Jack Stand Weight Rating

[peteking]

Hey Guys....just need a quick sanity check here. I recently bought a pair of 2.25 ton jack stands from my neighbor because he never uses them, and he let me have them for cheap. Only afterwards did I get curious about the weight rating.

 

I drive a ~5000lb pickup. The jack stands can support 4500lbs. Granted, even if I use the stands under the front end (heavier due to the engine & drivetrain), there is still a fair amount of mass being supported by the back tires. My gut tells me that it's cutting it a bit close. I've used 3-ton stands and never gave it a second thought. But using jack stands with a 2.25 ton weight rating......am I gonna kill myself??

[95Sierra2500]

I doubt it, because MOST mechanical devices are designed to be 3 times stronger than the actual rating (per engineering safety rules). My dad had a set of 2000 lb ramps that he would drive his old diesel dually up on (granted, he took safety precautions - large wood blocks under the ramps) and never had them fail. You should be okay, but I would have to say just try setting the truck on the stands and see what happens. I would also leave the jack touching the frame somewhere too, as a backup. I do it even with my 4k lb stands.

[peteking]

OK cool. Just needed a second opinion. Good idea on the test....I'll just jack the truck up, put her on the stands, and let her sit for an hour. Oy....I should have thought of that. MUST be Friday !

[Stevens03]

Thats 2.25 tons per stand... If you were putting the full 5,000 lbs on 1 stand.. I'd be worried.