Jack Stands
 

I am going to purchase some jack stands to work on my 1930 Model AA dump bed truck. This would be used both on front and back axles. What would be the appropriate rating weight to purchase? I want to do everything as safely as possible.

Thanks,

Kieran

Re: Jack Stands
 

I'd say the maximum height should be what your shopping for. AA's are tall up to the frame, not so bad up to the axles, you'll need both. Check a company like blackhawk. You'll see that, by the time the stands finally start to get tall, the weight rating, and cost, is way more than what you'll need. Just checked. blackhawk now labels their stands as heim warner, companies have merged.

Re: Jack Stands
 

My budget dictates Harbor Freight. They have TALLER stands, also.
Bill Po'

Re: Jack Stands
 

I have a few sets of new style stands and the big truck ones are the go to for the model A. the ones that work on cars are just too short. i think these are the ones I use hard to tell size through a picture. https://www.harborfreight.com/automo...nds-61197.html

Re: Jack Stands
 

Humble Life safety Opinion On Horizontal Forces:

Most guys today never experience seeing a (4) legged horse trying to stand up, fighting Hurricane force winds ..... in any case, just imagine him trying to stand up on his thin (3) legs.

When under a vehicle, (with wind or no wind), picture the very strong sideways forces exerted in trying to unscrew a heavily rusted bolt or nut with a socket attached to a long cheater bar .......... and then think about the horizontal resistance to horizontal forces with a (4) legged horse & a (3) legged horse .... and how about resistance offered with a (4) legged jack compared to a (3) legged jack.

If the (3) legged horse tumbles over, he gets back up ...... if a (3) legged jack stand tumbles under a heavy iron crushing vehicle ... you could very possibly win a short ride in an ambulance or in a hearse.

Hope this helps to decide.

Re: Jack Stands
 

Don't be cheap with jack stands, your life depends on it. Get the strongest ones you can find, made from heavy guage metal, with 4 legs. Make sure the truck is on a level area, with a hard surface. I saw a guy put a truck on stands while it was on an incline, and he got under an yanked on his wrench, and pulled it off the stands down hill. It landed on him and the ambulace took him away.

Re: Jack Stands
 

Or if your unlucky a trip in a Hearst :-(

Re: Jack Stands
 

I have several 3 ton and some 6 ton stands like H/F sells. The main thing is they are rugged 4 leg stands with a ratchet cast iron center post. If I use them on the ground or on a tar driveway, then I also put a thick board under them. I cut some thick boards and screwed another board as a boarder so the stand can't move to the side.

I wouldn't even use the cheap 3 leg stands to hold a flower pot.

Re: Jack Stands
 

FWIW:

After reading on another non-Model A vehicle Forum about one (1) Chinese cast iron rachet tooth shearing off ........ and allowing the vehicle to fall, I only crawl under all steel jack stands with steel pins.

Tom:

Also, after some thought, appears that a cheap 3 legged jack stand holding up someone's Chamber Pot would seem even be a bit less trustworthy ........... not to mention the aftermath. LOL

Re: Jack Stands
 

We had 4 REALLY TALL stands, one used a valve for a pin. I pulled it up REALLY HIGH, to select a hole, DROPPED it & it SHEARED the valve!! We immediately drilled out ALL the holes & made up 1/2" PINS!!
I used the stands to support Jaguar XKEs, to drop the ENGINE/TRANS out the bottom, to replace the clutches.---If you ever even THINK about doing one, DON'T do IT!!-- 16 Hours, Flat Rate.
Bill "Brave"???

Re: Jack Stands
 

Look at the specs for those stands at Harbor Freight. 6 ton go up to maximum 23-3/4" 12 ton max up to 30-1/8" Myself for a AA, I'g get the 12 ton for frame height and 6 ton for axles. But then you know best the height you need. I have never heard anybody having trouble with the HF stands.

Re: Jack Stands
 

Thanks for all the advice and safety considerations. Definitely will go with the 4 legged stands. STAY SAFE!

Re: Jack Stands
 

check with auto zone they did have 2-2 ton jacks for around $50.00

Re: Jack Stands
 

Look at MAFCA websites' pic of the week.
In '59, at Lutz Ford in Palo Alto, Ca, we had multiple chain hoists on a rail, just hoist up the car real high, put 2 stands in front of the rear wheels & let her down level & go to WORK!!--We had wooden step stands, for topside work. "Sometimes" 2 Guys worked together, on the same car.
Bill Creeper

Re: Jack Stands
 

Is that you Bill??

Re: Jack Stands
 

Pretty trusting fellow...I don't see any chocks under the rear wheels ;-(

TerryO

Re: Jack Stands
 

Build up a base of 2x4s covered, screwed and glued with 3/4" exterior ply to allow the shortest amount of the stand to be raised.

When raising up the rear of my car I used 2 sets to get the height I wanted with the stand raised the least.

I jacked up one side put in the stand. jacked up the other side higher and placed the wood under the jack stand and repeated the process until two sets of wood and one stand were on each side. I also safety wired the flip up handle down so as not to snag it on anything.

Sorry I did not take pictures. I had 3/4 inch ply, three 2x4s side by side and another piece of ply to make a 2x4 sandwich. (you could also use 2x 6's depending on what is at hand)

Re: Jack Stands
 

If you get those cheap step type stand just make sure there's no casting flash to stop the lock from fully engaging. That being said a would always look for old good used made in the USA ones.

Re: Jack Stands
 

This is the way we do it around here... :p:p

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1442/...2e610eb83d.jpg

Re: Jack Stands
 

Another Jack Stand Life Safety Warning:

Not mentioned thus far herein, but beat to death before ........ is to never ever trust any jack, jack stand, or any type of supports that are supported, (above or below), by any type of lightweight concrete blocks, (sometimes referred to as cinder blocks), whether same is hollow or solid.

There may be several other future Life Safety Warnings added and mentioned below from Forum Members' Past Experiences which are fully capable of winning a First Place Darwin Award.