Floor Jack Lift Points -- 2016 Land Cruiser 200

[tominboise]

As an alternative to rhino ramps, I made 4 ramps from 2X10's, 3 layers thick. I drive up on all four. This is about all the clearance I can get in my garage ceiling with the lift and tires I have. They are solid, so very stout with no chance of collapse. It is high enough to do all maintenance work under the vehicle. Jacking, I use the rear diff or the front control arm mounts, with a jack stand under the frame rail(s)

 

[OregonLC]

So... has anyone here actually damaged the OE skid plate when jacking properly from the ring under the cross member? Or is this just MUD lore?

Maybe it's just ignorance on my part by I've raised both my 100s and 200s countless times using this point. There's a reinforced structure there to take the force. And I remove the plates with each OCI to keep things tidy and inspect the engine from below. They always go right back into place, no warpage, no damage. I get the desire to do things 'properly' but this seems like unnecessary effort?

These are the jack points shown in the service manual. No notes indicate the recommendation to remove the plates first.

 

[gasman4u]

So... has anyone here actually damaged the OE skid plate when jacking properly from the ring under the cross member? Or is this just MUD lore?

Maybe it's just ignorance on my part by I've raised both my 100s and 200s countless times using this point. There's a reinforced structure there to take the force. And I remove the plates with each OCI to keep things tidy and inspect for any damage. They always go right back into place, no warpage, no damage. I get the desire to do things 'properly' but this seems like unnecessary effort?

These are the jack points shown in the service manual. No notes indicate the recommendation to remove the plates first.

View attachment 3833092

Before I removed my OEM skids, I used the round "hole" as an orientation for front lift point and used that to jack the rig up. I think it bent a little, but can't remember for sure as shortly afterwards I replaced everything with Budbuilt skids. At worst, the damage was cosmetic however best I could tell.

 

[bloc]

So... has anyone here actually damaged the OE skid plate when jacking properly from the ring under the cross member? Or is this just MUD lore?

Maybe it's just ignorance on my part by I've raised both my 100s and 200s countless times using this point. There's a reinforced structure there to take the force. And I remove the plates with each OCI to keep things tidy and inspect the engine from below. They always go right back into place, no warpage, no damage. I get the desire to do things 'properly' but this seems like unnecessary effort?

These are the jack points shown in the service manual. No notes indicate the recommendation to remove the plates first.

View attachment 3833092

I sold my skids when I got the Slee system then E&E's, so I can't provide evidence, but mine were definitely bent and required straightening from doing this with the bare cup-shaped top of a floor jack. I did eventually start using a 2x4 to help, but even then things seemed tenuous, due to the structure we're jacking against.

From memory the round spot is built into the bottom of the center "spine" part that supports the inner edges of the front side plates, and when you check that out it isn't very thick steel. Definitely nothing like I'd expect from the cross member itself. Because of this I just started zipping the plates and spine off with the battery impact before jacking the front of the truck. Odds are I needed them off anyway.

 

[TeCKis300]

So... has anyone here actually damaged the OE skid plate when jacking properly from the ring under the cross member? Or is this just MUD lore?

Maybe it's just ignorance on my part by I've raised both my 100s and 200s countless times using this point. There's a reinforced structure there to take the force. And I remove the plates with each OCI to keep things tidy and inspect the engine from below. They always go right back into place, no warpage, no damage. I get the desire to do things 'properly' but this seems like unnecessary effort?

These are the jack points shown in the service manual. No notes indicate the recommendation to remove the plates first.

View attachment 3833092

Interesting. I don't use the factory front cross brace partly due to my experience on my 100-series. The OE skid did deform before positively lifting. It feels that way when lifting with the 200-series skids too. So I rather lift from the lower inner arms where it's absolutely stout. It's not flat but with a jack pad, works well for me.

 

[Zill]

Am I in the minority where I jack up the vehicle on the frame rails along the side of the car?

 

[gasman4u]

Am I in the minority where I jack up the vehicle on the frame rails along the side of the car?

I may or may not do this given my aluminum skids up front. And the Horror freight jack accessory thing I bought that has two adjustable lift points on it vs just the one.

I have really nice jack stands that keep a solid handle on the opposite rail when getting the second side up.

 

[TeCKis300]

Am I in the minority where I jack up the vehicle on the frame rails along the side of the car?

I definitely do. Depends if I need to get a jack stand in place.