what size jack stands?
what size jack stands?
for a 2000 dakota r/t? i have one of the small sets of 2 ton stands and mini-jack but that was for my neon and there were times when i wish it would jack up higher. now that i have a dakota, i know that is not gonna cut it
so what size jack stands and floor jack should i get? and how high should the stands extend? i plan on doing things like brake and rotor jobs, gonna replace the end links soon, headers, change the oil, stuff like that
so what size jack stands and floor jack should i get? and how high should the stands extend? i plan on doing things like brake and rotor jobs, gonna replace the end links soon, headers, change the oil, stuff like that
Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 20
From: Clermont, Florida
You definitely need a good floor jack and at least one good pair of jack stands. I have 2 pairs of 3 ton jack stands, I bought one set at Advance, the black and red Pro-Lift brand. They cost about $25.00 but that was 4 years ago. I also have a set of Chinese made 3-ton stands I got at Harbor Freight. I think I paid $13.00 for them on sale. They both work great, but the Pro-Lift set have about 2 more inches of lift than the ones from HF. I always use the Pro-Lift stands when I need to lift only one end of my truck. And I always use the Pro-Lift stands on the front end if I have all 4 wheels off the ground. I don't think Advance has the Pro-Lift brand anymore, now they have Torin, which should be just as good. Autozone may have a good set of 3 ton stands too. Their Duralast tools are really good quality.
I got a really good 3-ton floor jack at Harbor Freight too, I paid $60.00 for it on sale about 2 1/2 years ago, I think the regular price was $100.00. I think the one in this pic is pretty close to mine, but mine is black and yellow:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-s...ack-34271.html
If there's a HF near you, it would be worth a shopping trip to see what they have. Their jacks and jack stands are pretty decent quality, even though they are made in China. You can Google and find a 20% off any single item coupon for HF online, and they will have their sales flyers in the store with coupons in them too. I have heard they will let you use the 20% coupon for multiple purchases on the same day.
If there is a Northern Tool near you, they have good deals too sometimes, when you can catch them having a sale. Northern is good quality but a lot of times is more expensive than Harbor Freight.
Whether you get them at Harbor Freight or Advance, or where ever you buy it, you can't really do without a good floor jack and a couple sets of good jack stands. Dakota's are heavy, so the 3 ton models work best. The little 2 1/4 ton trolley jacks won't lift a Dakota very well. I have one of those too and a pair of 2 ton jack stands that are good for supporting suspension parts, axles and things like that but I can't use them to lift or support my truck. Get yourself a good set of wheel chocks too, they don't cost much and will help keep things even safer.
I am extremely cautious about lifting and supporting my truck here in my garage at home. In the auto shop class at my high school there was a guy working under a car that fell off the jack. It crushed his skull and killed him instantly. So I always lift and support my truck very carefully and check and re-check it to be sturdy before I climb under it.
Jimmy
I got a really good 3-ton floor jack at Harbor Freight too, I paid $60.00 for it on sale about 2 1/2 years ago, I think the regular price was $100.00. I think the one in this pic is pretty close to mine, but mine is black and yellow:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-s...ack-34271.html
If there's a HF near you, it would be worth a shopping trip to see what they have. Their jacks and jack stands are pretty decent quality, even though they are made in China. You can Google and find a 20% off any single item coupon for HF online, and they will have their sales flyers in the store with coupons in them too. I have heard they will let you use the 20% coupon for multiple purchases on the same day.
If there is a Northern Tool near you, they have good deals too sometimes, when you can catch them having a sale. Northern is good quality but a lot of times is more expensive than Harbor Freight.
Whether you get them at Harbor Freight or Advance, or where ever you buy it, you can't really do without a good floor jack and a couple sets of good jack stands. Dakota's are heavy, so the 3 ton models work best. The little 2 1/4 ton trolley jacks won't lift a Dakota very well. I have one of those too and a pair of 2 ton jack stands that are good for supporting suspension parts, axles and things like that but I can't use them to lift or support my truck. Get yourself a good set of wheel chocks too, they don't cost much and will help keep things even safer.
I am extremely cautious about lifting and supporting my truck here in my garage at home. In the auto shop class at my high school there was a guy working under a car that fell off the jack. It crushed his skull and killed him instantly. So I always lift and support my truck very carefully and check and re-check it to be sturdy before I climb under it.
Jimmy
Jimmy - you are starting to be my go to man for this stuff LOL thanks again for your help and input, very much appreciated!!
i get the HF emails already and there is one right down the street from me. there is also a northern tool in the next town over. i even have an advance auto, autozone, and an oreilly within shouting distance from me, so im all hooked up for places to get stuff
looks like i will go with the 3 ton stands, i found some at oreilly's that i like, the go up higher than the ones at HF and have a bigger base, not by much but still http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0770&ppt=C0373
is 17.5 inch lift high enough? there is a set of 6 ton that go up to 24 inches, but i dont think i could even jack the thing up that high
and yeah im with you on the being safe thing!!
i get the HF emails already and there is one right down the street from me. there is also a northern tool in the next town over. i even have an advance auto, autozone, and an oreilly within shouting distance from me, so im all hooked up for places to get stuff
looks like i will go with the 3 ton stands, i found some at oreilly's that i like, the go up higher than the ones at HF and have a bigger base, not by much but still http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0770&ppt=C0373
is 17.5 inch lift high enough? there is a set of 6 ton that go up to 24 inches, but i dont think i could even jack the thing up that high
and yeah im with you on the being safe thing!!
Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 20
From: Clermont, Florida
Personally I think 17.5 is a little low of a lift on a Dakota. My Pro-Lift stands will go to 21 and 3/8ths inch, which is high enough for me. I saw some 7 ton stands at Autozone today that the box said they went 24 inches, but I guess those are for big SUVs and lifted trucks. They cost $49.95. My cheap HF stands have been high enough so far since I have had them, come to think of it. HF or Northern might have a set of stands that could go higher.
You could shop around for better quality but used jack stands and a good used Snap-On, Matco, Mac or other professional quality jack but I guess it would need to be local, I don't see how anyone could afford to mail a floor jack that someone bought off Ebay.
I changed my oil today and replaced the caliper slide pins on my front brakes and used my HF jack, HF electric impact wrench and flip socket set and the Pro-Lift jack stands and they worked fine. I think for the amount of work I do on my truck and my girlfriend's car, the HF tools usually work very well. If I were a professional mechanic using the tools hard every day, they might not last as long, but for what I paid they work well enough for me.
Jimmy
You could shop around for better quality but used jack stands and a good used Snap-On, Matco, Mac or other professional quality jack but I guess it would need to be local, I don't see how anyone could afford to mail a floor jack that someone bought off Ebay.
I changed my oil today and replaced the caliper slide pins on my front brakes and used my HF jack, HF electric impact wrench and flip socket set and the Pro-Lift jack stands and they worked fine. I think for the amount of work I do on my truck and my girlfriend's car, the HF tools usually work very well. If I were a professional mechanic using the tools hard every day, they might not last as long, but for what I paid they work well enough for me.
Jimmy