Axle stands

[Kram]

I have a pair of halfords ratchet axle stands, plus had an old pair of the pin style, they work fine.

However they are generally too tall - its rare I ever use higher than the minimum setting. Part of the problem may be I prefer to do work just outside the garage, which has a light slope.
If I jack on the front centre lifting point, it is maxed out before I can get the left stand under but the wheels are off the ground and I dont need to go higher for any other reason.

Looked in shops, I cant see any shorter ones. I could modify my pair but would prefer not to!

 

[Barking Mat]

Blocks of wood for me.

 

[Craig-S]

id actually like a couple of the ones about 3-4ft high that screw up and down, cant think what they are called but i see them in american videos for lining up pipes

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Can't say i've ever seen especially short axle stands, nor seen much use for them. My short ones are about the minimum height i'd want.

I know the Halfords 2t are shorter than the 3t ones though.

id actually like a couple of the ones about 3-4ft high that screw up and down, cant think what they are called but i see them in american videos for lining up pipes

Cable drum jacks. Pipe welding stands won't have a very high working load rating.

 

[harveyp6]

id actually like a couple of the ones about 3-4ft high that screw up and down, cant think what they are called but i see them in american videos for lining up pipes

I've got 4 axle stands where the tripod is about 30" to the top, and then I cut down acrows to fit in the top to give me the fine adjustability.

 

[bricol]

Buy a taller jack?
Put the existing jack on something to gain a little extra height?

 

[Craig-S]

lol whod have thought they were called welding jack stands.

 

[Agroshield]

Blocks of wood for me.

Would it be possible to drive the vehicle onto some planks of wood and then use one under the jack?

In effect, it is lowering the ground that the stand sits on.

That way, the space between vehicle and ground is more, so the stand will fit, but the space between tyre and wood will remain the same as before so it is in the spirit of the "don't need to go higher" requirement.

 

[Agroshield]

...welding jack stands.

Similar to the acrow version above, a piece of scaffold tube and a scaffold screw jack might work. A nominal 50mm (48mm) tube might be easier to fit to tripod legs than an acrow outer sleeve of larger diameter.

 

[Craig-S]

Similar to the acrow version above, a piece of scaffold tube and a scaffold screw jack might work. A nominal 50mm (48mm) tube might be easier to fit to tripod legs than an acrow outer sleeve of larger diameter.

thats sounds like a lot more faff and probably more expensive than just buying a couple

 

[8ob]

Not sure I would be happy grovelling around under a car on a slope supported on axel stands, I too would opt for decent wood blocks like bits of railway sleeper.

Bob

 

[Keithmac]

I have a set of cut down pin style axle stands (I cut a section off the tube), the come in quite handy to be fair for brake services etc if you don't need to be under the car.

As said I would be weary of axle stands on sloped ground too.

 

[bricol]

Not sure I would be happy grovelling around under a car on a slope supported on axel stands, I too would opt for decent wood blocks like bits of railway sleeper.

Bob

That's how I used to do it - or ramps at 90 deg to the car, under the sills, with woods across them.

 

[addjunkie]

id actually like a couple of the ones about 3-4ft high that screw up and down, cant think what they are called but i see them in american videos for lining up pipes

Tractor axle stands would do you!

Id not use any axle stand on any kind of slope either. I had a fright one day many years ago, stripping a reliant down, got it up really high to just make things easier. Axle stands with pins quite high up, on a concrete floor. It went while ripping bits off it that were seized. Fortunately It went away from me.

 

[Craig-S]

Tractor axle stands would do you!

Id not use any axle stand on any kind of slope either. I had a fright one day many years ago, stripping a reliant down, got it up really high to just make things easier. Axle stands with pins quite high up, on a concrete floor. It went while ripping bits off it that were seized. Fortunately It went away from me.

luckily the garage is flat, the sort of thing ill buy if i get the need, i have a habit of buying crap because i like the idea of it, and im trying to stockpile the pennies

 

[jsf55]

I knocked these up with left overs, no good if your taking the wheels off or welding !

Post in thread 'Stuff you have made today'

Oct 31, 2025

Left over wood and screws from my garage roof project, at least i've got some sturdy stands for the car too sit on.

• jsf55

• 

 

[cocker]

Similar to the acrow version above, a piece of scaffold tube and a scaffold screw jack might work. A nominal 50mm (48mm) tube might be easier to fit to tripod legs than an acrow outer sleeve of larger diameter.

The screw jacks fit luverly in my axle stands , I've several pairs of different length ones with different cups/heads welded on .

 

[Olderisbetter]

I used to have some axle stands that bolted to car wheels with tyres on, they were very stable and had screw type height adjustment

 

[premmington]

I am really anal about axle stands and blocks - when working on the floor with a trolley jack.

I never get under a car without it being down on axle stands (in pairs).

I always leave the wheels under the sills of a lifted vehicle. If it all goes wrong - a wheel under the sill - is the life saver. For crush injuries.

This is a very good habit to get into... Most modern wheels are about the same width as your chest cavity when you on your back lying down. While you not getting out if a car comes off the axle stands - if it lands on the wheel under the sill - you still will be able to breath till help comes.

Putting wheels (or blocks) under the sills. Costs nothing and could save your life...

If I am working on tarmac - I use 3/4" ply jacking pads under the axle stands (don't when on concrete).

Same as @8ob - I got six matching big blocks of hardwood - I can stack.

I only own four axle stands - two short 3ton ones - and two big Snap On lorry ones - both sets are of the ratchet design.

 

[Bouledogue]

I do as @premmington does: proper axle stands, backed up by wheels placed under sills. And there's no point doing it occasionally: you need to do it every time or not at all. As he says, it may well allow time for someone to get the truck / car / trailer / whatever off you before you croak.

I even do it with light vehicles like a quad. More to retain the habit and to save the discs if I drop it, rather than it being necessary from a personal-safety perspective.

Tractor wheels are too difficult to manoeuvre so I use big oak blocks as back-up, like @8ob above.

Although beautifully made, I am slightly nervous of some of the hollow wooden boxes being used. However, perhaps they are appropriate for their use and I am just being a ninny due to my fear of getting a seven-ton tractor on my head...