2-ton carjack & jackstands, or 3-ton : -> go 3-ton

[GED]

Hi All,

Can I use cheap 2-ton carjack & jackstand to lift my Jeep ?
(like Kragen's 2-ton Jack lift range 5.31" to 13" for $15)
The weight of a '89 GW is 4500lbs if I'm correct, so that's more than 2 tons :-(

I'm planning on eventually later installing a 4" springs lift kit.

Thanks,

[ June 15, 2002, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: ged ]

[porkchop]

I use a 2 ton all the time. You are not lifting the whole wag at the same time. In other words the weight of the wag is not being supported by jack. Just the front or the back. I have a set of 4 ton and a set of 6 ton jack stands I use. This is mostly for height reasons.

[reddog]

Lifting the truck with a 2 ton "cheap" jack is not a problem. I recommend buying the best quality jack stands - 6 ton minimun. While lesser quality stands will hold the weight the heavier ones usually are more stable.

Of course NEVER GET UNDER A VEHICLE SUPPORTED BY A JACK ALONE and NEVER USE CONCRETE BLOCKS AS JACK STANDS!!

I usually keep the jack under the truck in case something happens - if it falls you may not be able to get a jack under it then.

Kerry

[83 WagDriver]

That 2 ton floor jack from Kragen sucks.
I bought one and ended up selling it to a nieghbor. I'm going to get the 3 ton suv floor jack at walmart...I think that will be a better choice. The kragen jack does not lift the stock Wag high enough.

Mario

[GED]

Well, I bought the 2-ton + jackstands + creeper.

Tried it on the jeep : way too low :D The tire stayed on the floor...

Returned it, and went with the 3-ton combo.
much more heavier & beefier
This time, the tire lifted all the way and was loose.

Anybody else: go with the 3-ton (range 5 to 19" )

[ironroad29]

i use the stock bumper jack and a set (4) 6 ton stands got em and northern tool for 25 bucks thay are heavy duty i wouldn't go with anything less than 6 ton stands

[xj2fsj]

get a cast high lift, and some good stands and your'e in like Flynt.

[Dan G]

I have this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=4172
and it works well. It's a bit difficult getting it under sections of my Neon, but it works great on the GW, plus if it's over $50, shipping is free.

[nograin]

Lift range is important. If you are only going to use it once or twice, the cheap 2 ton may be just the thing (if it has the range). I went through a a cheap floor jack and a cheap bottle jack and cheap jack stands (all from Sears). Then I coughed up whatever it cost, and bought a US made Lincoln at an industrial supply house in Newark, NJ. It's only rated 2 or 2.5 tons, but is solid, great range, comes with a complete parts list, and 15 years later it works like new.

BTW. The failures with the Sears stuff all occurred with sedans like Valiants, old Nova, etc. nothing as heavy as an FSJ.

my .02