Floor jack capacity question [message #214470] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 14:57 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946 Registered: July 2013 Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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I noticed in searching for jack methods and information most posts recommend a 4 to 6 ton floor jack. I have a 3 ton Arcan aluminum floor jack. This is not your Harbor Freight special and I have used it several times to lift the front end of my 1 ton Chevy Crew Cab with a 454. So my question is, if you are safe and smart, and use jack stands and blocks judiciously (I have 6 ton jack stands and more dunnage than I care to admit) do you really need a 4 ton floor jack? Considering the weight of the front end or either rear side the 3 ton has about a 50% safety margin.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214473 is a reply to message #214470] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 15:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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There is approximately 4000 pounds on the entire front end or on either side in the rear. I use a 5000 pound (2.5 ton) high reach jack on my GMC all the time.
I routinely lift the entire front end in the center of the coach.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214477 is a reply to message #214473] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 15:21 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946 Registered: July 2013 Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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That was my thinking exactly. If I have 6000 lbs of lift and 4000 lbs of GMC, that should be just fine. I wonder of the posts I saw were taking into consideration the quality of the $29.95 Auto Zone floor jacks? ;o)
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214480 is a reply to message #214477] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 15:35 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005 Registered: August 2004 Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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I had a 3 ton rated Al jack shatter into pieces while lifting a stripped GMC. GMC was basically a shell. Dunnage caught the body on the way down. Block, dunnage, jack stands, whatever, do not rely on a hydraulic jack to hold. Overkill in blocking the GMC is a good thing.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214529 is a reply to message #214470] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 20:07 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447 Registered: October 2006 Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Hein Werner makes some good stuff and a large selection. Don't like the Al race car jacks for 'truck' type work.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214545 is a reply to message #214470] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 21:18 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896 Registered: May 2012 Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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I'll echo that sentiment - steel bends, aluminum breaks. My (heavy, steel) floor jack has a 3,000 pound capacity, and has no problem dealing with any corner of my GMC, so far. Of course, I'd NEVER crawl under it supported only by the floor jack (or anything other than a jack stand with plenty of excess rating).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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Re: [GMCnet] Floor jack capacity question [message #214548 is a reply to message #214480] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 21:26 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912 Registered: July 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Make mine steel please! I have great confidence in the ones Harbor Freight sells since they're made out of iron that comes from
Western Australia! ;-)
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Phipps
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 3:36 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Floor jack capacity question
I had a 3 ton rated Al jack shatter into pieces while lifting a stripped GMC. GMC was basically a shell. Dunnage caught the body
on the way down. Block, dunnage, jack stands, whatever, do not rely on a hydraulic jack to hold. Overkill in blocking the GMC is a
good thing.
Tom, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion, under forever re-construction
Vicksburg, MS. 3.7 miles from I-20
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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Re: Floor jack capacity question [message #214556 is a reply to message #214470] |
Mon, 15 July 2013 22:28 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896 Registered: May 2012 Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Hal, yes, I do take it easy when jacking up the front corners. A little at a time, which shouldn't subject the windshields to any kind of stress they don't see under normal operating conditions (like pulling into a parking lot with a sloped entrance, at an angle). That and my driver's side windshield is already cracked, so I really just need a good excuse to replace it anyway...
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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Re: [GMCnet] Floor jack capacity question [message #214600 is a reply to message #214596] |
Tue, 16 July 2013 10:51 |
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I jacked up the passenger rear of my '73 to put new bogie pins in. I used a Sears 2 1/2 ton jack. I put wood cribbing underneath the frame to hold it and work safely under there. When I went around to jack up the other side, I noticed the driver windshield cracked on the extreme left side where it curves the most.
geo groth '73 260 Sequoia
Carson City Nevada 89703
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