Date:         Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:30:58 -0700
Reply-To:     Nathan Mc Blain <nmcblain@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Nathan Mc Blain <nmcblain@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Lifting a Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

This topic may have already been addressed or just be dumb:)

  Lifting Vanagon with a floor jack(front particularly).

  I have mostly used ramps when working on cars, just because it seamed safer to me.  But it only works on a very few repairs.  For example, dropping our gas tanks and changing the bad hoses/seals.  I have a 3.5 ton floor jack, and often want to use it on my Vanagon.

  Bentley shows lifting (General section pg.5) with a hoist or floor jack "only" on the main cross members(near each "jacking port").  But to lift both sides of the front(to repair/check: brakes, suspension, steering) you have to lift one side, then support with jack stand, and do the other .

  I think for the home mechanic it might be safer, quicker, better, to lift the front in one center location(please correct me if I'm wrong).

  As you probably know, there are three smaller cross members that run width-wise, parallel, and very close together.  These cross members have the suspension arm(lower control arm), PS rack, and gas tank mounted to them.  I have lifted on these two, the one that the PS rack mounts to and the other one that supports the suspension(lower control arm).  By using a 3/4" 1' by 1' plywood and straddling the two members.  It worked, but I am afraid that there is a possibility that those members could fold up?  Thought that a simple little wooden jig could be made-to-fit on those two smaller cross members, spread the load more evenly, and also lift straight up not angled much.  Has anyone made something that would fit a floor jack securely and sort of 'key' itself to those two front most cross members to aid in quick lifting alignment?  Or perhaps you have a totally different idea?
  Thanks for any input
  Nate