Where to buy Jack Stands? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ksing44 · #1 04-11-2007, 10:48 AM

I need help finding jack stands. I looked online, but the brick-and-mortar retailers seem to only have the ratchet variety. I thought I should get the kind with a pin that goes right through the support, but they seem a bit harder to find. I did find a couple by searching the web, but I did not find them at the local retailers. If the ratchet things are unsafe, why aren’t they available at Pep Boys, Sears, Kmart, Home Depot, or wherever? Do you guys use the ratchet variety?

I am also planning to get a hydraulic jack, so I would also welcome advice about buying one of those. For example, how big is big enough? I just want to get under my 1995 E320 to do some tinkering. What do I really need to do this safely?

I also considered ramps, but I thought it would be better to use stands so that I would be able to pull the wheels. Someday, I may even do some detailing inside my fender wells, like I saw “Greg in Oz” do for the Concours. It looked like new under there!

G-Benz · #2 04-11-2007, 11:05 AM

I bought a set or four from Harbor Freight years ago for about $80, They are the ratchet-type, but as bulky as they are, I'm not sure why they aren't considered safe. With the weight of a vehicle on one, it would have to take a huge upward hit of a similar force on the ratchet lever to dislodge...considering the lack of room underneath a car, I'm not sure how that would be possible.

Anyway, I use these stands often. It's been about seven years so far, and they still look like new.

As far as a hydraulic, I'd like to get one of those $200 ones from Sears or Cosco that look like the NASCAR lifts...their main advantage is that they lift quickly.

I have a cheaper hydraulic jack $30 and it is sufficient to lift even my ML...just takes more cranks to lift.

One thing I NEVER do is work underneath the car with just the cheapo lift holding things up. The jackstands are used 100%. Using the lift primarily is limited to a tire/wheel change.

300holst · #3 04-11-2007, 11:39 AM

I've used both types of jack stands. My first were from Sears which had the 'pin through' construction. These worked OK until I drove over one with my pickup and flattened it. The metal was a bit thin for my comfort.

Next I got a pair of ratchet type stands from Harbor Freight. These are much heavier than my old Sears stands and have given good service. The main thing I'd suggest you remember is to raise the car high enough so that you can place the stand under the car at the height you want and get the lever completely set in the notch in the part that goes up and down. If you get the lever partially set it will likely not hold securely. This is really pretty easy to set right. I have more confidence in my new stands than in the older ones.

As for the jack, I bought a floor jack (the one with a long handle to pump the jack). I wish I had bought this years ago, it is really great. I bought a 3 ton model which rises up to about 19-20 inches. Here are my pointers for selecting one:
1. Get at least a 3 ton model.
2. Be sure it can raise the car high enough to get your jack stands underneath. I bought my son a jack from Sears which is OK for tire changing but it can't get the car up high enough to place a jack stand underneath and have it high enough to get under and work. A really usable jack will be pretty big and very heavy. Anything small and light enough to easily lift into your trunk is likely to be too small for car repair use. A light weight aluminum 'racing mechanic's jack might be an exception to this. $$$$
3. If you ever think you will pull a transmission, get a jack with a removeable saddle to allow you to place a transmission adapter in the jack.
4. If you can find a jack which has a small auxiliary lever (about 6 inches long) next to the long lever, buy it! If you want to roll the jack far under the car to lift at a point like to front cross member, you'll really appreciate this auxiliary lever. Without this lever, you are forced to use the long, main, lever. Because the jack is far under the front bumper, this lever can only move over a small arc. It then takes very large number of strokes to get the jack to start lifting and it is easy to move the jack out of position while you are doing this. Using the auxiliary handle, you can lay right under the bumper, position the jack, and quickly pump up the jack until it touches where you want it to. Then you just stand up in front of the car and pump the long handle to raise the car.

I think it is a good safety measure to keep the jack in place after setting the jack stands and lowering the car onto the stands, unless the jack is too much in the way. Some place tires and wheels under the car sides. Don't use cinder blocks!

Also don't overlook the use of ramps. I've used metal ramps and the new composite material ramps sold under the name 'Rhino Ramps'. I really like the composite ramps. They raise the car high enough for things like inspection, oil changes, etc. These are much more convenient than using the jack and jack stands. Also, you can run your car up on the ramps, then use the jack and jack stands more easily, then remove the ramps if you need to remove the front wheels.

Kuan · #4 04-11-2007, 11:52 AM

Do you have a Northern Tool near you? They're like a Sears with actual useful tools. Plenty of jackstands there, 6-8 models the last time I went.

lkchris · #5 04-11-2007, 12:10 PM

Should you want to get serious ...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=1725&store=snapon-store

ksing44 · #6 04-11-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

Do you have a Northern Tool near you? They're like a Sears with actual useful tools. Plenty of jackstands there, 6-8 models the last time I went.

I checked the Northern Tool website. Unfortunately they do not have any in my state or even in a neighboring state. They do have some nice stands, howevdr, so it was nice to see what they had to offer. Actually, I did get to their site when I was searching. They have both pin and ratchet style.

ksing44 · #7 04-11-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

Should you want to get serious ...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=1725&store=snapon-store

Even Snap-on has mostly ratchet style. They have a pin version, but they mostly have ratchet. I am starting to think a ratchet style will be in my future. I will just use other safety precautions to stay safe.

ksing44 · #8 04-11-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300holst

The main thing I'd suggest you remember is to raise the car high enough so that you can place the stand under the car at the height you want and get the lever completely set in the notch in the part that goes up and down. If you get the lever partially set it will likely not hold securely. This is really pretty easy to set right.

As for the jack, I bought a floor jack (the one with a long handle to pump the jack). I wish I had bought this years ago, it is really great. I bought a 3 ton model which rises up to about 19-20 inches. Here are my pointers for selecting one:
1. Get at least a 3 ton model.
2. Be sure it can raise the car high enough...

I think it is a good safety measure to keep the jack in place after setting the jack stands and lowering the car onto the stands, unless the jack is too much in the way. Some place tires and wheels under the car sides. Don't use cinder blocks!

Also don't overlook the use of ramps. I've used metal ramps and the new composite material ramps sold under the name 'Rhino Ramps'. I really like the composite ramps. They raise the car high enough for things like inspection, oil changes, etc. These are much more convenient than using the jack and jack stands. Also, you can run your car up on the ramps, then use the jack and jack stands more easily, then remove the ramps if you need to remove the front wheels.

Thanks for the tips. I was not thinking about how high the lift goes, so that certainly is an important consideration. I thought they were all about the same, but now I will be sure to look at that spec.

Also thanks for the safety tips. I will keep the jack in place and use my snow wheels to add some extra safety. That way I will be safe even with ratchet styl stands.

I didn't give up on ramps, but I thought I would start with stands. Maybe I will just go out and get everything. It is my birthday on Monday and I can tell my wife the stuff is so I can save money with DIY repairs.

Bob Weir · #9 04-12-2007, 11:04 PM

One thing always disturbed me about rachet stands is the "saddle" [for lack of a beter word] meaning the area that the frame rails actually contact. Almost every "consurmer" rachet style I've seen has a "saddle" shape that is no where near accomodating the rail width of any of my cars. I really don't understand the complex shape vs a basic flat shape with a small lip. I cut 2x4 down to filll the gap on mine. However, the Snap-On rachet style do appear much flatter, but maybe that's to accomodate a much wider frame rail. Depending on the use, I prefer my "flat saddle" pin style.

Regarding the jack selection, I have one serious cautionary note regarding the "narrow" foot print <=> it doesn't take much to make them tip over.

Bob

xvvvz · #10 04-13-2007, 10:13 AM

I bought a set of stands from Northern tool for a very reasonable price. They have both a ratchet lock and then a pin that you put in. I think they are called double locking. Many companies make this same design. I have seen them at Pep Boys and Autozone for very little $$. Definitely look at a jack's maximum height extension. Many are way too short.

Stoneseller · #11 04-13-2007, 11:42 AM

Check your Yellow Pages for a heavy duty trucks part store. I bought a great 2 1/2 ton floor jack & stands combo from such a store here in MD. They are not skimpy by any means, but they are ratchet style.

The store we use, http://northernvirginiasupply.com/ has multiple locations, but none in PA. I would certainly think you would have a similar truck parts supply shop in your area.

ksing44 · #12 04-14-2007, 07:56 AM

I purchased the 3-Ton Torin Big Red Jack at Pep Boys. They had an introductory price of $59.00 with $10.00 mail-in rebate to make it only $49.00, which is significantly better than any price I have seen on the web. I also purchased a pair of 3-TonTorin SUV Jack Stands. They look like the regular 3-ton Torin jack stands, but they are wider at the base, seem a bit heavier-duty, and they adjust higher. They were $29.00 at pep Boys. It all seems like pretty good heavy-duty stuff for working on my car and it really didn’t cost that much.

3-Ton Torin Big Red Jack, Model# T83002 - $49.00
3-TonTorin Big Red SUV Jack Stands, Model# T43006 - $29.00 (the picture is for regular stands, but in a picture they look the same as the SUV stands)