What to Look for When Buying Jack Stands

Make Sure That You Put Safety First When Looking at The Features of Car Stands…

If you are going to be tuning or repairing your car often, it is in your best interest to purchase some quality car jack stands for your vehicle. Many individuals are injured or hurt each year by falling cars – mainly due to them not using the correct equipment to support the vehicle.

Normal jacks are not enough to adequately support a car for an extended period of time, which is why reinforced stands are used instead. They don’t even cost that much money and they can be potential lifesavers. If you don’t have a set already, now would be the time to think about getting some.

Here’s some advice about what to look for in the numerous stands on sale:

Safe Working Load:  The SWL shows how much weight the jack stand can support. You can find many different rating available: heavy duty 6 ton stands, and normal 3 ton jack stands. As long as the jack stands rating is above 2, this will be more than enough to raise a normal car.

Type of Metal Used:  Also try to find out what kind of metal the stand is made from before buying. The best makes have an iron construction, which is kinder on the underside of the car and will scrape less.

Size:  The larger and heavier the vehicle to be raised, the bigger the jack is going to have to be. For SUV’s for example, a stand with a height of over 400 mm is recommended.

Base: Look for rubber feet at the bottom of the stand – this will prevent it from slipping and sinking in softer ground. Make sure you know how to use a jack before you undertake the process.

Often overlooked, stands for vehicles are an important part of any mechanic’s tools. If you are going to be working under a vehicle you want to know that you are safe, and a stand gives you this reassurance. When you go to purchase a stand, have a look for the key features: the weight supported, the metal construction, and the height. As long as the requirements are met then you will have a tool that will last you for many years of loyal service!