Looking to get jack stands, and came across these.

http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/cb/...?a=371198&pn=1

anyone know about these? I also saw the torin 3-ton ones, but that seems like overkill.
What are some of your suggestions? My heaviest vehicle is 4500lbs, and I only foresee using 2 stands, not ever having the vehicle completely off it's wheels.

Thanks

 

Those look exactly like a lighter duty Torin set. I'm confident that they're made in the same factory and just have a different label... should be fine.

 

I don't like them much. The base on those looks a little small to me. You want as wide a base as possible for stability. They have pins for holding them up when they're extended - not very convenient to use, quite fiddly.
I like this type better:





The legs are heavily braced and widely spaced - very important so they won't collapse.
They have a ratcheting arrangement at the top, too - this makes it really easy to extend and retract them as you use them, much better than the pins.

The ones in my picture are about $30 here in Canada for a pair. Good deal!

And please PLEASE do NOT buy or use those cheap stamped steel kind you see in Walmart or hardware stores - they are round, tube-shaped and have no bracing between the legs, are very lightweight and cheap. DANGER!!! Spend some extra money on something safe, don't try to "cheap out" here.

Get the heaviest-rated ones that will fit under whatever car you will use them with. I'd say 2 or 3 tons rating minimum. Overkill is good in this case!


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Try Wally World, Lowe's or Home Depot. I think you can get a damn good set for around $30-$40 there, and you can have instant gratification .

 

I bought mine at Harbor Freight for about $20 and they are just like the ones above in 33EJB's post....I think they have a 3 ton rating. They are quite heavy heavy duty and I have no qualms with getting under the car when I use them....and I'm a big chicken.

 

I like these. I'll probably get them in a few months to replace my old ones. these have a flat top which i like and feel is much more stable http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...8558_200358558

 

Those look very nicely made and stable. Rubber pad on top saves scratches and paint damage to underside areas - a good thing. The ones in my post above have a hollowed out notch-type arrangement on top - also useful at times, as when the jackstand is placed under a suspension arm or something like that, the notch cradles the part and prevents any movement. I have a hunk of rubber about 1/4 inch thick that I can put between the jack and the car underside, if necessary.

Both types are good. The most important things to look for are the quality of construction and the nice wide reinforced base.

And, just remember, a vehicle CAN slide and fall off of jackstands too, not just a jack. Don't ever think you're totally invincible just because your car is on stands, even good ones. I hate to sound like your parents , but you can be seriously injured or worse if you aren't extremely careful when using these things. I have some personal experience with this subject, so I am a bit preachy - - but justified, I think.

OK, lecture's over!


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A friend of mine has those Esco stands. They are truly substantial, as they better be at $90 a piece.

 

Thanks for the input, guys. Instant gratification is often a good thing, and I have seen the 3 ton ones at my local Harbor Freight. The pyramid style seem as if they would be more stable than the tubular ones, and maybe overkill is a good thing here!

 

Very much so! You don't get hurt under the MINI . Good luck!

 

I have never had the guts to jack up the MINI on four jack stands... I hate, HATE, the four corner jackpoints... I remember my old Mazda Protege had jack rails that ran the length of the car, so you could pretty much jack it up wherever you please. Good times... I need some good jacks.

 

Good point. What I usually do is when I'm going to be under the car and it's up on jack stands, I put at least a couple concrete blocks under the frame of the car also. The car doesn't set on them, but they are there just in case something gives. It makes me feel better about being underneath there.

See, I told you I was a chicken...

 

Since we're on the topic of jack stands, what's the correct method for getting a MINI on to (and off of) 4 stands? In laymans terms please, since I've only jacked up a car once in my life

 

I took BlimeyCabrio's tip and use a 2x4 (about 24" long) centered between the two jack points under the car....and jack the whole side up at once from the center. Put the two jack stands in and then go do the other side. It's quick, easy, and seems to work well.

 

and the jack stands go right under the two jack points, right? So your 2x4 is in the center of the car, but not actually touching the jack points. I think I get it

 

ESCOs a little cheaper here. The stands have good reviews on Bimmerforums.

 

Yes, that's how I do it. Also, I cut some small wood blocks that fit up inside the jack points to go between the jack stands and the car. The jack points are plastic and I'm always afraid I'll break them if the car sets on them directly....although I think I've seen people not use them. It's just what I do.

 

Cool, thanks Fastlane. I know this stuff is second nature to a lot of people but there are those of us who have always considered car maintenance as something other people do With my 2nd MINI I really want to do stuff myself, oil changes, tire rotations, I want to paint the calipers etc.

 

Anyone ever try just using 4 of these as jack stands?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=5530
Use the floor jack with the 2x4 to lift and set on these the adjust the height as needed, looks like the head would fit in the pocket in the plastic jack points.

 

Depends. If you're thinking of using them as adjustable jack stands without any hydraulic elevation, maybe. But if you are thinking of hydraulically elevating them, then using them as jack stands, absolutely not.

 

yeah i fully agree, don't use them as jack stands. jack stands need to have a physical lock that will prevent them from falling. those jacks don't have a physical lock and at $13 what if the seal all of a sudden fails while you're under the car? is injury of your life worth more than $13? you're better of spending a little more for actual jack stands.

 

Do not even THINK about using these as jack stands.

See the above posts and just buy some of the recommended ones. The ones in my post cost about $15 each (on sale), about the same as the bottle jacks you asked about. Yours offer no $$ savings and are far, far more dangerous.


As an aside... I have used these in the past (when I was much less experienced and much more stupid):



Very, very bad idea. Do NOT do this.

Spend a little cash on some good, proper stands. They will last virtually forever and the cost is negligible in the end.


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