Using Wood Blocks To Increase Floor Jack Height?

[rph74]

I have used wood blocks as much as 3-4 inches high in order to jack up my SUV's/ Pickups in the past. Is this bad practice? Or should I spring for the correct SUV/truck jack with 21 inches of lift?

 

I do of course use proper jack stands when working underneath the car. I prefer to use ramps whenever possible also.

[sam92lx]

wood works fine..

[bowtie_pasta]

Blocks of wood will get it done. Of course if you have the dough the proper jack would be your safest bet. Either way just use caution when jacking and jack stands like you are already doing.

[pm26]

Unless you have a rubber pad on top of the jack saddle, you should always use a piece of 2X4 between the jack and the vehicle frame (or other structural part). Nothing wrong with using a stack of lumber with your jack provided it is stable.

[BrassMonkey]

We used blocks a handful of times, the most recent was to put a new transmission into a Ranger. Just being up on jack stands wasn't enough clearance to get the trany in, so we put it up on 2x4 blocks. When we cleared it, I think it was an inch or two. Wood blocks are a good, cheap alternative at times.

[RyanbabZ71]

I used wood with my old truck (4x4 block). Worked well for 9 yrs.

[rogerf]

Unless you have a rubber pad on top of the jack saddle, you should always use a piece of 2X4 between the jack and the vehicle frame (or other structural part). Nothing wrong with using a stack of lumber with your jack provided it is stable.

Just add to this to visually check that block of wood for a square/stable alignment from several view angles before lifting much of the weight. Many of the less expensive floor jacks have very small saddles making this a balancing act. I have one of these cheap floor jacks and always use a block of wood. This jack is rated for the weight but struggles to lift this truck...don't trust it so only lift a minimum necessary height and get jack stands or wood blocking under the frame asap.

[xc80002]

its ok as long as its not like this

[fraiolib]

its ok as long as its not like this

 

u ruin all the fun i saw this thread and thats the first thing that came to me. i was just about to go and look for that pic (-:

[xc80002]

exact samething happened to me, I remembered it from a safety meeting at work

[jblakeney]

A JACK IS FOR LIFTING ONLY. So as long as it is not wobbly and you put your jack stands under it and allow the load to get on the jack stands.... Your going to be all right.

 

With that said, play it smart...... 2x4, 4x4, 6x6, 8x8.......... The smaller number of boards the better (just my opinion don't stack.)

 

Stacking the wood could slide. Where as 1 piece of wood it will imprint in the board from the jack and the frame making a strong contact patch.

 

Jbo

[jro909]

wood is fine, make sure you crib the frame of the truck as a safety net incase a jack does decide to slide..

[Hieneken49]

 

Fail

[xc80002]

thats good enough for a toyota

[fraiolib]

i worked in a shop that works on heavy equipment and they jack all the equipment up and set everything on blocks they are deff safe