My van is high clearance and I am small. I do not jack it up when working under it.I do use a jack stand or two, though, when camped for a long time at an unlevel spot that would require 6 or more stacked blocks under the wheels.Would it be bad to carry (and use) two of these instead of my current steel stands? The 10lb weight savings would be insignificant for most RVs but would be huge for my little van!I do see that other Amazon customers have asked similar questions, but the answers given don't seem to be from knowledgeable car people. That's why I am asking you guys :).NB: My loaded van is more like 4,000lbs, not the 6,000 the jacks are rated for.Jack stands.Edit: This question is about jack stands, NOT ABOUT JACKS. If you don't know the difference, google it.

I would use the aluminum stands. They're lighter and easier to put in place.And, they are only being used to stabilize the RV. It seems like a no brainer to me.

There are different grades of aluminum. From almost pot-metal to some pretty decent grades. From China? Shirley You Jest!

Nothing wrong with AL. They make planes, semis, and engine blocks with it.

Mex: At $30 for 4 I imagine they are pot metal aluminum :).I would be holding part of the weight of the van on the stands (1 or 2 wheels off the ground), so NOT using them as stabilisers, but nobody would be under the van. If a stand fails, my van would come down onto its tires and the cat and I would get startled, but I don't see any real danger. People here might envision something I don't... that's why I ask.

I had two pair of stands that looked similar to these back in late 90's for a TT with a gross weight of about 7,000 lbs. that I used as stabilizer jacks. So if that is what you are looking for then yes they would do.

Would this be a terrible idea? {aluminum jack stands)

25 Replies

Naio
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2015
bucky wrote:
How is a jack and stands easier than driving up on a piece of wood?

Thos question has been answered. Jackstands are for a completely different situation where wood can't be used. Just read the thread.
bucky
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2015
How is a jack and stands easier than driving up on a piece of wood?
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Sep 06, 2015
I should have taken images of a crumpled aluminum jack stand that failed while trying to hold up the front end of an C Class that was getting a brake job. It dumped the rig to a crazy angle and virtually destroyed order in the galley. I have 4 (4) ton steel stands and half inch plate steel. For bases. Unless the ground is concrete or asphalt you are playing with fire.

From the School of Hard Knocks
myredracer
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2015
We have a set of those aluminum jack stands. They are flimsy looking and I would only use them for stabilizing, not for supporting a heavy load.

They do NOT have a safety standard rating that would be ANSI/ASME PALD-2009. The manufacturer can put whatever rating on them they want, but without a safety standard listing/rating they should be considered unsafe for other than stabilizing. Definitely do not support a vehicle or RV and work underneath one using these stands.

Also, jack stands are rated in pairs (by ANSI/ASME) so a 3K lb rating for example would be for two stands.
Naio
Explorer II
Sep 06, 2015
Thank you, everyone :).
PRodacy
Explorer
Sep 05, 2015
Wouldn't be a problem at all. That's what they're designed for
Naio
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Salvo wrote:
Again, the stands look dangerous to me. The base is too narrow and the top is not U-shaped. They can easily slip when off-level. Without a 3' cheater bar, I doubt you can even raise a wheel off the ground. Soon enough you'll be praising 2x6s.

Those "jacks" only have a 6" range. Hell, four 2x6 have a greater lift range than that!

They are not jacks. They are stands to put the rig on after you jack it up with an actual jack. I don't think my steel jackstands have a 6" range. Maybe 4 or 5.

I agree about the tops, though. I was giving those the ol' eagle eye in the amazon pic. Of course, I often put my steel stands under flat frame pieces, not the axles, so their rounded tops don't help and may hinder. Just thinking out loud, here.
Salvo
Explorer
Sep 05, 2015
Again, the stands look dangerous to me. The base is too narrow and the top is not U-shaped. They can easily slip when off-level. Without a 3' cheater bar, I doubt you can even raise a wheel off the ground. Soon enough you'll be praising 2x6s.

Those "jacks" only have a 6" range. Hell, four 2x6 have a greater lift range than that!

Naio wrote:
Salvo wrote:
Don't know what you have against driving on a 2x6. It works for me.

When 4 or 6 pieces of 2x6 on top of each other are required, I prefer to use jack stands ;).

One of my favorite parks is unlevel like that. Even at the best sites. I had both front wheels off the ground last time I was there, on jack stands.
Naio
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Good point, westend about boards underneath. I had trouble getting a steel one out of asphalt this spring. Oopsie :).
Naio
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
westend wrote:
Might work but you are probably going to have a 5 lb cheater pipe to spin them up with the weight of the vehicle on them. If you plan to use them on unpaved ground, a board underneath is almost required as they will sink into the ground.

LOL, I would probably need more than that! Maybe a 20' blackpipe :).

@everyone: I want to use the AS JACK STANDS. I don't know why this is confusing! Not as stabilisers, and not as a means of lifting the vehicle.

I would jack up the van using the manufacturer's jack, stick the stands underneath it, and then jack the van down onto the stands and remove the jack. When leaving the campsite, the same steps in reverse.

Exactly what I have been doing with my steel jacks, once or twice a year when blocks don't cut it. I just would like to carry less weight around for that once or twice a year. Is that a reasonable decision or am I going to break my head?

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Would this be a terrible idea? {aluminum jack stands)

25 Replies

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