are rated as a pair. So a 3 ton stands are only rated 1.5 T each, and 6T are 3T each.

It is also good practice to throw a tire or something under there just in case.

 

[ToyTec Lifts]

Gotta love the engrish in Toyota manuals. I try not to ever carry any extra eights

 

[LittleCaesar]

If you ever think about lifting either 4runner, get a pair of 6 ton. If you have a Northern tool nearby, you may be able to snag a pair Kraze was speaking of for less than $40.

As Mr.Tucker pointed out, stands, unless specified, are rated in pairs.

 

[white_n_slow]

Short answer: the biggest mutherfolkers you can find. I got some HF 6 tons and they do the trick for most work, but I sometimes find myself wanting more. The biggest challenge with working on a lifted truck is getting something tall enough, especially when jacking on the frame.

 

[peebee]

Great suggestions guys, I really appreciate the help. I like the price point of the jacks that Kraze suggested although I'm a little worried at the number of people who have claimed the welds are flawed. Because of that I'm seriously considering the stands that BrianSD suggested.

mrtucker: Thanks for pointing out that the stands are a combined weight. I didn't know this but because of it, I think I'd feel more comfortable with some that were rated at 6 tons.

 

[piecesparts]

If all else fails, try something like this.

Brute Technologies - Makers of Race Ramps

 

[peebee]

Those look pretty slick (I used to use the old metal ones in my college days). But I really need to get the weight off the tires to check some steering issues.

 

[Canuckrz]

If you want overkill, but stands that should last 30+ years go with these ....


Hein-Werner HW93506 Blue/Yellow Jack Stands, 6 Ton Capacity (Set of 2) : Amazon.com : Automotive



:tea:

I have a set of these, the mechanism for the lever broke on one of them but because of the design its still usable as you can just move the locking wedge manually. Great stands overall.

 

[piecesparts]

I purchased a used two-post lift for my garage, so if I don't have the right jack stands, then I use it.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I purchased a used two-post lift for my garage, so if I don't have the right jack stands, then I use it.

Nice garage.

I have to ask though why one would use jack stands at all if there is a lift available.:behindsofa:

To the OP: check the welds if buying a pair in the box. The Chinese quality control is severely lacking for checking finished factory work.

 

[xcmtb83]

To the OP: check the welds if buying a pair in the box. The Chinese quality control is severely lacking for checking finished factory work.

When inspecting the Torins at Northern Tool I found some major undercuts on the weld joint that runs vertical holding the two bases together and who knows what the castings are made from. I had a moment where I said "why the hell am I trying to be a cheap ass when buying jack stands? Nothing else in this store is going to crush me if it fails", then I walked. I am OK with cheap screwdrivers and wrenches that break if it floats your boat but why risk it with jack stands of all things?" Granted the 6 tons were recently on sale for $40/set but I still walked. You get what you pay for with jack stands and I also recommend a 6 ton set for the height.

 

[kball]

I bought the Harbor Freight 6 ton stands for us at work since we needed some that were smaller than what we had. We rent generators and one of my coworkers (who is not very safe) put the back end of a 400kva gen with trailer full of fuel (300 gals) on these stands and it sat there for a week holding it. The dry weight of that generator without trailer or fuel tank is 6 tons. You can guess for yourself but I would estimate they were holding near their rated capacity and they did fine.

 

[peebee]

When inspecting the Torins at Northern Tool I found some major undercuts on the weld joint that runs vertical holding the two bases together and who knows what the castings are made from. I had a moment where I said "why the hell am I trying to be a cheap ass when buying jack stands? Nothing else in this store is going to crush me if it fails", then I walked. I am OK with cheap screwdrivers and wrenches that break if it floats your boat but why risk it with jack stands of all things?" Granted the 6 tons were recently on sale for $40/set but I still walked. You get what you pay for with jack stands and I also recommend a 6 ton set for the height.

I agree, safety isn't something to play around with. Unfortunately I don't have a harbor freight around. The closest is a Sears and I've not read very good things about their jack stands. It's similar to what people are saying about Torin. Made in China, cheap, inconsistent, etc.

Right now my best option are the Hein-Werner that BrianSD recommended. They have near perfect reviews on Amazon.

xcmtb83, nice garage man. What's a GMC doing in that thing?

 

[xcmtb83]

xcmtb83, nice garage man. What's a GMC doing in that thing?

Unfortunately my garage looks nothing like the one pictured. I think that is a question for "piecesparts".

 

[piecesparts]

You might say that I am invested in the GM products in my house. The GMC sitting in the lift area is my 84 weekend warrior (custom paint and stroker engine), the white Silverado has moved on to another person. I do however, have a newer 2011 GMC daily driver. I hit a deer earlier with the 2011 and while it was in the body shop, I got a great deal on the 97 Toyota 4 Runner. My plans were to use it in the winter weather and to take it to work daily, to deal with the crazy contract, door dinging, and "I can't drive in bad weather" construction workers that we now have at our power plant. The Toyota is going to be the beater truck. The very first day that I drove the Toyota to work, I hit another deer, so the Toy got a new front bumper to repair it. It was almost cheaper to put the ARB bumper on, than replacing the cheesy factory sheet metal bumper. There was not a lot of difference in cost, but a tremendous difference in construction quality.

As for using jack stands, Not everything goes on the lift. If it is a long term project, like the chopped and lowered 68 Chevy C-10 in the back of my garage, then the stands are used. During the winter months, my son brings his truck home to store it and that takes a lot of space and moving all of them around to do an oil change is sometimes easier to just set the truck or car on jack stands. Then there is the wife's car, that sits in the one car attached garage to the house. Sounds horrible, doesn't it?