Jack stand recommendation

sconnors

sconnors

Well-known member
I’m pulling the wheels off my Model A to have them sandblasted and painted and have to have the car on jack stands for awhile. Watching a LOT of YouTube videos on jack stands but wondering what folks here have found to be the Jack stand for their Model A?
Thanks for any input,
 
Do not use the pressed steel tubular "extendable" stands. Had one of these fold and collapse while I was under the car.


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Joe K
 
Joe, were these from Harbor Freight? I have 4 of them which I bought in the 1980's. I stopped using them because they seemed flimsy, so I bought 4 cast iron ones instead which I am still using. Now I think I'll throw them into the recycling barrel.
 
Robert before you toss them into the recycling pile crush them with a sledge hammer so that someone else doesn't pull them out and use them. You may save a life.
 
Sconnors I'd suggest getting a set of two that have at least a 3 ton rating.
Please remember that the rating for a set of jack stands is for the two of them working together.
As far as brand there are many out there that will do the job for you. Go pick a set out in person instead of ordering them so you can get a feel for them in person.
A wider base for stability is best.
Your local auto parts stores will have them along with Harbor Freight, Menards etc...
 
I would recommend jack stands that will go as high as you can, in the event that you someday want to support it by the frame.
 
Harbor Freight has had "legal issues" with earlier "square base" jack stands of Chinese origin. A stand from HF from perhaps 5 years ago I would not trust - something about "not double locking" which is where the issue then originated.

HF has corrected the issue (and paid the claims.) Their stands today, while Chinese, are probably state of the art.

And truth be known - stands you get from most anywhere except maybe Snap-On (and maybe even them) are made in China.

HF having "been there done that" may be your best bet and buy.

Joe K
 
Robert/Texas said:
Joe, were these from Harbor Freight? I have 4 of them which I bought in the 1980's. I stopped using them because they seemed flimsy, so I bought 4 cast iron ones instead which I am still using. Now I think I'll throw them into the recycling barrel.
Click to expand...

The red tubular were available from various sources. My original pair (and the one that failed) was red with a pin held by a flimsy chain. The fail came just about where the legs "separate" and was caused by a "folding" of the metal.

I don't remember where these were bought but I think from Western Auto - i.e. a "consumer grade" store.

The other pair of these I had were black, similar in construction. On the basis of the first failure I tossed these too.

Now I'm using a pair bought from Auto Zone. Similar to the 3 ton HF shows on their website, but by their box are described "2 ton."

I note not secondary locking. Hmm. That 5 year timeframe...

Joe K
 
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I don't like crawling under a car with only jack stands supporting it. If I have room, I put a floor jack under the front or rear axle, just touching them. Life is short, I don't like taking chances.
 
I have 2 pair similar to these, the 3 ton I use a lot, I bought a pair of 6 ton because of the height that they go up to.
 

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I have the 6 ton jack stands from Harbor Freight. I prefer them over the 3 ton because they are taller and when I put the car up on jack stands, it provides sufficient crawl space under the car.
 
Good afternoon...I use ProLift...3 Ton...I have four Purchased from Amazon. They look like the ones in #13 above. They have double safety settings...First the teeth under pressure and then a pin that goes completely through the arm...Ernie in Arizona
 
L-head said:
I don't like crawling under a car with only jack stands supporting it. If I have room, I put a floor jack under the front or rear axle, just touching them. Life is short, I don't like taking chances.
Click to expand...

Just to add, when I remove the tire/wheel I place it under the frame on modern’s, probably wouldn’t help with an A , but it might from crushing you or a body part ! As a teenager I had a modern drop down between my legs luckily I was able to scoot out from under the truck arm and rear axle.
 
I am going to have to crawl under my 2016 Chevy 2500 HD pickup tomorrow to fix some stuff. I am going to put 6 x 6 beams under the tires. The truck weighs 10,000 pounds and I don't trust any of my jack stands. There is enough room to climb under without raising it up, but that helps.
 
I use wood blocks.6"x6" and 18" long setting so the bottom row is parallel to the axle and top row set the opposite way. Any extra height needed I use 2x4 or boards.
 
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