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Jack stand ratings

Started by Glen, August 31, 2012, 04:06:35 AM

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Glen

OK my turn to ask a stupid question. How are jack stands rated?  Say they are rated at 3 tons, is that 3 tons each or a pair? 

My neighbor down the street put 4 jack stands and a floor jack out for the trash, I could not pass that up.  I suspect the jack stands were thrown out because of some surface rust on the base.  I don’t think they are weakened at all but I am thinking of load testing them.  I have always been on the safe side assuming the rating is as a pair but if I am going to load test them…. 
Glen Houlton CLC #727 
CLCMRC benefactor #104

The Tassie Devil(le)

G'day Glen,

You are blessed with good neighbours where you live.

I believe that Jack Stands are rated as pairs.

But, trying to rate your own, you would have to destroy one of the pair as you would have to load them to breaking point.   Then, halve the weight that caused the first pair to collapse, and you would then have the load limit of the remaining pair.

If the rust is not structural, then you should be relatively safe to use them under your car, as 4 would safely hold up a 3 ton vehicle.

A good engineer could cast their eyes over them and I am pretty sure they would pass with flying colours.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Jeff Wilk

Wow thats a great question!!!  Ive always assumed they were rated individually but sold in pairs.  Have no idea now that you mention it though......
"Impossible Only Describes The Degree Of Difficulty" 

Southern New Jersey

1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special
1975 Eldorado Convertible (#12 made)
1933 Phaeton Chevrolet - "Baby Cadillac"
1933 Master Sedan Chevrolet - "Baby Cadillac"

SOLD
1976 Cadillac Mirage (factory authorized Pick-Up)
1958 Cadillac Sixty-Special
1958 Cadillac Sixty-Special
1958 Cadillac Sedan
1958 Cadillac Coupe Deville

Gene Beaird

Now I'll have to go to a parts house and read the fine print on the box.  I had the same assumption that Jeff had on them. 

Glen, you scored!!

Gene Beaird,
1968 Calais
1979 Seville
Pearland, Texas
CLC Member No. 29873

waterzap

#4
3 tons per pair.
From a Sears ad.......

This pair of Jack Stands from Craftsman features a rated capacity of 8,000 lbs. per pair.


Also usually there are warnings not to use 4 stands at the same time. Probably safer to have one set of wheels on the ground.
Leesburg, AL

Caddy Wizard

You shouldn't use 4 stands under the frame, since the car will want to rest on only three and it won't really be completely stable.  If you have to put the car up at both ends, put the front stands under the frame and the rear stands under the outer parts of the rear axle tube -- that takes advantage of the self-leveling property of the rear springs.
Art Gardner


1955 S60 Fleetwood sedan (now under resto -- has been in paint shop since June 2022!)
1955 S62 Coupe (future show car? 2/3 done)
1958 Eldo Seville (2/3 done)

Glen

My plan was to do non-destructive test.  In the shipyard we tested things like this based upon the rated capacity also known as SWL or safe working load.  Somewhere there would be a document that lists the test load which is around 1 ½ times the SWL.  If it takes the test load with no problem it is assumed to be safe at the SWL.  I say assumed because that is dependent on if there has been damage to the item or not since the test. 

My plan was to use the 25 ton shop press which has a gauge that reads out in tons and load the jack stands to at least the SWL.  But I need to know what the SWL is for one jack stand. 

I have seen the jack stands advertised as a say 3 tons per pair or 3 tons each.  But they don’t seem to be doing that any more.  In the interest of safety the rating on the jack stand should say per pair or each.  They don’t. 

Glen Houlton CLC #727 
CLCMRC benefactor #104