Jacking up under rear differential?

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thanks for all the great responses folks!
I have decided to get a couple of sets of ramps. I'm pretty sure the tires are safe lift points!

Be warned, if on soft ground they can still kick out or even just collapse for the fun of it for no reason, if you are doing much work under there jackstands are never a bad idea to add for a backup

 

[Rick W]

I just use the air space under my F250 4WD.

(Was that short enough?).

 

[sgtsandman]

The ramps that are out there now are better than what I have in some ways. I have the old style metal ramps. They get the job done but can kick out sometimes when trying to get up the ramps since the angle is on the steep side and narrow metal feet don't provide as much friction. They are made specifically for trucks, so weight capacity isn't an issue but one does need to pay attention to what the ramps are doing when you are getting on them.

Kind of like these but with a center support and taller.

 

[sgtsandman]

I use ramps to change the oil in my wife's car.

Everything I need my trucks higher for involves pulling wheels off.

I had to get special ones with ramp extensions for my ex's car and my girlfriend's car. There is so little ground clearance, the air dam would hit the ramp and possibly damage the air dam with out the extensions. Those things can be a real PITA to get lined up right since they are so long. The lift height is a bit wanting but I have no jack stands short enough to use under her car either. I should remedy that at some point.....

 

[racsan]

The ramps that are out there now are better than what I have in some ways. I have the old style metal ramps. They get the job done but can kick out sometimes when trying to get up the ramps since the angle is on the steep side and narrow metal feet don't provide as much friction. They are made specifically for trucks, so weight capacity isn't an issue but one does need to pay attention to what the ramps are doing when you are getting on them.

Kind of like these but with a center support and taller.

Ive got a set of those, and if the tire isnt too big I can pull the ramp part off the support and have room for a creeper. If I can find a pic I’ll edit this post & put a picture up.

here they are , under the back of the golf cart with the ramp part removed. the front ramps are my plastic ones, work well with low clearance front drive cars

 

[sgtsandman]

I've seen ramps like those. Most times, I'm in the driveway cruising on cardboard. Creepers and gravel don't play well together. I haven't used mine much in years as a result.

 

[snoranger]

I use Stertil Koni lifts... I can lift loaded tractor trailers.

 

[19Walt93]

I use Stertil Koni lifts... I can lift loaded tractor trailers.

View attachment 50167

Ok, now that's just showing off.

 

[pjtoledo]

and you can roll it around


that makes me nervous just looking at it

 

[snoranger]

Ok, now that's just showing off.

Full disclosure... that’s a pic I found online. Our shop is not that empty/clean, but we have had many a truck in the air just like that.

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm sure they are perfectly safe but I see a whole lot of nope in that picture. I wouldn't want to be under that truck.

 

[snoranger]

I'm sure they are perfectly safe but I see a whole lot of nope in that picture. I wouldn't want to be under that truck.

There are currently 5 trucks this size or bigger up on lifts in the shop.

 

[Rick W]

What do you do with the rangers? Use them to hold the beer cooler?

 

[snoranger]

What do you do with the rangers? Use them to hold the beer cooler?

They’re the car shops problem... not mine.

 

[09fx4guy]

Lots of good advice here. I too use the ramps for quick oil changes and stuff like that. Otherwise I use my 6 ton Snap-On jack stands and my old Hein Werner jack to lift the truck. Knock on wood, I am still here. I have on occasion done things not 100% safe. I had to jack up the frame on my old GMC Sierra to take weight off the lower ball joint to get grease in it. The wheel was on and I had plenty of room in the event the jack failed.

When you are buying lifting / holding equipment, I would spend the money to buy quality stands. You should not have a tire off and be under a vehicle supported by just a floor jack.

I think that the manual may advise against jacking up the rear by the center section because some ding-bat may try jacking it up with the factory scissor jack, which screams disaster to us, but the average non mechanical driver may not know. They also have to advise people not to drink the battery fluid, so take the manual with a grain of salt.