safe way to work under van

[Charlie]

i need to get under my caravan to do some work and want to raise it. whats the best and safest way?

[Franklin1]

G'day Charlie,

Don't do this sort of stuff, in the right hand photo...




I've always jacked the sides of the van up and put a stack of large timber blocks or paving stones under the main chassis rail in two positions. Plus I chock both sides of the opposing wheel. Engage the handbrake. That sort of thing...

The project I'm currently working on in the shed is completely lifted off the ground on a stack of concrete pavers in each corner.

I don't trust those adjustable car jack stands, even though they are rated for fairly large loads. Just something about them that makes me a tad nervous. Probably more paranoia on my part than the reality.

cheers,
Al.

[Gypsy 10]

DON'T USE Batteries.

From the 2003 Darwin Awards

Phil needed to make repairs to the underside of his car. But when he jacked it up, there wasn't enough room for him to work. So he removed the car's battery, placed the jack on top of it, and set to work again, this time with plenty of elbow-room.

Unfortunately for Phil, car batteries are not designed to carry much weight. The battery collapsed and the jack toppled, trapping him beneath the car. Unable to breathe due to the weight on his chest, he quickly expired in a pool of battery acid.

This incident is illuminated by two additional facts: First, Phil's occupation was Accident Prevention Officer at a large food processing plant. And second, ten years previous, he had been working under a car when the jack collapsed, trapping him and breaking one of his legs. Some people just don't learn -- even from their own mistakes.

[Deleted]

Hi Franklin 1..
With me having so many "incidents" in the "Shed of Invention" over the years I should be the last person to preach about safety.
However..
Can I strongly suggest that you don't use "masonry blocks".... or bricks/pavers to support anything.

These can have minor cracks or defects that cant be seen . place a load on them and they can crack or crumble. Causing whatever you are propping up to collapse without warning.
Better to use jack stands and / or large wooden blocks/ car ramps etc.

Oh what I would give to have a 4 poster hoist in the shed ... and a high enough roof to allow a van to be raised 6ft to floor level of the van

Reddo

[kaybee]

Reddo,if you had a 4 poster, you could easily have a higher roof with the press of a button.....jokes aside, jack stands are now so inexpensive and easy to find , there's no reason not to have them and a decent jack to do the lifting......cheers....

[Franklin1]

G'day reddo,

Can I strongly suggest that you don't use "masonry blocks".... or bricks/pavers to support anything.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying, and I definitely wouldn't use normal house bricks or small, thin pavers...




The timber blocks I use, to jack the side of a van up, are off-cuts from treated pine sleepers, which are about as thick as a brick (in size, not mentality... )...




The project van in the shed is sitting on a stack of 200mm x 200mm size pavers in each corner, with a piece of 1/2" plywood cut to size on top of each stack to protect the steel chassis. The stacks are about 500mm high, and the wheels are just touching the concrete floor after the weight is taken off the springs...



The 500mm height gives me enough room to crawl around under the van without banging my head all the time. The stacks of pavers have been there since I started the project two years ago.


I'm all for working in a safe manner, so would the jack stands that you're talking about, kaybee, be able to lift a van up off the ground by 500mm, and be pretty stable in doing so? I might have to rethink my paranoia if that's the case.

cheers,
Al.

[King Fisher]

We used 4 axle stands when we did our resto, available at that cheap car parts place. Not too expensive and very rock solid with one on each corner of the chassis. Gives plenty of hight and safe.