Thread: The dangers of trolley jacks

Originally Posted by Basil135

We all know that we shouldn't get under a car that is supported only by a jack.

Be it a bottle jack, or a trolley jack, it doesn't matter.

Unfortunately, this message is not always listened to, and a bloke with a couple of small kids was killed when the jack collapsed & the car crushed him.

Please take note, and always, always use stands when getting under the car.


AdelaideNow... Man crushed by falling car

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I find it hard to believe how silly people can be. I once came across a couple of young blokes working under a car that was held up by three bricks stacked on their narrow edges. That's all. No jack, no axle stands. Just those three bricks. They laughed when I suggested that they might want to consider a safer arrangement. Fortunately there was no serious accident from that, but it could easily have happened!

So, jacks and axle stands. Always!

Willem

She said the man was a passionate Port Adelaide and Collingwood football supporter and a car enthusiast.

Why was that important enough to be reported?

Re jacks, I won't get under the P38A when it's at extended height on the EAS. If the car lowers, it would trap me even if it didn't crush my chest. (I once tried sliding under when the car was on the bump stops just to check clearance.)

The bloke next door had his Camry up on two stumps under the front for more than two months.

Sounds solid enough.

Except that the hill is rather steep, and the car was facing uphill, and there was nothing behind the wheels.

I made sure the Subaru was parked behind him and the Defender behind the Subaru - Subaru fully insured, covers itself, and if the Subaru rolls back into the Defender after being pushed by the Camry, the Defender should be covered by the Subaru's at fault.

It might have been easier to offer him a couple of bricks, I guess.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Re jacks, I won't get under the P38A when it's at extended height on the EAS. If the car lowers, it would trap me even if it didn't crush my chest. (I once tried sliding under when the car was on the bump stops just to check clearance.)

EAS is like a jack. Use it to raise the height of the car and then put axle stands under the car. Then you can move underneath with confidence and safety.

Willem

We (most) of us all take a few risks in life.
Anybody with the smallest amount of common sense will do their own risk assessment when taking such risks as getting under a vehicle supported by a questionable support (ie trolley jack).
I like many others have when necessary taken such risks but will always ensure another solid object (ie spare tyre, tool box, rocks if necessary etc) is also under the vehicle placed in such a manner that if there is a catastrophic incident there will always be adequate crawl space to get back out.
I have over the years been in situation requiring such risks and HAVE had a couple of incidents but by using the small amount of grey matter that I do have, I have lived to tell a few more tales.
I think it is sad for the family etc but any one old enough to drive yet alone choose to be working under a vehicle is 100% responsible for their own actions (call me a cold callous uncaring individual)
My gripe would be if this individual had left the vehicle unsafely supported and a small child had ventured under the vehicle and been killed. For me that would be manslaughter.

Originally Posted by Thommo

My gripe would be if this individual had left the vehicle unsafely supported and a small child had ventured under the vehicle and been killed. For me that would be manslaughter.

Couldn't agree more...

My son had a close call when a jack colapsed. He was next to the car, not under it, and it colapsed towards him. I also have had it happen to me. not under car, but car collapsed towards me.

How many articles in car magazines have pictures of supposedly intelligent blokes working in and around cars only supported on jacks?


I know I've seen a few.