Best (and safest) way to fully articulate an axle.

[BigDaveGrrr]

I need to fully articulate my axles so I can measure the shock lengths, Im struggling to find a way to get each axle to full articulation (both together or one at a time) safely. Ive managed to get the front about 1 inch from the bumpstop and the rear about 2 inches from the bumpstop, nothing is binding or touching anywhere but I cant get it further without either lifting too many wheels for comfort off the ground or it being incredibly unstable.

I cannot drive it anywhere as the shocks arent attached and its not road legal right now. I only have at my disposal:

2 Bottle jacks
2 Axle stands
2 Ramps (normal sized car ramps you drive up)
About 20 bricks
4 light duty Ratchet straps
5 31" tyres on 15" rims
5 33" tyres on 16" rims

The A-team would be able to build a light duty tank in 20mins with that lot so what can you lot suggest?

 

[Cruisin']

How 'bout getting a rather heavy duty ratchet strap, get the truck close to the bump stops using the ramps/whatever you did before, then wrap the ratchet strap around the frame and axle and see if you can pull it the last bit with that. You'll have to be under the vehicle for this part, so make sure its stable before heading in there with the strap.

Can you get it parked on top of some of the tires (laid flat) with say 2 under one front tire, and 2 under the opposing rear tire? That method will probably get you close, and keep the truck more stable than just raising one corner at a time. Then you could use the heavy ratchet strap to tug the corners the last bit.

Just be careful!!!