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Everyone is guilty of skipping jack stands. It’s a really dumb thing to do, though. Without them, you’re putting your life in the hands of a jack. While jacks are robust enough to lift weight, the stress of supporting it is often at the mercy of parts that can fail in a split second. So as much of a hassle as it seems to set the car on jack stands before you get moving, its worth doing if you want to live to wrench another day. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options. No matter what vehicle you’re working on, there’s a jack stand to hold it. We’re here to help you figure out which is the right fit for your situation.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Big Red Torin 6-Ton Jack Stands
- Best Value: Pro-LifT 3-Ton Jack Stands
- Honorable Mention: Hein-Werner 6-Ton Jack Stands
- Best Value Runner-Up: Performance Tool 3-Ton Heavy-Duty Jack Stand Set
- Best High Weight Capacity: Omega 22-Ton Jack Stands
Our Methodology
We take jack stands seriously. There’s no way to understate how important they are in a garage setting. Over the years, we’ve accumulated quite a bit of knowledge to call upon as we built this buying guide. We’re not supercomputers, though. We know that the market is ever-evolving, and there are details we can easily miss. Therefore, we spent a ton of time researching the market to ensure our buying guide is as dependable as jack stands need to be.
Best Jack Stands Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Big Red Torin 6-Ton Steel Jack Stands
Best Value
Pro-Lift T-6903D Double Pin Jack Stand
Honorable Mention
Hein-Werner Blue/Yellow Jack Stands, 6 Ton Capacity (Set of 2)
Best Value Runner-Up
Performance Tool 3-Ton Heavy-Duty Jack Stand Set
Best High Weight Capacity
Omega 22-Ton Jack Stands
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best Jack Stands
While the list above is good for most applications, there’s a chance it misses the mark for you. We’re not leaving you with just the list to work with, though. Below is the buying guide you need to nail down the right jack stand for any situation.
Types of Jack Stands
Pin-Lock
The pin lock is the most common type of jack stand. This stand will typically have a pyramid shape and a row of holes into which a pin can be placed to keep the height of the support bar in place. It’s simple to use, and the pin will be made of a hardened steel that’s strong enough to support the weight of a range of vehicles.
Once the height of the support bar is adjusted to touch the relevant pinch point underneath the vehicle, a pin is inserted through one of the holes to keep it in place. It isn’t the fastest to work with, but its simple design makes it one of the most durable.
Ratchet Lock
This type of jack stand uses a ratchet system to automatically lock the support bar in place. It’s one of the easiest designs to use because all that’s needed is to pull the support bar to the required height. Compared to a jack stand with a pin-lock design, the height increments in one with a ratchet system are smaller, allowing for more flexibility in terms of where the stand can be used underneath the vehicle.
Most jack stands with ratchet systems will be durable, but compared to other locking systems, it’s the design with the most risk of failure. If you prefer a stand that offers the convenience of a ratchet system, get one from a trusted manufacturer and make sure the tool was built to support the weight of your vehicle.
Screw Lock
This type of jack stand is the least common, and although you can expect the design to be stronger than a ratchet type, it won’t be as strong as a pin-lock stand. One disadvantage of this design is that it takes longer to use compared to the other types. Basically, the saddle where the pinch point of your vehicle is supposed to rest is fitted to the top of a screw-like center column whose height can be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing.
As you can imagine, it’s not the fastest to work with, but the design does allow you to set more custom heights.
Key Features of the Best Jack Stands
Lifting Height
Different jack stands will cater to different vehicles in terms of lifting height. It’s important that the tool you choose can keep your car at the height that allows you to get work done underneath. Most jack stands will work just fine for a small vehicle or sedan because they don’t need to be raised as high as a midsize SUV or truck. Getting one to accommodate a larger vehicle can be trickier, but it’s just a matter of checking the specs of your jack stand and making sure it can adjust to the height that you need.
Weight Capacity
Another thing to consider in a jack stand is its weight capacity. Stands typically come in capacities ranging from 1 to 10 tons, but some will be designed to handle more. Needless to say, using a jack stand for a vehicle it wasn’t designed to support is dangerous, so if you have a large SUV or truck, you’ll need to be extra sure the stand you choose can withstand the weight. Take note that the listed weight of a pair of jack stands refers to the total weight they can withstand when working together, so if the pair is rated for 2 tons, this means they can support 1 ton each.
Construction Quality
In terms of build quality, not all jack stands are the same. Some are made with sturdier designs, such as gusseted frames and reinforced welds, and have better rust and corrosion resistance. Your best bet for saving money and frustration in the long run is to go for stands with a good quality build. They’ll be more expensive, to be sure, but their increased durability and reliability will give you peace of mind. Of course, it pays to read reviews. Consumers are the best resource to call upon here as they will find and expose weak points that make a jack stand worth skipping.
Jack Stand Pricing
Jack stands exist on a broad price spectrum. You can land a single jack stand for less than $30 or spend nearly $300 on a heavy-duty set. What you can expect to spend depends on a few factors. Quality, general construction, and quantity are all highly influential of any given option’s pricing.
FAQs
You have questions. The Drive has answers.
Do not work under a car or truck that is being held up by hydraulic jacks. The same goes for any other kind of jack for that matter. Always support the vehicle with a jack stand before crawling under it.
Yes, but you have to follow some safety precautions. Make sure to chock the wheels and set the parking brake. You want to take as many precautions as possible to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Don’t allow yourself to end up in that situation as there’s no telling what will happen to you. Make sure to support the vehicle with jack stands and secure the wheels before crawling beneath it. If you don’t trust it, don’t get under it.
When sed properly, ramps can be safer than jack stands. However, jack stands are very reliable and safe to use as long as you use the right jack stand for the application and use it safely.