Using Jack Stands On Gravel

Gives you a chance of finding that dropped bolt socket otherwise they just disappear into the gravel.

Using jack stands on gravel.

In hot weather all that weight concentrated at the bottom of a metal jack stand or floor jack can punch divots into asphalt warmed by the sun or high summer temperatures so choose concrete. Then slide your jack stand in from the side of the vehicle and line up the divot on the stand with one of your vehicle s pinch points which are located behind the tires on the. But i d cut 3 4 pieces that are 6 larger on each side then the base of your jack stands. Get some decent jack stands.

Mattm we all wish we could have tv quality fully equipped garages with fancy lifts and all of the tools a guy could dream of but in reality many of us me included are still working on our backs under a car in the driveway once in a while. Jack stands are very inexpensive especially when it s your life that you are. Working on gravel or grass can allow the jack stand to shift off the vertical and tip. So put it in first gear or park and set the parking brake.

Same for your floor jack use it on a long board or thick piece of plywood doubled up thickness. I use a full sheet of 3 4 a b or a c plywood sideways to the car ie. I guess i assume you are using jack stands. The 8 direction running side to side to set the jack stands on.

If lifting the entire front or rear choose a jack point in the center of the front or rear suspension or frame. This does five things. Jack up the vehicle using a solid jacking point leaving enough room for the jack stand to support the car. Don t support a car only with a jack.

Make the board longer than the car is wide to allow the load to be spread out and chock the rear wheels tightly. If you have to work on gravel the plywood idea is a good one. To use jack stands start by activating your vehicle s parking brake and jacking up the vehicle with a hydraulic floor jack so the tires are 2 3 inches off the ground. Gives you something to roll the floor jack on.

If you must use jackstands on gravel use a single 2x12 to spread the load out between the two jackstands. October 6 2015 by.