2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Jack Stand Broke

[rono]

While installing my 2" leveling spacer, Sunday afternoon, I was almost thru and raising the axle back up, the jack stand I had under the frame under the drivers side, broke and all came down . Fortunately, the floor jack I had under the axle caught it and nothing hit the ground, or got hurt, no part of me was under the truck. I just bought the jack stand (3 ton, made in china) at one of those 'tool sales' held by 'HOMIER'. I DO NOT RECOMEND THEM. Where can you get a GOOD, STRONG jack stand that is safe and reliable? I could make one that would hold up the whole truck but I may not be able to move it around.

Ron

 

[Tcolesanti]

HOLY CRAP!!!!! I would have probably needed to change my shorts after that evolution. You can find good jackstands at Harbor Freight tools. They have some big ones that work real well.

 

[Jschafer]

Were gald you didn't get hurt or ruin anything. I would recomend Napa or your favorite parts house, Not autozone or those type. Did it give up at a weld or did the riser break?

I have one set that I bought from Harbor Freight and I had to do some welding on them the pin kept falling out, they are not my best set.

 

[rono]

No I didn't have to change clothes but I did sit there on the ground for a while thinking of all the 'what ifs'. My floor jack is about 20 years old and I gave it a big hug when it was all over. The cast iron riser broke, the base was ok. I had it setting on 3 good size pieces of 3/4" ply wood. I bought 2 of those jack stands and the other one is going in the trash bin.

Ron

 

[Got Smoke?]

Craftsmen usually has a pair of 3tons (?) for around $20-30. Cheap life insurance, as I'm sure you've figured out by now! :-laf

 

[CORed]

I just picked up a pair at Sams club. 12,000 lb capacity EACH. Made by Goodyear. Very stout. They were priced at about $25. 00 here in Colorado Springs. Used them to install a 4" lift kit on a Bronco this past weekend and no problems at all. I will trust them under my truck while I'm under it too.



Steve

 

[Oil Burner]

we had a stand break when we did my leveling kit also. same situation, broke on the riser. we had two floor jacks and 3 stands under it so it never "fell" or even moved that much, but it still gives you a good scare.



I feel that the stand had some shear load on it so even if it was defective, the application didn't help it any.



mine was under the frame too.



Jason

 

[Dave M]

Wow! It gives me goose bumps just thinking about what could happen. I think I'll leave my floor jack (Crafsman 3. 5 ton... forget the cheapies) under my vehicles as insurance against jack stand failure from now on. I'd hate to have that behemoth Cummins 1ton dodge in my lap.



Good tools can save your life. No more cheapie floorjacks or jackstands for me! Thanks for waking us up to that.

 

[dodge cummins]

i know that walmart has those mack truck jack stands with all different types of capacities.

 

[LOtero]

i have had numerous vehicles fall, a couple on me, luckily i am semi normal still, thank god. my advice, dont go with harbor freight, go with a reputable tool name, craftsman, snap-on, so on. get more than you need, its always good to have. a good "damn thats stout" visual inspection is a must. after having a scout almost kill me, i always put any removed tires under laying down under the frame, and i leave jacks pumped up and at least close to the frame. you can never really go wrong with a too beefy jackstand and jacks.

 

[rono]

CORed, I like the idea of the 12k stands, and everyone is right in that there is no place for cheap tools when working our trucks. I always hate to pay more than I have to, (getting ripped off) but again, youall are right and I'll pay for some good strong tools.

Ron

 

[WBusa]

Jeez, I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight... what happened to you has always been my worst nightmare. My son thinks I'm paranoid for leaving the tire under the axle, leaving the jack in place, plus jack stands, plus the occasional strategically placed cinder block if there's room.



Would you please tell us the brand of the jackstand that failed, so we can stay away from 'em? I use a pair of Kobalts purchased from Lowes... just checked, and sure enough they're "made in China" (of course, what isn't?).

 

[Extreme1]

Glad to hear you're OK. Any chance you could post a pic? I thought the stands I have were plenty strong but they are cast no-name units.

 

[Hvy-DCZ]

We can all thank Wall Street for everything going cheap. All these public companies are pressured to grow grow grow. Everything goes offshore. When this leads to peoples' lives being endangered, what a travesty. Nice commentary on our culture and what's most important.



Last spring I bought a splitting maul from Home Depot. They had one option and I bought it. Looked kinda cheap, but figured it's a splitting maul, how cheap could it be? In less than 5 hours of splitting freshly cut cherry (100 year old tree) I completely destroyed it. I had to use a sledge because the twisted grain was so uncooperative. I returned it expecting a fight. They gave me my money back and I went straight to Ace hardware. Home Depot and WalMart are some of the absolute worst at importing absolute junk to lower costs and increase profit.



I'm done now...



Hvy

 

[BK]

Glad you didn't get hurt

I too lost a jack stand... I was under it, it rolled and the bumper and I kissed.

I was under it, my front legs were under the axle, head just in front of the bumper as I was coming out from under it. Luckly I still had the tires on too.



When the jack stand folded, the truck fell, another floor jack caught it but the way it rolled forward, the floor jacked caught the oil pan...



These things weight a lot. . you can't take our average jack stands for your SUV and trust it. I spent about 100 bucks on a new set of 4 truck stands. If I had done that in the 1st place, I wouldn't had been into 1200 bucks for an oil pan.



here's my story...

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1004765#post1004765

 

[testraub]

NEVER skimp on tools!

I'd rather pay more for a good tool, then save a few bucks on something that can't really handle the job. Even the Wife has learned, a few extra $'s for the better tool is always worth it down the line. As an Electrician she used to complain about the money I spent on tools, until a few saved my butt from being fried.

 

[cumminstogetya]

Craftsmen usually has a pair of 3tons (?) for around $20-30. Cheap life insurance, as I'm sure you've figured out by now! :-laf

I had my Camaro on a pair of Craftsman jackstands on nice level clean concrete with me under the car, when for no apparant reason, one of the jackstands decided to buckle. I was so scared and I got out from under that car as fast as I could, but then I couldn's seem to move for a long time. Craftsman wouldn't warantee the stands, they just said that they only warantee their tools.



John

 

[Pmaloney]

Good name brand tools arent always the answer either. I am a mechanic by profession so Snap-On, Mac, Matco, etc... are all known names in my book, but I was doing some suspension work on my Cherokee one time using some 3 ton Cornwell jackstands and while sitting with my legs under the front axle I had a jackstand fold and collapse, which sent the front axle to the ground thank god for brake rotors!! I had to twist my legs to have room to get my feet out and I also sat there for a while and stared at my legs thinking how neet it was they were still attached to my body. I bought some jackstands from Checker of all places and they have been great they are 3 ton apiece. ( so they say) have had a few CTD up in the air and have held fine. So I guess you never know. Just my experiences.

 

[JGurney]

Here is what I use:



Model 3000N - 6600 lb capacity, 13-21" range, 11 lbs

each ... ... ... ... ... ..... $50. 00ea



" All AC Hydraulic jackstands are galvanized and load

tested at 200% over rated capacity before leaving the

factory. "



http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html

 

[DGStrate]

I second that!

I just picked up a pair at Sams club. 12,000 lb capacity EACH. Made by Goodyear. Very stout. They were priced at about $25. 00 here in Colorado Springs. Used them to install a 4" lift kit on a Bronco this past weekend and no problems at all. I will trust them under my truck while I'm under it too.



Steve

As Steve mentioned, I also have a set of Goodyear jack stands (even chrome plated - Look NICE! *grin*) that are rated up to 12k EACH and for the price, they are GREAT!



I second his recommendation!