What Not To Do When Jacking A Vehicle

[Luzifer]

Guy jacked his car to the maximum with this flimsy jack and crawled under the car when the jack slipped out crushing the man. He survived. If the guy was at home in his garage he would of died alone. Alway use a good jack unlike this one where it's only useful to change a wheel. Then put jack stands.

Me personally I use jack stands and I also stack 4" x 4" pieces of wood in a square shape and rest the vehicle lightly on them leaving the jack in place. This spring I'm going to buy some 6x6 which is even more stable. Don't forget to use chock blocks to prevent the car from rolling.

 

[Sakura]

I'm not crawling under any heavy load unless it is secured on a hydraulic four-point lift on a solid concrete slab, like in proper shops. Earthquakes are common here and too unpredictable. Any jack would turn into a pancake machine.

 

[SmoothOperator]

I found it funny even the cop didnt know how to use a scissor jack. Guys lucky to be alive.

@REKIII reading your post on the other forum I see you have a set of quick jacks, never used a set myself but curious how sturdy they are when you introduce lateral movement/pressure on them.

 

[Luzifer]

I found it funny even the cop didnt know how to use a scissor jack. Guys lucky to be alive.

@REKIII reading your post on the other forum I see you have a set of quick jacks, never used a set myself but curious how sturdy they are when you introduce lateral movement/pressure on them.

They are 12" wide, you are not going to push a car sideways. The Vette has been in the raised position for 4 months.

About the jacking video, no one was really smart to get a floor jack from the autoparts store. No one knew how to operate scissor jack either and I don't find it surprising at all. In this day and age from my experience the majority of people have no idea how a hammer works or even own one.

 

[Rjpalaypay]

I own / use Quickjacks on occasion as well. Of course, it doesnt fit my new-to-me M3, which is kinda crazy. The jack points are so darn far apart on that Bimmer. If I could sell this QJ set, I'd probably use the cash to get a 4post lift...they arent as expensive as I once thought they were. The QJ is pretty darn rock solid when its up.

 

[Luzifer]

I own / use Quickjacks on occasion as well. Of course, it doesnt fit my new-to-me M3, which is kinda crazy. The jack points are so darn far apart on that Bimmer. If I could sell this QJ set, I'd probably use the cash to get a 4post lift...they arent as expensive as I once thought they were. The QJ is pretty darn rock solid when its up.

They might sell extensions for it.

 

[Rjpalaypay]

They might sell extensions for it.

i know some folks on the BMW forums made extensions out of steel tubing or something, but I wouldnt mess with that for various reasons....and some folks use them with the jacks perpendicular to the frame (sideways). I won't do that either, though, i dont think

 

[Luzifer]

i know some folks on the BMW forums made extensions out of steel tubing or something, but I wouldnt mess with that for various reasons....and some folks use them with the jacks perpendicular to the frame (sideways). I won't do that either, though, i dont think

If I needed mine to be lengthened I'd weld some extensions. I fabricated brackets and put wheels on mine otherwise it's nearly impossible to move.

 

[REKIII]

@REKIII reading your post on the other forum I see you have a set of quick jacks, never used a set myself but curious how sturdy they are when you introduce lateral movement/pressure on them.

Seems like the other gents answered well, but yes, the QJ's are very stable. no racking. I'm very confident when under or around them. I open the door and get in and out of the car and there is zero movement. Hardest part is getting them into the correct spot without blocking anything you need to get to.

 

[Sakura]

For anyone using expensive hydraulic jacks, QJ, or DIY welded extensions… chant Jesus three times, do the sign of the cross, kneel like it is Sunday mass, bring a few crucifixes for backup, and you will be fine...

Me? I am still not going under there. One earthquake and that is game over.

 

[REKIII]

Me? I am still not going under there. One earthquake and that is game over.

That was Insane!!! The dude that got off the bike could barely stay standing on a paved road!!! I can't comprehend what that would feel like!!!!

 

[Sakura]

That was Insane!!! The dude that got off the bike could barely stay standing on a paved road!!! I can't comprehend what that would feel like!!!!

I hope I never have to experience one of those massive earthquakes. But if you live here long enough, you kind of get used to the occasional level 5 shake. It feels like being thrown onto a trampoline naked.

One time it hit while I was butt naked in the shower. I had a serious debate with myself… do I run outside and traumatize the neighborhood, or just stay put and accept my fate? I chose the latter

 

[REKIII]

I hope I never have to experience one of those massive earthquakes. But if you live here long enough, you kind of get used to the occasional level 5 shake. It feels like being thrown onto a trampoline naked.

One time it hit while I was butt naked in the shower. I had a serious debate with myself… do I run outside and traumatize the neighborhood, or just stay put and accept my fate? I chose the latter

Headline the next day:
Naked man with Violin runs out into the street during the Level 5 Earthquake yesterday. He appears to be OK.

 

[Luzifer]

I hope I never have to experience one of those massive earthquakes. But if you live here long enough, you kind of get used to the occasional level 5 shake. It feels like being thrown onto a trampoline naked.

One time it hit while I was butt naked in the shower. I had a serious debate with myself… do I run outside and traumatize the neighborhood, or just stay put and accept my fate? I chose the latter

In earthquake territory in addition to quickjacks I would put 8"x8" lumber running across the car front and back. The jacks could fail but it would be safe.

 

[SmoothOperator]

I remember back in the day, my shop class teacher always told us its good practice to put the wheel and tires under the car, but out of the way when using any floor jack. In the event the jack fails, the rims/tires save you from being crushed.

We learned/worked on 90s geo metros and civic hatches which were running 15" pizza cutters for wheels.

I remember thinking, Id probably prefer being immediately crushed, rather then being pinned and dying a slow and very painful death.

You always hear of stories, plenty even on YT with people talking about near death experiences from being caught under a vehicle and I often wonder why more saftey redundancy isn't or wasn't used in these situations.

 

[Luzifer]

I've had a set of jack stands flatten like pancakes. I was jacking my offroad 4Runner with a 4' high lift jack and since the truck was high off the ground because of the large tires the jack went sideways and the truck tipped the jack stands over flattening them. I never trusted jack stands 100% because they can be tipped over so that's the reason I use cribbing of stacked 4x4 lumber and rest a vehicle on them. It ain't going nowhere.

As for putting a wheel under the car, it's the last case resort if you are in the middle of nowhere, Lambo rear wheels are wide enough though. A regular wheel is about 8" wide so that's not thick enough and would crush me anyway.

Something like this :

 

[Rjpalaypay]

For anyone using expensive hydraulic jacks, QJ, or DIY welded extensions… chant Jesus three times, do the sign of the cross, kneel like it is Sunday mass, bring a few crucifixes for backup, and you will be fine...

Me? I am still not going under there. One earthquake and that is game over.

great point about the earthquakes. i've been in this area of the US (east coast) for all of my 55yrs and have only experienced a very mild tremor once or twice. If I was in a spot like in your video, I would have to rethink how to setup to work on a car. Thats some scary stuff!