Jackstands, Please Use Them

cody pollage · 06-07-2011, 12:03 AM

I don't want this to be a bashing post. I'm posting this because, I care. I had a friend of mine got killed tonight. He was not using jackstands, and his truck fell on him. He was not a drag racer, just someone who had clean rides, and like to have fun with his trucks. Just wanted to put this on here.

Ed Fernandez · 06-07-2011, 01:02 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.We sometimes lose sight of common sense and pay dearly for it.Again sorry for the loss of your friend.
I lost a friend about 15 years ago.Same situation but it was an NYPD Emerency Service
truck he was working on.He had jack stands supporting the truck but something went wrong.His nickname was "Roadside Larry".The emergency cops held him in high regard for the work he did for them.

Jim Wahl · 06-07-2011, 01:08 AM

Many of you know I was a paramedic for many years. One call that sticks out in my mind was to a junk yard where a guy was removing a starter from an old Thunderbird, he had it suspended from the front bumper by a chain. The chain broke and I can only hope he never knew what hit him. When we lifted the car the guy was broken in half. No jack stands were used, but should have been. I will never forget it! Jim

Jim B · 06-07-2011, 02:35 AM

I'm sure we're all guilty of using just a hydraulic jack for a "quick" under car procedure. It takes an unfortunate reminder of what can happen to realign priorities and take the extra 15 seconds to stay safe. And cinder/concrete blocks AREN'T safe jackstands!! They can (and do) fail suddenly and unexpectedly.

Darrin Christen · 06-07-2011, 05:55 AM

Sorry to hear that Cody. Will keep you and your friend in our prayers.

Kenny Wigington · 06-07-2011, 08:57 AM

That is a bad deal. Sorry about your friend CP. Jackstands have a very real need. Cinder blocks, and logs have no place under any car. I saw logs under a truck in New Orleans a couple yrs ago. Guy asked me why I took his picture, working on his truck. I said so some one can identify you later...

Mike Taylor 3601 · 06-07-2011, 02:04 PM

Hate to hear about your friend. I have seen people go to crawl under car with no stands,ask what about stands,they reply just gonna take a second to do whatever they are doing,I say that is longer than it takes for car to fall,usaully will get stands then
Mike Taylor 3601

Bob Bender · 06-07-2011, 02:29 PM

Very sorry to hear about ur friend. I watched a lot at E-Town Nats that did not use stands on the race cars.

Run to Rund · 06-07-2011, 02:44 PM

I get worried about jackstands if they are extended too far; a side load or one failing (who knows how strong that cast Y shaped top to the stalk is?) can topple the rest of them. I also use 15" or 16" wheels welded edge to edge to get 12" to 16" height and put them under the frame with wood to get the right height and more friction against the frame sliding if something goes wrong. It is a balance of the opposing factors "there is no end to concern" and "you can't be too safe."

Chad Rhodes · 06-07-2011, 05:15 PM

I've got some 16"x12" treated timbers in 24" lengths that work great stacked on top of each other. No possibility of failure

06-07-2011, 12:03 AM	#1
cody pollage Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jackstands, Please Use Them I don't want this to be a bashing post. I'm posting this because, I care. I had a friend of mine got killed tonight. He was not using jackstands, and his truck fell on him. He was not a drag racer, just someone who had clean rides, and like to have fun with his trucks. Just wanted to put this on here.

06-07-2011, 01:02 AM	#2
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them I'm sorry to hear about your loss.We sometimes lose sight of common sense and pay dearly for it.Again sorry for the loss of your friend. I lost a friend about 15 years ago.Same situation but it was an NYPD Emerency Service truck he was working on.He had jack stands supporting the truck but something went wrong.His nickname was "Roadside Larry".The emergency cops held him in high regard for the work he did for them. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

06-07-2011, 01:08 AM	#3
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them Many of you know I was a paramedic for many years. One call that sticks out in my mind was to a junk yard where a guy was removing a starter from an old Thunderbird, he had it suspended from the front bumper by a chain. The chain broke and I can only hope he never knew what hit him. When we lifted the car the guy was broken in half. No jack stands were used, but should have been. I will never forget it! Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

06-07-2011, 02:35 AM	#4
Jim B Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 100 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them I'm sure we're all guilty of using just a hydraulic jack for a "quick" under car procedure. It takes an unfortunate reminder of what can happen to realign priorities and take the extra 15 seconds to stay safe. And cinder/concrete blocks AREN'T safe jackstands!! They can (and do) fail suddenly and unexpectedly. Last edited by Jim B; 06-07-2011 at 02:43 AM.

06-07-2011, 05:55 AM	#5
Darrin Christen Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Des Allemands, LA Posts: 365 Likes: 8 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them Sorry to hear that Cody. Will keep you and your friend in our prayers. __________________ 4878 SS/GA 66CHEVY II

06-07-2011, 08:57 AM	#6
Kenny Wigington Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cumming,Ga. USA Posts: 967 Likes: 36 Liked 60 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them That is a bad deal. Sorry about your friend CP. Jackstands have a very real need. Cinder blocks, and logs have no place under any car. I saw logs under a truck in New Orleans a couple yrs ago. Guy asked me why I took his picture, working on his truck. I said so some one can identify you later... __________________ 2894 STK

06-07-2011, 02:04 PM	#7
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,369 Likes: 348 Liked 293 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them Hate to hear about your friend. I have seen people go to crawl under car with no stands,ask what about stands,they reply just gonna take a second to do whatever they are doing,I say that is longer than it takes for car to fall,usaully will get stands then Mike Taylor 3601

06-07-2011, 02:29 PM	#8
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,732 Likes: 1,596 Liked 459 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them Very sorry to hear about ur friend. I watched a lot at E-Town Nats that did not use stands on the race cars. __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

06-07-2011, 02:44 PM	#9
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them I get worried about jackstands if they are extended too far; a side load or one failing (who knows how strong that cast Y shaped top to the stalk is?) can topple the rest of them. I also use 15" or 16" wheels welded edge to edge to get 12" to 16" height and put them under the frame with wood to get the right height and more friction against the frame sliding if something goes wrong. It is a balance of the opposing factors "there is no end to concern" and "you can't be too safe."

06-07-2011, 05:15 PM	#10
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Jackstands, Please Use Them I've got some 16"x12" treated timbers in 24" lengths that work great stacked on top of each other. No possibility of failure __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA