How big of a floor jack do I need?

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srkpaco

srkpaco

10 Year
Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Threads
84
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273
Location
Austin, TX.
I have a 2004 LC all stock but I have removed my running boards, cranked torsion bars and slightly bigger tires so the weight of my rig is stock, no extra steel on it.

What size floor jack and jack stand do I need to get to be safe? About to change out my rear shocks.
 
Load is one part, height is the other. With a short jack, you won't get the fronts off the ground and the rear can come back and touch the ground even on stands. You can block on top of the saddle, but if you add more than a single piece of wood you start getting tippy.
 
hkeller, please re-read I said who big of a floor jack and jack stands? Would not get under a vehicle with just a jack.

Just want to to know what ton jack and stand with out over killing it and paying to much for something i don't need.
 
Minimum 25 " lifting height. That's the ticket. And big sturdy stands.
 
I use a 3 ton Craftsman floor jack, with 3 ton jack stands x2, no complaints.
 
Keep in mind those 3 ton stands are only 1-1/2 ton singles, 3 ton in pairs. I doubt you'd have more than 3,000 lbs on a single stand but you're probably close to the 'comfort factor' so just be aware. 6T or 12T would be better for our rigs. And the 6/12T stands typically have a higher reach.
 
Correction, I use 6 tonners for the rig and 3 tonners for the wife's boring a$$ Camry. That's really only for the reach though. People get overkill with jackstands, which is completely understandable. However if only the front is on stands and the rear is on the ground, the stands aren't supporting the full weight of the truck.
 
One thing I found in doing the rear shocks on my '04 is I needed an incredible amount of side force to break that top nut free. After I removed the lower shock fastening, I put the wheel back on and worked from under the vehicle. Used my leg strength to push on the strap wrench and I was afraid if I used only jack stands I'd push it right off. I hate to think of the torque involved, but it was a lot of force. With it on the wheels, I felt completely safe. Fronts were easy and just on 6 ton jack stands.
 
Trunk Monkey said:
Tell that to this guy:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=4709346&postcount=1
Click to expand...

Ouch, good call.

That reminds me of when I was 17, putting a lift on my old RamCharger in our gravel driveway. I was torquing on the leaf springs and the jack stand tipped over. Luckily I was able to quickly move up and tripod the truck up using my back against it. Had to yell loud enough to wake the old man up from his nap so he could come save the day.
Good times...
 
With the front stands on the frame the rear lifts considerably as you come off the jack. I'd say more than 50% is on those stands.
 
Bought the floor jack at Costco. The stands are 12 tons I have a pair of 6 ton ones to but always use the 12's seems to be all I have needed so far.

floor jack.webp
 
Yikes!

Thanks for posting that link to the failed jack stands. I have the exact same orange ones from Harbor Freight. Anyone else had them fail on them? Scary

I also have a pair of 4 ton stands (2 tons each?) purchased from Autozone, Duralast brand. 13 1/4" to 20 7/8" height. Still not high enough for a lifted 100.
 
Use a minimum 3.5 ton floor jack and 6 ton jack stands. Prefer the stands with the lock insert for added safety. Always go beyond minimum requirements to be on the safe side.

This is a case where more is better.
 
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