Jack Stands/Safety

[bilbo]

I wanted to share something that happened this weekend. I was working on a car replacing rear shocks. One of the lower bolts was being stubborn so I got under the car on the creeper to work at it. When I was backing the bolt out with an impact it caught the edge of the jack stand and slid it over a little bit. The frame curved up just next to where it was resting on the stand, and when it slid the car came down on my head, which was sideways so I could see the bolt I was working at. When I put a car on stands I always use backup stand in case 'something' happens. In this case I'm pretty sure it kept me just injured and not dead as the car only dropped a couple of inches. I was able to push myself out; I'm pretty sure the muffler is what came down on my head and the rolled edge of it got me on the temple. I went to the doc after to get it checked out as it hurt like hell and thankfully no permanent damage. The rolled part mucked up the joint where my jaw bone pivots in my skull, so I can't really open my mouth far without it hurting pretty bad.

All in all, I'm extremely lucky and figured I'd share it as a reminder to think ahead as far as you can. I should have never had the car on a jack stand that was so close to where I had to work.

 

[Dirtman]

Glad you're OK!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I hate jackstands, they are a necessary evil though.

Glad you are ok!

 

[Curious Hound]

Glad you had a happy ending to this story

 

[97RangerXLT]

yeesh... glad that didn't go any worse than it did. good thinking on back up plans to keep you safe. I always leave the jack under the car as well just in case my jackstands to a a Harbor Frieght imitation or I bump the car hard enough to displace one.

Like 85 says, they are a necessary evil.

stay safe man.

AJ

 

[Uncle Gump]

This is a good time to mention again about the Harbor Freight jack stand recalls. There were two... just recently. Please go check your stands.

I'm also one that leaves the floor jack under the vehicle and in contact even when the weight is supported by the stands.

Glad this wasn't worse... lets all play it safe!

 

[MikeG]

If a tire is off then putting that under the frame is a bit of a safety measure also. I never get under a vehicle without at least two jackstands. Glad you made it!

 

[Dirtman]

You believe in jack stands?

Show me one scientific study that proves jack stands increase safety.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You believe in jack stands?

Show me one scientific study that proves jack stands increase safety.

Show me a study that says using jack stands are worse then using no jack stands...

 

[sheep herder]

I just use my anti-gravity machine to work under a vehicle.

 

[Snoranger]

You believe in jack stands?

Show me one scientific study that proves jack stands increase safety.

https://scholar.uc.edu/downloads/bc388255w?locale=en


Cantaloupe!

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Glad you're alive and able to tell us this. I'm starting to think of getting a few bags of cement and letting them harden so I can shove them under the frame as a backup for the jackstand.

 

[adsm08]

You believe in jack stands?

Show me one scientific study that proves jack stands increase safety.

I own jack stands. I rarely use them. Mostly only if I need more than one corner up at a time, or if I know it will need to be off the ground for an extended period of time.

I understand the excessive stresses holding the vehicle for an extended period of time put on a jack's hydraulics. I have also had more jack stands give out and let the vehicle fall than I have jacks.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I have a hard time making jack stands useful when they're not just supporting the rig by the axle tube... even with the 6 ton stands it takes like a foot of wood blocks under them to get to the frame rails on a couple rigs to get them to ride height...

 

[sgtsandman]

I’m glad you are ok.

I hate using the frame with jack stands because of exactly what you described. Like others have mentioned, I leave the jack under the truck when I can as well. Partly as a back up and partly because it takes more work to move the jack and put it back later.