Why jack stands are a must.

[16grem72]

I've always used jackstands when working under a vehicle. Yesterday I decided to take off my bed and replace my spring perches and hangers. I was using a hydraulic jack and had the truck lifted where i wanted. As I was setting the jackstands under the frame the jack failed and dropped the truck. They hydraulic cylinder failed.

Put one jackstand through my gas tank. I now have about 18 gallons of gas in all of my and my neighbors spare gas tanks, and now need a new gas tank. FML

But to think if had been under the truck and hadnt been using Jack stands. I just wanted to share my story so that others that are less careful might learn from my mishap.

 

[disciplerocks]

Good thing you weren't under there! Yes always use jackstands. Its just not worth it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Glad you are OK

 

[LiLRanger]

Wow! Ive never seen a jack fail like that. Was it a bottle jack or a floor unit?

 

[16grem72]

Floor unit. 3.5 ton. ive had it 4 years and never had any problems. But i guess its time for a rebuild or new jack.

 

[disciplerocks]

After seeing all the hydraulic stuff fail all the time at work, I would never trust it.

 

[r1hatman]

Yeah, mine started not working right after like 5 years, so I got some hydraulic jack oil and flushed it and it works fine now. I suggest doing that every year.
It's amazing what we trust to a simple machine, but neglect so much, myself included! I always jack, place stands, lower onto stands leave jack tight!

PS, glad you're okay, gas thing sucks though!

 

[adsm08]

Jackstands aren't fool-proof though. I had my truck up on stands when I did the trans swap, and the old one didn't want to come out. I was tugging and jerking it back and forth and I knocked it off the rear stands.

 

[Tony Raine]

Jackstands aren't fool-proof though. I had my truck up on stands when I did the trans swap, and the old one didn't want to come out. I was tugging and jerking it back and forth and I knocked it off the rear stands.

yup, i had an ancient "3 leg" jackstand fail. truck fell flat on the concrete, and pushed me through the sheetrock of my parent's shop

 

[RUTH]

thats a bumer about your tank.... but like they said im glad your ok... and thats one thing my dad always told me, use jackstands no matter what, i have been guilty of not... but when he was in high school, a friend of his was found dead under his car by his dad.... the jack had failed crushed him..

 

[Jspafford]

I always use two jackstands, and leave the hydraulic jack holding a tad bit of the weight in the center.

 

[mp3deviant721]

This is the exact reason why I told my dad to buy jackstands. You never know when a jack will fail. He used to scare the shit outta me when he jacked up a vehicle and went under it.

 

[t0x1k]

I don't even feel safe under jack stands. I need to invest in some bigger ones, maybe some 6 ton+ stands.

Glad youre ok, the thought of a vehicle falling on me runs through my head every time I'm under there.

 

[koda6966]

Mine did the same thing, no jackstands. I was walking back to the truck with a sheet of cardboard to crawl on when it fell.

 

[Jay FX4]

I always use two jackstands, and leave the hydraulic jack holding a tad bit of the weight in the center.

Same here.

And I'll still never be fully comfortable under there.

16grem72 - Very happy to hear you weren't hurt.