Date:         Sat, 14 Sep 2013 14:22:12 -0500
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Floor jack placement for tire rotation
Comments: To: Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <0BDBF588-E92C-41C6-8062-B01492D059C9@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

However and where ever you lift the vehicle - place jackstands
underneath to support the vehicle before you start removing wheels.  And
a caution - be sure the wheels on the ground are chocked as well.
Had a near "baddy" once because I wasn't attentive sufficiently to the
details of mass, leverage, gravity and Murphy's Law.

You can lift the whole front end by centering the floor jack on a
structural frame near the front - but be bloody sure that there are
jackstands put in place before working. Absolutely NEVER trust a
hydraulic floor jack. Always add secondary support as a safety backup
when wheels are off the ground. If lifting the side of the vehicle, use
the factory jack in one jacking point, and use the hydraulic jack at the
other - but go further back and catch it on a frame member. Less likely
to screw up the  jack point that way, making the factory jack unusable.

Hydraulic floor jacks are wonderful, but take no chances when the
machine is off the ground in any way.

Good luck.

John
On 9/14/2013 11:59 AM, Eric Caron wrote:
> This weekend I'd like to rotate my tires along the side of the bus.  I have a heavy duty floor jack.  Is there a preferred place to place the jack so that the car body can both take the weight and also ideally take both wheels off the ground at once for the switch?  The car is clean of rust so no unexpected weak points.
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 Westfalia GL auto
>