Raising vehicle for maint/cleaning?

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Author Message   Felix Gumbiner (Felixthecat) New Member Username: Felixthecat Post Number: 29 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:51 pm:    Hey guys, I'd like to be able to raise my truck in order to diagnose some trouble spots... What do you all use to raise it?... other than an expensive lift system. Could you use like 2 hi-lift jacks to get half the vehicle in the air?   Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1591 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:58 pm:    I use 4 car ramps. You have 4x4 low so its quite easy. But if you use 2 hi-lifts, make sure you have a nice large insurance policy in effect, and preferably record it all on video!   benny (Wreching_today) New Member Username: Wreching_today Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:40 pm:    buy axle stands. dont be cheep. buy quality and you will be happy. never work on any car trusting only jacks! good quality axles stands should be fine two on each axle and if you are paro then keep the floor jack on the pod for safty. think of what will happen to you if the car falls off of the jacks and lands on you., squishing you for good. safty my friend on this one!   Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1594 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 12:42 am:    Stands for when you need to work on brakes, rotors, etc. Ramps for everything else, its just too easy compared to jacking 4 times. Pep boys sells very nice (i.e. light) plastic ramps for around $25 a pair, much higher rating than the cheapy steelies.   Felix Gumbiner (Felixthecat) New Member Username: Felixthecat Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 01:35 am:    Thanks for the help, benny and Dean. I'll check out some car stands tomorrow.   Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 709 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:09 am:    If you use ramps, buy wheel chocks as well.   Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1596 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 06:52 am:    Felix, Seriously, if you have the room, ramps are much better than stands for most general servicing. I have both, and I only use the stands when I really really have to. Get the ones with a lip on both ends, so you don't need to chock them.   Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Senior Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 300 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 04:01 pm:    Dean, how do you use 4 ramps without jacking up the truck?   Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Senior Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 387 Registered: 08-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 04:12 pm:    Jaime - you just drive onto them. Dean right - ramps are godsend when you looking under truck and dont need to free wheels. I am using plastic ones from autozone.   Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Senior Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 301 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 05:48 pm:    Duhh.. the rear ramps fit UNDER the truck. For some reason I had it in my mind that they were too tall to fit   Felix Gumbiner (Felixthecat) New Member Username: Felixthecat Post Number: 34 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 12:01 am:    Yeah, Dean. I meant to say "ramps" instead of "stands"... That sounds like the best bet; I have a horrible image of some cheap (knowing me) car jacks blowing out the sides of the vehicle, leaving me a bleeding torso on the ground. Thanks for all the help.