Jack Stands

[PRWillms@...]

Hi David,
You’re welcome. I use 2 methods. First if my jacks are working on the coach I
will ground the front and raise it about 4 in. so there is a very stable front.
I then use 2X12 laminate planks cut square I got from a building scrap pile. I
stack them to make about 8 in. I then run the coach jacks up to full. Be careful
now that the coach is up. I will then be able to use a regular floor jack at the
axle. When you use a jack on the drive axle you can place it on any stable area.
I will usually jack the one side up with the floor jack and then place the stand
on the axle. Then repeat on the other side. The stands are for safety not
holding the coach if the coach jacks inadvertently lowers. With this config I
can pull the tires, the hub with the brake drum attached or any other thing in
the back with safety.

The second way is to get a 20 ton piston jack. They are about 10 in high and 6
in round. The lift pad has a screw that you can use to adjust up to the axle
housing then jack it up. I have both jacks and depending on the job is how I
determine which method I use.
Please note: that when you are dealing with so much weight you have to support
the base of everything. I have also 12X12in Diamond plate that is 1/4 in thick.
I place the coach jacks foot on that with the wood under it.
I don't know if you have had your jacks down on asphalt but you sink in.
Another trick to save the tires. For longer term parking on cement or asphalt
get the plastic cutting board the kind that you can roll. Put under the tires.
The cement will leach out the oils in the tire and age them.
FYI: The 40' 88 XXV has a gross weight of 45,000. That is how I run.


Have fun learning about the coach.
Paul Williams 88XXV 8V92


-----Original Message-----
From: dmb993@...
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 2:43 AM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Jack stands

Thanks Paul,

Your advice is a great help and makes sense. After all,
the drive axle does support the entire weight of the rear
of the coach when the air is dumped from the Tag. How
do you jack up the drive axle? Where do you place the
jack - on the differential pumpkin? What kind of jack
or jacks do you use?

Thanks,
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

PRWillms@... wrote:
> Hi Dave, DO NOT support your coach with you tag. It is only rated at 10,000
lbs only!! Use the side frame that is part of the solid frame. Or what I do is
use my leveling jacks to lighten the weight on the axle then jack up the axel to
place the stands. Using 2 each 20,000# stands should be fine. Remember you are
not supporting the whole weight of the coach. Rull of thumb, Use the stand rated
at or higher then what the drive axel is rated for and only use 2 at a time.
> Good luck,
>
>
> Paul Williams 88XXV 8V92
> In South Lake Tahoe
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dmb993@...
> To: wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com; WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 9:47 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Jack stands
>
> Folks,
>
> I need to do some work under my bus. I bought a pair of 20
> ton OTC jack stands and plan to use my HWH jacks to jack
> the rear of the bus and the OTC jack stands to support it once
> lifted. I read the file "working safely under your bus" and note
> that the jack stands need to be positioned under the frame rails
> or under the axles. Is it reasonable to place the jack stands under
> the tag axle. My LXi has a tag axle that's supported by a torque
> arm per side. Where the torque arm bolts to the axle there's a
> nice flat surface area for the jack stand. This means that the tag
> axle will need to be lifted so that the bump stop is pressing
> against the frame rail, then the stand can be place under the tag
> axle with the forces working thru the bump stop. In your opinion,
> is this safe? The back end of my bus weighs 33,000 lbs, and I'm
> working on a level 6" plus thick concrete floor, with tire chalks.
>
> Thanks,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security
tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free
AOL Mail and more.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>


________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security
tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free
AOL Mail and more.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Brady]

Paul. Your explanation is crystal clear. Thanks for taking
the time.

Best regards,
David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

PRWillms@... wrote:
> Hi David,
> You’re welcome. I use 2 methods. First if my jacks are working on the coach
I will ground the front and raise it about 4 in. so there is a very stable
front. I then use 2X12 laminate planks cut square I got from a building scrap
pile. I stack them to make about 8 in. I then run the coach jacks up to full. Be
careful now that the coach is up. I will then be able to use a regular floor
jack at the axle. When you use a jack on the drive axle you can place it on any
stable area. I will usually jack the one side up with the floor jack and then
place the stand on the axle. Then repeat on the other side. The stands are for
safety not holding the coach if the coach jacks inadvertently lowers. With this
config I can pull the tires, the hub with the brake drum attached or any other
thing in the back with safety.
>
> The second way is to get a 20 ton piston jack. They are about 10 in high and
6 in round. The lift pad has a screw that you can use to adjust up to the axle
housing then jack it up. I have both jacks and depending on the job is how I
determine which method I use.
> Please note: that when you are dealing with so much weight you have to
support the base of everything. I have also 12X12in Diamond plate that is 1/4 in
thick. I place the coach jacks foot on that with the wood under it.
> I don't know if you have had your jacks down on asphalt but you sink in.
Another trick to save the tires. For longer term parking on cement or asphalt
get the plastic cutting board the kind that you can roll. Put under the tires.
The cement will leach out the oils in the tire and age them.
> FYI: The 40' 88 XXV has a gross weight of 45,000. That is how I run.
>
>
> Have fun learning about the coach.
> Paul Williams 88XXV 8V92
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dmb993@...
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 2:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Jack stands
>
> Thanks Paul,
>
> Your advice is a great help and makes sense. After all,
> the drive axle does support the entire weight of the rear
> of the coach when the air is dumped from the Tag. How
> do you jack up the drive axle? Where do you place the
> jack - on the differential pumpkin? What kind of jack
> or jacks do you use?
>
> Thanks,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>
> PRWillms@... wrote:
> > Hi Dave, DO NOT support your coach with you tag. It is only rated at 10,000
lbs only!! Use the side frame that is part of the solid frame. Or what I do is
use my leveling jacks to lighten the weight on the axle then jack up the axel to
place the stands. Using 2 each 20,000# stands should be fine. Remember you are
not supporting the whole weight of the coach. Rull of thumb, Use the stand rated
at or higher then what the drive axel is rated for and only use 2 at a time.
> > Good luck,
> >
> >
> > Paul Williams 88XXV 8V92
> > In South Lake Tahoe
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: dmb993@...
> > To: wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com; WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 9:47 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Jack stands
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I need to do some work under my bus. I bought a pair of 20
> > ton OTC jack stands and plan to use my HWH jacks to jack
> > the rear of the bus and the OTC jack stands to support it once
> > lifted. I read the file "working safely under your bus" and note
> > that the jack stands need to be positioned under the frame rails
> > or under the axles. Is it reasonable to place the jack stands under
> > the tag axle. My LXi has a tag axle that's supported by a torque
> > arm per side. Where the torque arm bolts to the axle there's a
> > nice flat surface area for the jack stand. This means that the tag
> > axle will need to be lifted so that the bump stop is pressing
> > against the frame rail, then the stand can be place under the tag
> > axle with the forces working thru the bump stop. In your opinion,
> > is this safe? The back end of my bus weighs 33,000 lbs, and I'm
> > working on a level 6" plus thick concrete floor, with tire chalks.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > David Brady
> > '02 LXi, Smokey
> > NC
> >
> > __________________________________________________________
> > Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security
tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free
AOL Mail and more.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security
tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free
AOL Mail and more.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Gregory OConnor]

David, I always slide an old steel wheel under somthing low and solid
as a landing point. I also drop the HWH but do not put weight on
them. ( I allow Jack stands to take the load.
GregoryO'Connor

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> I need to do some work under my bus. I bought a pair of 20
> ton OTC jack stands and plan to use my HWH jacks to jack
> the rear of the bus and the OTC jack stands to support it once
> lifted. I read the file "working safely under your bus" and note
> that the jack stands need to be positioned under the frame rails
> or under the axles. Is it reasonable to place the jack stands under
> the tag axle. My LXi has a tag axle that's supported by a torque
> arm per side. Where the torque arm bolts to the axle there's a
> nice flat surface area for the jack stand. This means that the tag
> axle will need to be lifted so that the bump stop is pressing
> against the frame rail, then the stand can be place under the tag
> axle with the forces working thru the bump stop. In your opinion,
> is this safe? The back end of my bus weighs 33,000 lbs, and I'm
> working on a level 6" plus thick concrete floor, with tire chalks.
>
> Thanks,
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

Gregory,
I agree that the jack stands should take the load. If they are
not in contact with the frame and the jack fails, the coach will
drop onto the stands. The inertia could far exceed the jack stands
rateing. Also, the sudden change in attitude could cause the coach
to rock to one side or the other. I wouldn't want to be under it
when that happened. Also, by putting the weight on the jack stands
you are assured of the stability before going under. And like you
said, something extra like that steel rim just in case.

Another note, jack stand pairs can be rated at 20k when actually
each is only 10k. Be sure of what yours really are.

Gardner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gregory OConnor"
wrote:
>
> David, I always slide an old steel wheel under somthing low and
solid
> as a landing point. I also drop the HWH but do not put weight on
> them. ( I allow Jack stands to take the load.
> GregoryO'Connor
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
> wrote:
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I need to do some work under my bus. I bought a pair of 20
> > ton OTC jack stands and plan to use my HWH jacks to jack
> > the rear of the bus and the OTC jack stands to support it once
> > lifted. I read the file "working safely under your bus" and note
> > that the jack stands need to be positioned under the frame rails
> > or under the axles. Is it reasonable to place the jack stands
under
> > the tag axle. My LXi has a tag axle that's supported by a torque
> > arm per side. Where the torque arm bolts to the axle there's a
> > nice flat surface area for the jack stand. This means that the
tag
> > axle will need to be lifted so that the bump stop is pressing
> > against the frame rail, then the stand can be place under the tag
> > axle with the forces working thru the bump stop. In your opinion,
> > is this safe? The back end of my bus weighs 33,000 lbs, and I'm
> > working on a level 6" plus thick concrete floor, with tire
chalks.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > David Brady
> > '02 LXi, Smokey
> > NC
> >
>

[M Thomas Eastham]

I use jack stands all the time for lighter vehicles and equipment but
not when it comes to the 'Bird. For the bird I use large blocks of
wood such as old beams, tree trunks, railroad ties, etc. I don't
trust manufactured jack stands near their rated load because the
metal is machine formed, pressed and welded. Wood has been
supporting heavy loads for a long time and I trust it with my life.
Think about the kind of loads a railroad tie sees over the course of
it's life.

83' FC35 SB
84' FC35 SB (currently being parted out)
Houston, TX
M Thomas Eastham
http://www.houstonheavy.com
713-851-9693
thomase@...





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gregory OConnor]

M Thomas, the only problem with wood is splitting. If you notice the
wood that the crane operators us it is engineered or gluelam. the
wood has layers or plys with the grains going in cross directions.
GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandca
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, M Thomas Eastham
wrote:
>
> I use jack stands all the time for lighter vehicles and equipment
but
> not when it comes to the 'Bird. For the bird I use large blocks
of
> wood such as old beams, tree trunks, railroad ties, etc. I don't
> trust manufactured jack stands near their rated load because the
> metal is machine formed, pressed and welded. Wood has been
> supporting heavy loads for a long time and I trust it with my
life.
> Think about the kind of loads a railroad tie sees over the course
of
> it's life.
>
> 83' FC35 SB
> 84' FC35 SB (currently being parted out)
> Houston, TX
> M Thomas Eastham
> http://www.houstonheavy.com
> 713-851-9693
> thomase@...
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>