Stan Design

Tag: Lifting Equipment

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Bridge Jacks Floor jacks Hydraulic Jacks Jacks Truck Jacks

How to Choose the Right Truck Jack for Efficient Lifting?

Choosing the Right Truck Jack
Explore various truck jacks and their features to find the perfect match for your lifting requirements.

Working in commercial garages or automotive workshops can become a nightmare without the right collection of equipment at your disposal. One such tool in your arsenal is truck jacks. These heavy-duty jacks for trucks are capable enough to make the lifting process of big vehicles smooth and effortless while ensuring safety and stability.

By saving time in lifting heavy loads, suspending them securely to service them efficiently, and lowering them without technical hiccups, truck jacks enable workers to maintain and repair bigger vehicles like heavy-duty military or commercial trucks, buses, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and all sorts of big automobiles.

Having many different operational mechanisms- mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, hybrid, etc., these jacks deliver high value to professionals wielding them. By lifting and transporting all types of heavy weights, industrial loads, vehicles, and machinery equipment for clamping, jacks aid customers in varying industries, like:

  • Aircraft
  • Automotive
  • Bridges
  • Cable tensioning
  • House moving
  • Construction
  • General industrial
  • Laboratory
  • Locomotive
  • Marine
  • Mobile home
  • Railroad
  • Shipbuilding
  • Shoring and stabilizing such as for tunnels and mines
  • Tractors & trailers

To understand simply the workings of a truck jack like the Stan Design pit jack, let us consider the example of a hydraulic system of operation, consisting of the following broad components:

  • Hydraulic oil,
  • Reservoir or buffer or oil tank,
  • Main cylinder or ram,
  • Release valve,
  • Control valve,
  • Check valve,
  • Lifting arm or pad,
  • Hydraulic pump with piston or plunger, and
  • Pump lever or handle.

The reservoir or buffer or oil tank is the physical compartment of the heavy-duty jack for trucks that holds the hydraulic liquid or pump oil together when it is not in use. The control valve stays in a closed position when the jack is not in use to prevent the accidental flow of oil.

When the handle or lever of the hydraulic pump with piston or plunger is mechanically lowered or raised, it activates force and builds up pressure in the adjoining compartment, i.e., the reservoir or buffer tank containing the hydraulic fluid or pump’s oil.

This applied pressure transfers the oil from the pump through a check valve and into the main cylinder or the ram, which extends out of the hydraulic jack body creating the required lifting force and lifting the load.


What are Factors to Consider for Choosing the Right Truck Jack for Efficient Lifting?


1. Compatibility with Your Vehicle: Before choosing the right jack for lifting heavy vehicles, it is essential to check its specifications to verify its compatibility with your vehicle. This step is important and must not be avoided under any circumstances or considerations because doing so can impose great harm on not only the vehicle being lifted and serviced using the jack, but to the safety and even life of the personnel engaged in the process of lifting and maintaining the vehicle. To ensure compatibility, checking the jack’s weight capacity, size, portability, clearance or lift range, quality, build materials, brand reputation and user testimonials can be a starting point.

2. Weight Capacity: Usually expressed in tonnage, the weight capacity of a jack shows its capability of clamping, lifting, suspending, lowering, transporting, etc. loads of particular weights. The load or weight capacity of a jack is distinctly different from its lift range or size and is not indicative of either. Neither do the jack’s lift range nor its size in any way denote its load capacity. So, if you have a bigger or heavier vehicle to be repaired, going for heavy-duty pit jacks would be a wise choice, while for smaller cars investing in small and more portable repair and maintenance jacks would be sufficient.

3. Size and Portability: The size of a jack directly affects its portability. Heavier jacks, usually made of steel, are more suited for use in commercial garages and automotive workshops where they may be fixed in places for more convenient use. Unlike that, smaller jacks using hydraulic systems to operate either made of lightweight steel or aluminum, can be stored in small storage compartments of cars to be unloaded and used for emergency purposes like fixing a flat tire, etc. However, it is wise to not rely on portability alone while determining the size of the jack being purchased and weigh its compatibility with your owned vehicle or the types of vehicles you commercially service.

4. Clearance: The clearance of a vehicle refers to the distance between the lowest part of its undercarriage (not including the tires) and the ground. Also referred to as ride height or ground clearance, this area is the best suited for car jacks to be implemented for repairs and maintenance. Usually, the higher the clearance, the higher the center of mass of the vehicle. Therefore, this can be translated to suit low lift ranges of car jacks to make it compatible with the clearance of the car being serviced.

5. Brand Reputation and User Testimonials: While making an automotive jack purchase, you should bear in mind its producer and manufacturer. Checking out the brand reputation diligently and doing a fair bit of research on its product description and features, while also reviewing user feedback and testimonials for both the product and producer can go a long way in ensuring that you make a wise investment. For example, our Stan Design pit jacks are highly trusted across the industry as we serve our customers not only before they make a purchase with us, but also long after they sale is closed.

6. Quality and Build Materials: Perhaps, the biggest component in selecting a jack is its safety features. Since it is such a basic consideration, we have not discussed it as a separate point and wish to highlight it through this concluding point about quality and build materials. The quality of a jack should never be compromised based on price points as it can severely constrain the safety of your vehicle and yourself. Checking its build materials, whether steel, aluminum, hybrid, etc. is imperative to determine not only its size and portability but also its quality and sustainability, that is directly proportional to the safety it offers.

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Bridge Jacks Hydraulic Jacks Pit Jacks

How to Choose The Right Bridge Jack for Lifting Your Vehicle

Cars and trucks require routine undercarriage maintenance to run smoothly. This area of a vehicle houses key components like wheels, brakes, and the exhaust system. But to access the undercarriage and subframe of a car or truck requires it to be lifted. Enter heavy-duty jacks for cars and trucks! These wonder tools make short work of lifting the heaviest vehicles, reducing downtime in the process.

Car and truck jacks come in different types and load-bearing capacities. There’s the hydraulic floor jack used in garages worldwide. Scissor jacks come as part of the standard toolkit of most vehicles. Pit jacks are employed in workshop service pits to lift everything from cars, trucks, and military vehicles to EVs. And there’s the rolling bridge jack used with 2-post and 4-post lifts to elevate vehicles effortlessly.

Bridge jacks are truly a revelation. They eliminate the need for inspection pits and facilitate everything from wheel rotation, and tire replacement to oil change. Think of a bridge jack as a scissor jack on steroids. They employ hydraulic apparatuses or compressed airbags to achieve the necessary elevation for vehicles. If you are a workshop owner looking to serve customers more efficiently, you absolutely need a bridge jack in your inventory.

So, how do you choose the right rolling bridge jack for your workshop? Here are some useful tips:

  • Lift capacity: The lift capacity of a jack tells you how much weight it can lift without compromising its structural integrity. Our Stan Jacks range of products employ compressed airbags to lift cars and trucks. These devices operate using shop air, eliminating the need for compressed air canisters. A word of caution: never buy a bridge jack with a lower lift capacity than the heaviest vehicle you normally lift in your workshop. This can lead to catastrophic failure of the jack and the lift, causing major damage to the vehicle and jeopardizing the technician.
  • Lift height: Since rolling bridge jacks work in tandem with lifts, it’s important to have a jack with enough lift height to facilitate easy access to the undercarriage of vehicles. This way you are not restricted by the lift’s range.
  • Build quality: Never compromise on build quality when buying vehicle lifting equipment. Heavy-duty truck jacks, bridge jacks, and pit jacks undergo rigorous use and are subjected to a lot of stress on a daily basis. Flimsy components are an absolute ‘No’ for workshop tools. A hardened steel frame, zinc-plated components, and anti-rust coats are some of the most important attributes to look for in a high-quality truck jack. Stan Design guarantees quality with best-in-class components engineered from high-quality tool steel and other durable materials. Quality and safety are paramount for us.
  • Buy cost-effective products, not cheap: We often buy cheap products thinking they are cost-effective. But spending a few extra dollars on quality products proves to be more cost-effective in the long run. We are in the business of promoting quality products and want you to have durable products that return great value on investment.

Some winning products from our stable

1. Stan Jack J50000H Bridge Jack

We at Stan Design believe in manufacturing the best vehicle lifting solutions money can buy. Our generous service network and assurance of top-notch quality make Stan Jacks some of the most sought-after products among customers. The J50000H Bridge Jack represents the very best of Stan Design’s engineering prowess.

Features:

  • Lift capacity of 50,000 lbs.
  • Lifts vehicles well over 11”.
  • Heavy-duty hydraulics coupled with a pneumatic system make short work of lifting cars, trucks, EVs, and whatnot.
  • A unique multi-stage locking mechanism ensures the safety of the vehicle and the user.
  • Intuitive controls let you operate the bridge jack without expert knowledge.
  • A hardened steel frame and zinc-plated components make the J50000H last really long!
  • A set of stackable adapters ensures that the J50000H suits any vehicle type.

2. Stan Jack J9000H Bridge Jack by Stand Design

It’s impossible to ignore us when it comes to discussing floor jacks and bridge jacks for cars and trucks! We believe in engaging our customers with class-leading products that prove to be game-changers for their workshop business. While the J9000H has been around for some time, it never stops amazing garage owners with its robustness, low maintenance, and user-friendly nature.

Features:

Explore our product pages for more winning car and truck lifting solutions for your garage or workshop business.

Summing it up

The online market is packed with options when it comes to heavy duty truck jacks. No matter what you buy, never compromise on quality. It can make all the difference between safe lifting and catastrophic failure.

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Categories
Bridge Jacks Hydraulic Jacks Truck Jacks

How To Lift A Military Truck Safely

We can’t do enough to help our brothers and sisters in the Army, can we? When it comes to servicing military trucks, special care needs to be taken considering the weight of those vehicles and the sensitive equipment they might be carrying. A lot of times military trucks end up with a banged-up undercarriage due to the rough terrain they have to endure. A standard truck jack is what you need to lift such heavy vehicles for access to the subframe, wheels, or transmission. A rolling bridge jack is even better in such circumstances because it allows for more controlled and efficient lifting.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to lift a military truck safely and efficiently using a hydraulic floor jack or bridge jack.

Prerequisites 

Before you can go about lifting a military truck in your workshop, you need to keep the following tools handy:

  • A robust truck jack: make sure you have a truck jack with enough weight capacity to elevate a fully loaded truck. Otherwise, it can bend and buckle under stress, causing harm to the operator and the vehicle. Also, make sure that your floor jack or bridge jack has enough lift height to reach the lift points on the undercarriage of vehicles with high ground clearance and elevate them high enough for easy access to the subframe. Military trucks almost always have high ground clearance. So, the last bit is particularly important.
  • Jack stands: Always use jack stands with a truck jack. Because military trucks are big and heavy, a robust floor jack might not be enough to support the vehicle’s weight. Jack stands assist in vehicle service and maintenance by sharing the load on the truck jack and making it safer to keep a vehicle in an elevated position.
  • Wheel chocks: You cannot be too careful when working with heavy vehicles! Wheel chocks prevent vehicles from rolling forward or backward during the lifting process and add an extra layer of safety.
  • Protective gear: Never work on a vehicle without wearing protective gear. Your eyes and hands need to be protected at all times during the lifting process.
  • A reliable power source: Because most modern truck jacks use compressed air along with hydraulics to lift vehicles, it’s important that you have a reliable power source to operate the air pumps of your equipment. The absence of a reliable power source can increase downtime unnecessarily.

Now that you know what you need to go about lifting a military truck, let’s jump right into a step-by-step guide on how to lift the vehicle smoothly and efficiently.

Step-by-step guide to lifting a military truck with a reliable truck jack

Step 1: 

Position the truck in the service bay. Make sure the area is clean and well-lit beforehand. Check your lifting equipment for malfunction or structural damage. This is important because you don’t want your truck jack to give up on you midway through the process.

Step 2:

Position the jack under the designated lift points of the truck. If you aren’t sure where the lift points are, consult the truck’s manual. Lift points are reinforced areas on the subframe capable of withstanding the pressure exerted by a truck jack’s piston.

Step 3:

Raise the lifting apparatus of your floor jack to touch a lift point on the subframe. If you are using a bridge jack, make sure you use adapters appropriate to the vehicle type with the twin lifting arms of the jack so that it can lift the vehicle across its axle. Place jack stands beneath the remaining lift points to support the weight of the lifted vehicle in case you are using a floor jack.

Step 4: 

Use the controls of the truck jack to gradually lift the military truck to the desired height. You can start working on your truck once it’s secure in its elevated position.

Step 5:

Once you are done with your repair job, lower the truck slowly until the wheels are situated firmly on the ground. Don’t forget to remove the jack stands and the wheel chocks if you have been using them. Your truck is now ready to roll!

The Best Jack for Military Trucks

At this point, you might be wondering what’s the best lifting equipment you can use with military trucks. As you know already, with military trucks you need something robust and durable with a generous weight capacity and lift height. Well, we have good news for you!

Introducing the Scorpion MJ25 Floor Jack!

Why it’s special:

  • With a 25,000 lbs. or 25-ton weight capacity, the MJ25 is an absolute beast when it comes to lifting big, bulky vehicles.
  • And how high does it lift? Over 36”! Can you believe that?
  • Say goodbye to long downtimes! The MJ25 Floor Jack also uses stackable adapters to suit any military vehicle type.

And we are not finished yet! There’s the J50000H Stan Jack to make your day. This beast of a bridge jack will make you grin from ear to ear with the following qualities:

Savvy?

Endnote:

No matter what you buy for your workshop, remember what’s cheap upfront might not be cost-effective in the long run. Buy your truck jack from a reliable manufacturer with a reputation for manufacturing class-leading products for a substantial amount of time. That’s what you call an investment for the future!

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Categories
Hydraulic Jacks Jacks Truck Jacks

What Kind of Jack Do I Need To Lift A Loaded Truck

Truck jacks come in as many varieties and brands as trucks. No questions about that! There’s not a DIY enthusiast’s garage or workshop in the whole of North America that doesn’t have a hydraulic floor jack or bottle jack to lift cars and trucks for undercarriage repair. These cool tools make lifting heavy vehicles look easy with their hydraulic systems.

Workshops with service pits employ pit jacks and rolling bridge jacks to further reduce downtime for truck fleets. Let’s just say, cars and trucks can stay on the roads for years because of the jacks.

What kind of jack do you need to lift a loaded truck? And, what’s the best floor jack for trucks? If these questions are bothering you so much that you still can’t decide on the right tool for your ride, this blog is for you.

Like we said, there are all sorts of truck jacks on the market. But there are some key parameters that need to be considered before buying one. Here’s a look at them:

  1. Weight capacity: This rating tells you how much weight a jack can lift safely without stressing its components. If you are planning to lift loaded trucks, your truck jack better has a weight capacity exceeding the maximum weight you plan to lift. Else, it can buckle and fracture causing serious damage to the vehicle and the operator.
  2. Lift height: What’s the ground clearance of your vehicle? If it’s a lifted truck or an offroad vehicle, it will have a high ground clearance. Consider how high a particular truck jack can lift before buying. This decision can make all the difference if you are stuck in a rut on rugged terrain.
  3. Durable components: A lot of things can go wrong when tools and equipment come under stress. Truck jacks are regularly exposed to a lot of stress over prolonged periods. So, it only makes sense to buy jacks made of materials that have high tensile strength like different types of steel. Moist regions and the wet season need your tools to be coated with corrosion-resistant materials for durability. Consider these factors before buying your tool.
  4. Safety measures: No matter how good a jack is, it’s only a tool and is susceptible to failure after prolonged use. Make sure you use jack stands alongside your truck jack in case of loaded trucks or military vehicles. They reduce the stress on the jack, prolonging its life in the process. Also, go for jacks with built-in safety mechanisms like stage locks, extra-long handlebars, and remote controls to keep yourself safe during the lifting operation.

Now that we have addressed the elephants in the room, let’s explore a few jack types.

  1. Hydraulic Floor Jacks Serving the automotive sector since the advent of cars, the floor jack has been a trusted partner of car and garage owners worldwide. Heavy duty floor jacks operate on the principles of hydraulics in which pressure applied on the handlebar is multiplied many times at the lifting end via a hydraulic fluid stored in a watertight cylinder. The piston at the lifting end applies force on the lift points of the vehicle and raises it high enough for undercarriage maintenance. Precision-engineered heavy duty floor jacks like the Scorpion MJ25 can lift loaded trucks as heavy as a whopping 25,000 lbs. with ease to a height of 36”! The MJ25 and the TJ series also use compressed air pressure to assist the hydraulic system in the lifting process, making it easier for the equipment to deal with bulky vehicles. These jacks also feature a class-leading three-stage locking mechanism for added safety.
  2. Scissor Jacks It’s more of an honorable mention since we are talking about jacks. Scissor jacks use a smart mechanical system to convert rotational motion into upward thrust, lifting cars and small vehicles high enough for tire changes and light maintenance activities. Your car probably has a scissor jack as part of the standard toolset. But don’t expect to lift loaded trucks with scissor jacks!
  3. Bottle Jacks Bottle jacks are called so because they look like bottles. They use the same principles as floor jacks to lift cars and trucks. A stubby base and thick pistons make the bottle jack a reliable tool to lift large and bulky vehicles. The only caveat: bottle jacks aren’t known for lifting high.
  4. Pit Jacks  Pit jacks are exclusively used in workshops with dedicated service pits. They can lift big, bulky vehicles in a jiffy, thanks to their combined hydraulic and pneumatic (compressed air) systems. Products like the Scorpion Pit Jacks from our inventory feature a durable and compact design that fits into any service pit on the continent. Telescoping arms with stackable adapters are good for any vehicle type, from loaded trucks to EVs. For instance, the Scorpion PJ35S can lift loaded trucks as heavy as 35,000 lbs. to a height of over 20”!
  5. Rolling Bridge Jacks If your workshop has a lift, you can consider buying a rolling bridge jack. It’s a great tool to use with loaded trucks because of the ease and efficiency with which you can operate them. Like pit jacks, bridge jacks use the combined power of hydraulics and pneumatic pressure to lift heavy vehicles. The Stan Jack J50000H is a great example of an ultra-efficient bridge jack with a weight capacity of 50,000 lbs.So, what’s the best floor jack or truck jack you can buy? Any tool that has been manufactured by a reputable manufacturer known for producing well-reviewed equipment is the thing to buy. Don’t always go for cheap. Remember, saving a few dollars upfront may prove to be expensive and unsafe in the long run.

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Categories
Bridge Jacks Floor jacks Hydraulic Jacks Pit Jacks Truck Jacks

A Guide to Choosing the Best Truck Jack for Your Truck

So, you are a proud truck owner! One thing’s for certain: trucks don’t come cheap and truck owners love their vehicles. Timely servicing keeps trucks up and running for long and ensures a solid return on investment. When it comes to truck maintenance or upgrades, you need the proper tools to go about the business. And the truck jack is the one indispensable tool you can’t do without.

You’ll have noticed there’s a wide variety of truck jacks available on the market. But which one’s the perfect fit for your beast? In this article, we’ll cut the clutter and shed light on the key factors that’ll help you decide on the perfect heavy-duty floor jack, pit jack, or rolling jack for your truck. Read on!

Knowing your truck’s weight is crucial

Trucks are rugged vehicles built to haul around heavy loads across all kinds of terrain. Tarmac or no tarmac, trucks have to carry on performing their duties and this means they have a lot of chunky metal parts and reinforced sections for rigorous use and durability. All this adds to the weight of the vehicle, making trucks heavy – like real heavy!

Trucks can weigh anywhere between 3 and 25 tons, sometimes even more. So, how heavy is your truck? If you don’t know that, you can’t decide on the best truck jack for your vehicle. Truck jacks perform the all-important task of lifting vehicles for undercarriage repairs and maintenance. So, you need a tool that won’t buckle under the weight of your truck.

Heavy-duty truck jacks come with a weight capacity rating. This tells you about the load-bearing capabilities of the tool. Always go for a truck jack with a higher weight capacity than your truck’s weight. This will ensure a safe lifting operation and longevity of the jack. Savvy?

Now, let’s dive straight into the details of all the different jacks you can buy for your mean machine.

Heavy Duty Floor Jacks

Tough, compact, and user-friendly – that’s how you describe heavy-duty floor jacks. Floor jacks have been serving truck owners forever! These cool tools use a hydraulic system to amplify the pressure applied on their handlebars into the monstrous force required to lift big and bulky trucks. Heavy-duty floor jacks typically have a low collapsed profile for easy access to a truck’s undercarriage. Leveled trucks, lifted trucks, military vehicles, EVs – throw anything at them and they’ll perform equally well.

Stan Design offers you a wide variety of heavy-duty floor jacks with weight capacity ranging from 12 tons (the TJ12S Scorpion Floor Jack) to 25 tons (the MJ25 Scorpion Floor Jack).

Pit Jacks:

Quiz time! What keeps the fleets up and running all across North America? You guessed it right – it’s the intricate network of workshops dotting the landscape of Canada and the US.

Hundreds of thousands of truck owners in North America rely on truck workshops for maintenance and repair jobs. And the one tool these workshops rely on is the pit jack. These heavy-duty truck jacks are designed to fit into service pits and lift big and bulky trucks smoothly without compromising on safety.

Innovative products like the Scorpion Pit Jacks from Stan Design employ pneumatic systems to boost their hydraulic mechanisms, ensuring some serious weight capacity. For instance, the PJ35S Scorpion Pit Jack can lift trucks as heavy as 35,000 lbs.!

Pit jacks also have inbuilt safety mechanisms to ensure that vehicles are secured in their elevated position, and stackable adapters ensure that they suit every truck type thrown at them.

Rolling Jacks:

Workshops with car lifts prefer the rolling jack as a valuable tool. These jacks can slide under the lift and allow specific sections of the truck to be lifted for maintenance or repairs. Couple of things to consider before choosing a rolling jack:

  • Safety and efficiency are equally important. Make sure the rolling jack you’re planning to buy has a proper locking mechanism.
  • Reinforced parts made of high-grade steel – that’s what you’re looking for when buying a rolling jack. It ensures safety and longevity.

What to Look for in the Perfect Truck Jack

Material and Build Quality:

  • Truck jacks are made of steel. We all know that. But the quality of the alloy and the construction of the tool matter. Make sure your truck jack has a robust build strong enough to endure decades of heavy use.
  • What’s the biggest enemy of any tool? Moisture. Rust can wear down machine parts quickly, leading to critical failure. Make sure your truck jack comes coated with corrosion-resistant materials for longevity.
  • Reinforced components, a wide base, and sturdy lifting arms are what you are looking for in the perfect truck jack.

Lifting Speed and Efficiency:

A wise man once said, you can make up for lost money but not time. The longer your truck sits in the garage, the more time and business opportunities you waste. So, you need a truck jack that operates quickly and smoothly.

Portability and Storage:

Truckers are constantly on the move. So, it’s in their best interest to carry a heavy-duty floor jack that’s compact, reasonably light, and portable. A floor jack with a low collapsed profile can be a lifesaver for overloaded trucks with saggy suspension.

Safety Features:

We can go on and on all day on the importance of safety features. Can you trust your truck jack to keep you safe when working under the vehicle? Here are a few things to consider as safety features:

  • Safety valves.
  • Locking mechanisms.
  • Sturdy base.

Carrying jack stands is a good idea. They share the load on the jack, increasing the tool’s safety and longevity at the same time.

Endnote:

Buying a truck jack should be a one-time investment. Your favorite truck-lifting solution will go through a lot of abuse during its time in the garage. So, it better be made of high-quality materials. Whether you buy a heavy-duty floor jack, pit jack, or rolling jack, prioritize robustness, reliability, and safety. Always go for time-tested products manufactured by popular brands. Remember, saving a few dollars upfront doesn’t always prove to be a good decision in the long-term.

Happy lifting!

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Categories
Jacks

How to Use a Car Jack with a Jack Stand: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re planning to perform maintenance or repair work on your vehicle, knowing how to safely lift and support it is crucial. Car jacks and hydraulic floor jacks allow you to lift your car, truck, or any other heavy vehicle effortlessly. You also need jack stands to support the weight of the vehicle for long durations and reduce the stress on your car jack.

Using a car jack with a jack stand is an essential skill for any mechanic or car enthusiast. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of safely lifting your car using a jack and supporting it with a jack stand. Read on!

Necessary Tools and Equipment:

  1. Car Jack: Ensure you have a reliable hydraulic floor jack or scissor jack that can safely lift your vehicle’s weight. There are lots of variations of the standard floor jack and car jack available on the market like bottle jacks, high-lift jacks, pneumatic jacks, electric jacks, and, of course, the Scorpion Floor Jack from Stan Design.While scissor jacks use hand cranking to lift lighter cars, hydraulic floor jacks, and bottle jacks make use of hydraulics to lift heavy trucks and armored cars. They are more robust and use reinforced frames to support the extra weight of larger vehicles. Of late, pneumatic jacks stands have gained immense popularity for their user-friendliness. These modern tools use compressed air or pneumatic pressure for heavy lifting. Stan Design’s Scorpion Floor Jacks are revolutionary in that they use the combined power of hydraulics and pneumatic pressure to lift the heaviest of vehicles in seconds.
  2. Jack stands: These essential tools are made from high-grade metal alloys capable of withstanding the weight of the heaviest of vehicles for long durations. They serve as support mechanisms, reducing the stress on floor jacks during maintenance activities.
  3. Wheel chocks: Wheel chocks are essentially triangular blocks of synthetic rubber reinforced with a sturdy inner frame. They work in tandem with the parking brakes to prevent vehicles from rolling backward during maintenance.
  4. Gloves: Any vehicle has a really hot engine operating under the hood. There are also other mechanical and electrical parts prone to radiating heat. So, it’s advisable to use protective gloves while working on your vehicle.
  5. Owner’s manual: Refer to your car’s manual for specific lifting points and instructions.

Using the Jack with Jack Stands:

Now that you know what equipment and accessories you need before you can start working on your car, let’s walk through the process of lifting it using a floor jack.

Step 1: Park on a Level Surface

Before you begin, park your vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake. Use wheel chocks for added stability. This greatly reduces the risk of accidents.

Step 2: Locate Lifting Points

Consult your car’s owner’s manual to identify the recommended lifting points. These are typically located under the chassis and reinforced for use with car jacks and hydraulic floor jacks. Using a floor jack anywhere other than a lifting point can damage your car’s chassis.

Step 3: Prepare the Car Jack

Position the car jack or hydraulic floor jack under a lifting point. Ensure the jack’s saddle lines up with the lifting point. Double-check that the jack is on a stable surface.

Step 5: Lift the Vehicle

Slowly crank or pump the jack’s handle to raise the vehicle. Keep a close eye on the vehicle as it lifts to ensure stability. Lift the car high enough to provide ample room for you to work underneath. Raising a vehicle too high can make it wobbly and unsafe. This is particularly important when using high-lift jacks.

Step 6: Insert Jack Stands

Once the car is at the desired height, place the jack stands under the lifting points of the vehicle. Ensure the jack stands are adjusted to the exact height as that of the car jack and their weight capacity exceeds the vehicle’s weight.

Step 7: Lower the Car onto the Jack Stands

Gently lower the vehicle onto the jack stands by carefully releasing the pressure on the floor jack’s handle. Double-check if your car is stable and not wobbly.

With the car securely supported by the jack stands you can now safely perform maintenance or repairs underneath the vehicle. Remember to work cautiously and wear protective gear. Once you’ve completed your work, raise the car slightly using the floor jack, remove the jack stands, and slowly lower the car to the ground.

Learning to use a car jack or hydraulic floor jack with jack stands isn’t rocket science! With careful consideration for safety and some practice, anyone can become an expert in lifting cars and trucks. Always go for time-tested products like the Scorpion Floor Jack from Stan Design to ensure vehicle and user safety, and long-term use of workshop accessories.

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