Featured Technical Skip The Jack Stands, make Riser Blocks

A friend and I built these riser blocks. Very safe and handy for building,cleaning and servicing your car. 16” 2X4”s.

 

Great safety post.
I agree, made some a couple years ago and man you feel so much safer under the car.

 

Thank you, Marty. I have done that for years. Then don't always use them.

Ben

 

Nice
How much weight do you think they will handle. OK for a 6500lb truck?
Dan

 

Just gluing in 1" wide fillers between each cross piece directly under where the tire sits would greatly increase the load bearing capacity.

 

Da you’re right, my thinker is a little slow today.
Dan

 

I made a set out of s**** steel we had laying around, but I need another set and these things are damn heavy. 2 X 4's please.

 

I don't know about that, the heaviest I plan on is 3200lbs. But they will sure come in handy for the Top Banana, that's where I got the idea.

 

Next door neighbor is a former contractor. Guess I’ll be raiding his storage sheds for 2x4 s****s…

 

Cribbing blocks. Very strong . Add some plywood even stronger

 

The Top Banana sure is SWEET.
Love your top shelf craftsmanship.
Dan

 

Thought about building a set but figured the weight and size when storing them would be an issue. Ended up with 4 of these. They are light and strong. However they were much cheaper when I bought them. But factoring in the price of 2x4's (with the added lumber tax in CA) they might not be all that pricey if you had to buy new lumber. But if you have access to construction cut offs that would be a different story.

 

I've made some before, but don't have them anymore. They do take up precious space in my small garage or shop, and I only used them when I wasn't working on wheels, brakes, or times I didn't need the tires off. When you do use them there's nothing better though. Long as yourr shop is not crammed full and you have a corner to stack them in.

 

If my calculations are correct, that's two 2x4s per stand and you get the additional benefit of that fresh-cut pine smell. #2 premium studs run around $3.98 around here. Eight bucks a stand, that's a good deal.

 

I've made a few different sets, but my son absconded with them. I did have a pair that I made with a saddle on top that fit the torsion bar housing on VW's.

 

Do you make them modular, so that you can add or subtract one "insert" to adjust the height?

 

Add another row down center with full contact at each level
Works like cribbing for heavy loads. Don't know what weight capacity is but what i do to all of mine for piece of mind.
Allows center of tire to have full bearing all the way to the floor.

 

I've been thinking about building 4 of them.Thanks for the info guys!!

 

I can see using some near 1-1.5' but have seen near 3' high ones and I feel like it's more of a show or hipster thing later more than safety.

I mean how many barn finds have you seen on these when they are found vs an old car on jackstands? I seen cars on jackstands for decades.

also they are only as good as how you fasten them together.

Stay safe guys.

 

Total load divided by 4 (not really). Shear strength perpendicular to the grain times 4 or bending strength times 2.

 

No, Chris has an additional drop in extension that drops in. For now this height works well for me.

 

Sorry @Marty Strode but I already built several traditional jack stands.

 

Those are fine and dandy, but you won't be jacking up a completed car and using them.

 

That’s what I have and use.

 

That’s the best way to achieve ride height

 

Just checked. The 10" high race ramps I have are rated for 1500 pounds each. Plenty good for my '39 p/u and my '54 Ranch Wagon.

 

Ok for only a frame. With the m*** of a full car I would say the footprint of those stands is too small.

 

A 2x4 (1.5x3.5) on edge wont crush until about 4500 psi. I'd bet one of these can go beyond 10,000 lbs.

I put my 2022 F250 4x4 on my cribs with no issues. Mine are just like the OP's.

 

Thanks
Dan

 

Ooo, I wonder if the neighbor’s wood stock has any 4x4 blocks. Because as a good friend and I always say, a job worth doing is worth over doing!