Jacks & Jack Stands

How To Choose Jack Stands By Weight Capacity And Height

Pick jack stands rated above the weight you'll put on them, with a height range that gives you room to work. Check whether the rating is per stand or per pair, because that changes your real safety margin. Each end of a vehicle carries only part of its total weight, but you still want capacity to spare.

Height matters as much as capacity. Lowered cars need car jack stands with a short minimum height, while lifted trucks need stands that extend far enough to reach. The Allstar Performance 3-ton ratcheting jack stands adjust between 11-5/8 in. and 16-1/2 in., a practical range for street car work.

Working under a heavy truck or need more height? Look at Sunex 10-ton high-height pin-type jack stands, sold as a pair. Make sure your floor jack lifts higher than the height you'll set the stands, so you can lower the vehicle onto them with control.

Ratcheting Vs Pin-Type Jack Stands

Ratcheting jack stands adjust faster, while pin-type jack stands lock with a pin you can see. Both work when used within their rating on solid, level ground.

Ratcheting stands use a toothed column and a locking pawl. You raise the column to the height you want, and the pawl drops into the next tooth, so small adjustments take seconds. That speed helps when you're setting four stands for suspension or exhaust work.

Pin-type stands use a drilled column and a pin that passes through it and the base. Adjustment steps are larger and slower to change, but you can confirm at a glance that the pin is fully seated. That visual check is a good reason to choose pins for heavy loads or tall settings.

Some designs combine both, using a ratchet for adjustment and a pin as a backup. Whichever style you choose, confirm the lock is fully engaged before loading it.

Types Of Car Jacks For The Garage

The right car jacks depend on what you're lifting and how high it needs to go. Here's how they compare:

• Floor jacks roll on casters and lift at the frame or axle, like the Powerbuilt extra-low-profile 2-ton floor jack.
• Bottle and screw jacks lift heavy loads from a compact footprint, such as 5-ton screw jacks.
• Transmission jacks hold and lower a transmission, with 2,200 lb low-lift and 1,500 lb high-lift designs.
• Bridge and scissor jacks raise a vehicle off a lift's runways, such as a 4,500 lb rolling scissor bridge jack.
• Off-road jacks use a tall, high-lift design, with jack covers and accessories from Hi-Lift.

For floor jack features, see our guide to choosing the right floor jack. Before you pull a gearbox, read how to choose a transmission jack.

Pulling the engine too? Add engine stands to your plan. If you're towing, you'll find trailer tongue jacks in their own category.

Racing Jacks, Air Jacks And Pit Equipment

Racing jacks and pit gear are made for quick lifts between rounds at the track. Air jacks mount to the chassis and raise the car with compressed gas, so your crew can work without sliding a jack underneath.

Allstar race car air jacks come in 11.75 in. and 15.25 in. stroke lengths, and an air jack kit is also available. For pit jacks, you'll find aluminum replacement casters to keep yours rolling.

Race car support gear goes beyond the jack itself. Here's what else you can add to your pit setup:

• Stack stands give you a fixed, 11 in. steel support with no adjustment to set.
• Stock car jack stands hold the car at a 14 in. height.
• Quick-change jack posts come in steel and aluminum versions.
• Swivel weight jacks help you fine-tune chassis setup at each corner.

If you're pulling a transmission between events, an Allstar transmission stand holds it off the floor.

Using Jack Stands Safely

Never work under a vehicle held only by a jack. Lift it, set jack stands at solid support points, then lower the weight onto the stands before you go under.

Follow these steps every time you lift:

• Park on flat, solid concrete and set the parking brake.
• Chock the wheels that stay on the ground.
• Lift at the jacking points listed in your owner's manual.
• Set the stands in matched pairs at the same height.
• Lower the vehicle slowly and give it a firm shake test.

For a full walk-through, read how to jack up a car safely. If the wheels can stay on, compare ramps vs jack stands, including roll-up ramps that fit 12 in. wide tires and give 4 in. of lift.

Working on vehicle lifts? A Sunex 2-ton tripod underhoist stand reaches 76 in. to support components overhead. Shop jack stands and the rest of your shop equipment now.