Floor jack/ stands

[DZLFREK]

Just spent money watching a guy rotate my tires (dually). Did a crappy job as well. This will **** you off just enough to purchase all the needed equipment.



What weight capacity floor jack do you all recommend? How high does it need to extend for a 4x4 '06 dually? Jack stands? Quality of tools and where to buy..... price... . help a brother out here guys!



David

 

[DCreed]

3-ton jack and stands should work well!

 

[cojhl2]

What good does it do to rotate tires? Aren't the front tires steering axle tires?



So all you are doing is swapping the duals around???.

 

[RDyson]

What good does it do to rotate tires? Aren't the front tires steering axle tires?



So all you are doing is swapping the duals around???.

Front to back--back to front same side. I have a 2500 and that's what I do. That's the purpose of rotating the tires, to spread the edge wear that the front tires get.



Randy

 

[RDyson]

I bought a 3 ton floor jack and 6 ton jackstands from Harbour freight. I know what some of your are thinking, but for what I use them for, they work great. They were quite a bit cheaper that others that I looked at. They work good for a weekend mechanic.



Randy

 

[rbattelle]

I bought this one back in 2003 (on sale for $100, like it is now). Unlike virtually everyone who reviewed it, I've had no troubles at all and consider it quite reliable. [Note: most of the complaints seem to be a blown seal. Why don't these people just replace it instead of trashing the jack?]

3 ton is plenty. That's why I bought 4-ton.

I use an old (1997) set of Lisle 3-ton jack stands. But I don't like them and don't really trust that cast iron support. Some day when I have money I'll invest in a nice US-made set of pin-type stands.

Ryan

 

[wcjp]

I use a 4ton floor jack with 6ton jack stands.

 

[DZLFREK]

What if I simply use a HYD bottle jack to raise each side seperately and then put on stands. Seems a lot of people are complaining of the Craftsman products. Some other quality floor jacks cost $300-400. Seems rather costly when one can purchase a $30 HYD bottle and do the same job. If I'm wrong here guys let me know. Just trying to figure all this out.



Also, floor jack stands with pins or just the ordinary rack style? Thanks again!

 

[rvaughn801]

Bottle jacks are just more work. I use a Norco 71202 all the time. Bought at a tool store, at least $300. If the floor jack is easy to use weekend use turns in to a lot of use. Always use jack stands, don't be a statistic.

 

[Edgemann55]

I have a 3 ton floor jack from sears that I bought last year for around 100. 00. It works great. I use 6 ton jack stands from Harbor Frieght once its in the air and keep the floor jack pressed up on the axle for insurance. Don't want that heavy cummins dropping on my big ol body!When your pumping that front end up you feel how heavy that engine and truck is.

 

[kowaliga]

What if I simply use a HYD bottle jack to raise each side seperately and then put on stands. Seems a lot of people are complaining of the Craftsman products. Some other quality floor jacks cost $300-400. Seems rather costly when one can purchase a $30 HYD bottle and do the same job. If I'm wrong here guys let me know. Just trying to figure all this out.



Also, floor jack stands with pins or just the ordinary rack style? Thanks again!

You will find floor jacks to lift your rig expensive. Sears sells a short-bodied 12 ton bottle jack that will fit beneath the axle points you should lift. I lift each rear side, near its tire, and slide in a 3-ton Sears jack stand. The bottle jack, being shorter than others of its capacity, slides under the front axle, near a respective tire/wheel, and is effortless to use. Now, the rear axle is suspended, and one may work one front side at a time. Its dirty, but I can rotate my SRW wheels in about 45 min. ( no air tools ). Removing and re-torqing lug nuts is the time-consumer. The jack stands elevate by gear ratchet, a one-handed operation lacking the sureness of a two-handed pin style. The bottle jack is relatively small, compared to floor jacks, and sits in your truck-box. . awaiting.

 

[rbattelle]

I think a bottle jack is a good solution because they seem to run a little cheaper. That means you can get better quality (in theory) than a floor jack and still be within budget.



This is why I don't like the rachet style stands. I'm hoping I live long enough to afford a pin style.

 

[surfbeetle]

I have a floor jack from costco, it's less than 100 bucks and is a three ton jack. It does just fine. Jack stands are the taller 6 ton, not the dinky little ones. Also remember, your jack and stands are never lifting the entire weight of the truck at once, just a portion of it. You don't need a 300 dollar jack to do the job.



When rotating tires on a dually, its different than a single rear wheel. The goal is to keep the direction of rotation the same. On my Dad's dually, we always the the left outside rear to the right front, then the right front goes to the right rear inside. The right rear inside goes to the left rear outside.



Then you do the other side, right outside rear to the left front, then the left front goes to the left rear inside. The left rear inside goes to the right rear outside.



It can be confusing but it's not that bad. By keeping the tires rotating always in the same direction, and changing positions you should get the longest wear as they are wearing in differents sections as they are on the different locations on the truck. One more thing, get an impact wrench and an air compressor, it will make quick work of it.

 

[JWHays]

I do my tire rotation and have four heavy-duty jackstands. I can't recall where I got them (CRS)



I do my own because the tire shop torqued the lug nuts to around 300 ft/lbs! I use a torque wrench, follow the recommended pattern, to 145 ft/lbs. Yeah, it takes time... but it's done right. Sorry I couldn't be more help, David.



... John

 

[DCreed]

I've used a cordless drill on low to raise/ lower bottle type screw drive jacks, goes quick! then switch to socket to finish(after breaking loose) the lugs .

 

[PRattenbury]

I prefer an above-ground lift. Used to use an in-ground lift until it dropped a Ford Country Squire on me.

 

[DCreed]

I prefer an above-ground lift. Used to use an in-ground lift until it dropped a Ford Country Squire on me.

Did it have the nice "wood" siding on it?:-laf:-laf

 

[PRattenbury]

Yes, it did. I was under it doing exhaust. I had the back end of the muffler propped up on a stand and I was heating up the front end with the smoke wrench when the air in the lift hydraulics must've finally burped to the top and dropped the car. It crushed the stand, knocked me on my arse holding the torch, and finally caught the load of the car again about 3 feet from killing me. Needless to say, I had to go home and change my skivvies. That was the end of me using that lift.

 

[JWHays]

And it's a good thing you didn't roast any body parts with that torch!



... John

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

If it is made in China as most are today the seals can not be replaced, they want you to buy a new Jack. At least that is what I have run into. If you can stand the price get one from Central Hydraulics, made here, or was. The seals can be replaced. What happened to Tiawan, they were making good products after they got their act together. I don't know about their Jacks but their tools were not bad. I have said it before but I will say it again. Seals can go at anytime so never ever fail to use Jack Stands or your Jack could become a Widow Maker, made in China or NOT.