Hey Guys,

This is a complete n00b question, i'm sure, but I have a 88 Toyota Pickup with 4" suspension and 2" body lift, on 33" tires. I'm trying to rotate my tires, and I need to get 4 (or at least two) wheels off the ground. I don't have a stock bottle jack (or any bottle jack). All i have is a hi-lift knock-off (used on the farm for a few years) and a craftsman floor jack. Pics:

(fixed pics, click for fullsize, auto-thumbnail is working again...screw photobucket)




Anyway, I can get both of the rear wheels off the ground by jacking under the diff with the floor jack, and then jackstands under the axle. I'm having trouble getting both front wheels off the ground.

I tried hi-lifting off the front bumper support rail thing (where the tow hooks bolt in, i figured it's strong). I can get one side off by jacking right next to the tow hook, but it only flex's so much. If I either jack it too high, or I try jacking it from the center, as soon as the "down" wheel comes off the ground, the truck wants to scoot off it, to either side. I know this jack is unstable, but that much? I've heard of people lifting the front wheels about a foot off the ground and then pushing the truck off it to get out of ruts. I can't even get 1" off the ground in the cozy environment of my shop! Am i doing something wrong?

I figured I'd rather ask the n00b question than be headstrong and break something (myself).

NaeS

 

Jack up the rear, place jackstands on the rear axle there, then jack up the front using the regular floor jack. However front would be better with some jackstands and if they arent high enough-a piece of 4x4..

Can you even get the tires off by hand anyways? If not then you cant rotate them..

 

i would definately try and borrow some floor jacks and some jack stands if you can. to be safe and what not.

 

i have a floor jack. It doesn't lift high enough to get the front wheels off the ground.

And yes, all my jack stands are tall enough, and I have 6 of em.

 

if the jackstands are tall enough, then just use a good wooden block, like a piece of a 4x4 or 6x6 post to help the floorjack get it high enough and then put the stands under it...that what we do to my dad's ford...

 

what he said, I've done it plenty of times with no adverse effects.

Andy.

BTW, Long time no hear, where you been?

 

If you have a discount tire near you...go there. They'll do it for free (no you don't have to be a customer there)

 

sounds ok...so i guess the hi-lift jack just isn't stable enough to lift more than one tire off the ground? Sounds kinda weak to me.

BTW, the high-lift is my down-the-road jack. If i need to change a flat, how can i get a rear tire up in the air?

NaeS

Andy - Been uber-busy with school. How have you been?

 

jack up the rear swap the tires. put the lugs back on, and lower it. then jack up one side, and switch the front to back & vice versa. tighten the lugs. then do the other side.

then check the torque on all the lugs and you're done.

oh, and i wouldnt even bother using the highlift in your driveway. use it for emergencies don't risk using it to do routine maintnence they slip out, and fall over all the time, and can damage your truck as well as cause the truck to fall on of you

 

Do you have a spare? Do what i do jack up one tire up the spare on, and then jack up another tire switch it out and so on. It takes time, but isn't that hard.

 

resize ur photos with www.photobucket.com

 

Arent tires rotated front to rear not side to side? Why do you need more than 2 wheels (left or right) off the ground at once?

 

Yes, front to back for our trucks. you can also criss cross like an X but its worthless imho...

Get a good 4x4 post for your floorjack, then you can jackup everything..

 

The high lift is more than capable of lifting the truck but take a look at your picture on your front end. You are missing 90% of the lifting surface of your jack due to your front bumper and valance being in the way. A high lift is a great tool but worthless if you don't have a good point to lift on.

you can get decent bottle jacks just about anywhere too..

As everyone has said use wood blocks to get your floor jack higher....stay away from 8x8x16 cinderblocks to use unless you have very good health insurance..

 

i'll try to clear up my previous post:

you jack up the rear and then switch the rear tires (which equates for the x pattern) and then you put it back down and jack up the left side. switch the left side ones (brings the rear tire foreward, and the front tire back), and then do the same thing on the right side.

theres a million other options...bottle jacks & jackstands are cheap, and always handy until the internal seals start leaking.

if you really want to get fancy they sell sets of 2 jackstands, and a jack, and you could just get the whole thing up on jackstands

yes a farm jack can life your truck, however any way you go its gunna be way less stable than the bottle jack

 

Well guys, I got it done. I got all 4 wheels up off the ground.



Here's what I did:

1) Chock the front, rest the truck on the chocks
2) Jack the rear from the center of the rear diff (picked up both rear tires), lower the axle housing onto the jackstands
3) Get to one side of the front, and jack it up, lifting one of the front tires off the ground (flexing the rear suspension a bit), and put a jackstand under it.
4) Lift the other front corner, and place a jackstand under it.

After the rear was on jackstands, I didn't have any problems with sidewall flex from the tires. The truck was very stable on the high-lift, and even better when it was on 4 jackstands.

So anyway, I got the tires all rotated, I took the fronts and took them to the back (with an X) and brought the rears straight to the front.

Oh, I also snapped pics comparing the 225/75R15 to both my 33X12.5X15 and 35X12.5X15. That'll be in another post though.

ATB for a job well done

NaeSLaS