Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 09:12:44 -0500
Reply-To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagaon axle stand height?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
First, I hate the term, "axle stand." These are jack stands we are talking
about.
Whenever you put your van on jack stands, the FIRST thing you should do is
give the body a good shake to see if it is steady. A nice vigorous shake
will tell you if you have things set up properly.
I don't trust ramps. True the van is standing on its own wheels. However,
most ramps are simple stamped sheet steel and there is no mechanism that
really prevents them from collapsing. I have seen ramps change shape over
time.
I only work under heavy duty jack stands.
Cheers,
Bruce
>From: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
>Reply-To: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Vanagaon axle stand height?
>Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 10:27:34 +0200
>
>I´d say this depends on whatever you´re supposed to do....
>My primary buy was the floor jack that could take 2½ ton up to 2 feet
>height
>and then I put a stand the height of what I need !
>If I´m to work on the brakes, I´ll just use the jack and put the wheel I
>took off under the brakedisc/drum IF the jack would sink.
>When I changed the engine I had the Vanagon standing on four piles of
>tyres
>4 feet up in the air ........
>But for normal maintenance under the bus I try to drive it up on metal
>ramps
>that are about 1 foot high.
>I regard this as the easiest and most secure way when working under your
>car
>since you´re easily tempted to "crawl in for a peek" before looking in the
>garage for the axlestands :-(
>I´ve also been close to a car that fell off the stands and feel much more
>safe if it`s actually standing on it´s own wheels, this makes it harder to
>crawl under the axles and there is often enough groundclearance to survive
>if it comes down on you, at least on a Vanagon...
>
>Calle
>-88 Volgon
>Mullhyttan, Sweden
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bruce Nadig" <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 3:39 AM
>Subject: Re: Vanagaon axle stand height?
>
>
> > It has been my experience that taller is always better. The question
>that
> > you should be asking is, "what is the distance from the ground to the
>area
> > that you will be supporting on the van?" This is assuming that the van
>is
> > unloaded and tires are at proper inflation levels.
> >
> > Once you establish this height, find the heaviest duty stand you can
>find
> > that will fit in that area. In general, the heavy duty stands are also
>ones
> > that will lift the van the highest. While you may never need to raise
>the
> > stand to its maximum height, you never know if you will. Wouldn't you
>rather
> > buy a heavy duty, very capable stand just once, rather than buy a less
> > substantial stand now, only to become frustrated later to find that you
>have
> > some job you would like to do that requires that you have the van higher
>off
> > the ground?
> >
> > I have never regretted having my work high off the ground. Ground
>clearance
> > good. What you will regret is not having sufficient clearance to do your
> > work properly, or worse yet, just enough height to get the job done, but
> > only so much that it makes the job very difficult.
> >
> > As for where to buy, I hate to endorse them, but I have yet to find
>fault
> > with my heavy duty Harbor Freight stands. In fact, if I remember
>correctly,
> > Harbor Freight has the heavy duty ratcheting stands available in at
>least
> > two heights. I have a pair of each.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Bruce
> > motorbruce
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: Jens Jakob Andersen <jens.jakob.andersen@POST.DK>
> > >Reply-To: jens.jakob.andersen@POST.DK
> > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >Subject: Vanagaon axle stand height?
> > >Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 09:21:26 +0200
> > >
> > >Hi
> > >
> > >A slightly OT question, but still should make it into the FAQ, since
> > >everybody needs it?
> > >
> > >What is the needed height of axle stands for the Vanagon?
> > >
> > >I am asking, since all the shops around here only has 35 cm height (or
>so)
> > >axle stands. Cheap, yes. 2 ton capacity, yes. But not the clearence
>needed
> > >for the Vanagon, I guess.
> > >
> > >If I dont get any input, I guess that I will jack the car myself, and
> > >measure the height needed to take off the roadwheels, and then make the
> > >entry for the FAQ myslf :-)
> > >
> > >But if one of you guys has the info the hand, I can get on with
>searching
> > >the net for axlestands available near Copenhagen, and then I can get
>them
> > >today - and begin working properly (I have not yet had the car up in
>the
> > >air - I do not work underneath vehicles only supported on jacks...)
> > >
> > >Happy driving
> > >
> > >JJ
> >
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