best jack

[trebormint]

I have a van but no jack. Should I source an original or would I be better off buying a new one that maybe more suitable. Any recommendations?

[kevtherev]

yes get an original, but consider also a two tonne trolly jack for home use

[CovKid]

Home use? Mines in the back 24/7. To be honest its a huge jack but a smaller 2-ton and a stout piece of hardwood (in case you need more height than the jack can supply) is a good thing to have onboard. Alternative is a bottle jack but they can be unstable. Definately NOT a scissor jack - seen one collapse once - scared the hell out of me.

[bunnynogood]

Just extending this thread as I have similar question..

As I need a jack that can start low (for the Rocco) but also go higher for the van, would this one go high enough ?

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.a ... ctid=13541

The price is massively reduced as a xmas offer so it's tempting, but only if it goes high enough.

Cheers !

Dave V

[Aidan]

450mm is pretty reasonable, just measure your jacking point from the floor and extrapolate, the 2 tonne one I have which MachineMart no longer does is very similar to that Sealey and it's ok on the syncro, though to be fair I hardly use it now as I find the Hi-Lift jack quicker and easier for getting it in the air and then pop a MachineMart 6 tonne axle stand under, I find trolley jacks often get in the way of placing axle stands and I don't like to jack the trailing arm and load the suspension as the syncros are bad enough for breaking spring pig tails as it is

[bunnynogood]

Cheers Aidan. from other forum posts it looks like this jack along with some extra stout hardwood blocks should cover the fairly big range needed to get it all done with a single jack. I could of course lower the van as well ..

On the subject of axle stands. 6Ton ! Just to be sure I assume ?

[Aidan]

6 tonnes, aye it's not so much for the weight it's for the reach, these are mega sturdy and will go upto 60cm so you can get the van well in the air for say doing a gearbox change especially when you aren't a compact person like me I hate feeling enclosed and not having room to turn, banging head on floor etc.. and don't forget the syncros are that bit higher to start with so the shorter axle stands aren't much taller than the chassis is anyway, they are cheap enough about £28/pair on a vat free day, and being ratchet type are easier to use and safer than the pin type ones - the old 1 ton ones just aren't long enough and then you end up using bits of wood etc.. compromising safety, (and the chinese welding looks like it was done by a blind man's dog) these are well sturdy, decent base to height ratio, as I say easy to use and I feel I can trust them; when we were working on the dodoka we had the whole shell sat on 4 of them. I work on my own a lot so have to be sure things are safe, I can't take any risks and get injured as I'm self employed and if I'm at the lockup 20 miles away and drop a van on me first anyone will know will be the obit.
I dropped a car on myself aged 17 working on sissor jack, got away with it (Fiat 126's are light ) and learnt the lesson
obviously no use for your car or a much lowered van

[bunnynogood]

Aidan.. thanks for giong the whole hog with the explanation on this. I had been pondering the merits of the pin VS ratched for the axle stands. Folks opinions deem divided on safety. I think it's a pair of 3 ton stands, ratchet equipped for me now though. Standard van with (Autohomes) hightop so that should do it I reckon.

Cheers

Dave V

[Nomadd1001]

,,,,,,,,,,Daniels.

Gets my vote every time.

[Oldiebut goodie]

[Cruz]

I carry the original jack and it served me well when I ripped a tyre on a kerb edge. Get everything to hand so the van is only jacked up for the minimum amount of time and bob's your uncle.

I have no idea where I would put a trolley jack. I have no free space a it is

[StuM]

I use this one at home:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... sion-jacks

I've got a 2 tonne one too which is smaller, but the lift isn't great for the van. Oh, and the original jack is in the boot, but I really should check that works as it's not moved since buying the van!

[richieadkins]

.........Daniels gets my vote too!