Thread: axle stands

thanks for all info i bought a pair for $47 from super cheap yesterday ,3000kgs

Originally Posted by rick130

I have some oldies with an ACME thread that are probably older than me!

Having an infinite adjustment is really nice.
That's all I've used under all my vehicles since I've had a licence.

Ditto - bought them second hand 20 years ago, still going strong.

Axel stands are all well and good if you have a nice flat concrete floor But are pretty useless and dangerous if used on a sloping floor or on anything other than concrete.
A couple of old sleepers or even maxtracks are great to raise the truck to work under it with the wheels still on it and there is zero chance of the truck falling off them.
Personally I have far more trust in some solid wood blocks than an off the shelf axel stand or set of ramps.
I have Never seen a lump of jarrah or Karrie crush and fail, Axel stands and ramps well that's another matter entirely.

Originally Posted by trout1105

Axel stands are all well and good if you have a nice flat concrete floor But are pretty useless and dangerous if used on a sloping floor or on anything other than concrete.
A couple of old sleepers or even maxtracks are great to raise the truck to work under it with the wheels still on it and there is zero chance of the truck falling off them.
Personally I have far more trust in some solid wood blocks than an off the shelf axel stand or set of ramps.
I have Never seen a lump of jarrah or Karrie crush and fail, Axel stands and ramps well that's another matter entirely.

Neither have I or anyone I know, but let me tell you a funny story. When I was working at a large engine company that supplies the on highway truck market, the workshop regularly used lumps of red gum under the front wheels of trucks when working on them to give the Mechanics 100mm more clearance under the front I beam when doing certain jobs. All good, this practice had been used since Noah was a lad.

Anyway, someone from OH&S saw this and almost had a fit - 'Those blocks of wood aren't load rated so they can't use them'. Of course everyone looked at each other with dumb looks but what was said had to be looked at. The Branch Manager asked me if I could Google the compressive strength of red gum to see if it was suitable. What I found was that Balsa wood was actually strong enough in a block that size to support the front of a truck - only a few tonne per corner under the tyre, so the load is spread out pretty well.

He asked me to conduct the experiment, so I found the biggest bits of balsa wood I could easily obtain, glued them together until I had 2 blocks of similar size to the red gum - you guessed it, they held the truck up fine, and only compressed slightly.

Results were sent to the OH&S department - who then let us use redgum blocks - IF they were painted yellow and had 'SWL 4,000KG' stamped into them.... Each Mechanic was issued a set of 'Rated' red gum blocks...

Nuff said, but we all had a giggle at that whole saga....

The question you need to ask yourself is what price you put on your life cheap stands are exactly that I have seen cheap stands crack welds and base plates not good if it happens while you are under the car.

I’ve always used a pair of timber blocks stands my dad and I made about 25 years ago. They are made of treated pine so nice and light too. I’ve got singles so can adjust the height as needed.

Originally Posted by trout1105

Personally I have far more trust in some solid wood blocks than an off the shelf axel stand or set of ramps.
I have Never seen a lump of jarrah or Karrie crush and fail, Axel stands and ramps well that's another matter entirely.

I agree, but living in town and with my trusty chainsaw, bars, chains and circular saw interned in a container 8 hours away I bought my first ever set of car ramps a few weeks ago.
They are Australian made (so it says on the label) so I have some confidence in the welding and manufacture.

Originally Posted by david7307

I am looking at getting some axle stands and been looking on Ebay 2 3ton stands for around $40 delivered , but also see others with brand name on them for over $100 for a pair , i know thy will all be made in China , just looking for pin lock not ratchet , any info would be great

Supercral sells the 3T axle stand
I bought 4 @$20 per set they are pretty solid