| Author |
Message |
JimC (169.207.117.207)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 8:31 pm: | |
Hi everyone, I would like to find out what most of you are using to raise your bus.
What type of jacks you use,and what size.
Hydraulic bottle jack?
Air/hydraulic bottle jack?
Floor jack?
12 ton?
20 ton?
Anyone use jack stands? if so, how large? or, or do most of you use wood cribbing once raised?
Thanks
Jim Callaghan 4106
Wisconsin |
John Rigby (66.25.227.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 8:36 pm: | |
Jim
I use 12 ton air over hydrolic by Harbor Frieght on sale $80.00 each no tax no frieght if you catch them right.Big blocks under the body and the axles, depending where I am working. Block,Block and Block angain these buses can come down if a bag blows or if you hit a level valve by mistake.
John |
TWO DOGS (65.177.144.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 9:04 pm: | |
same here...harbor frieght air/hyd. |
Bob (Bobb) (216.232.245.18)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 9:11 pm: | |
Costco 20 ton hydraulic jacks and ramps made out of BC softwood 2x6's. |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (209.247.222.96)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 9:22 pm: | |
Hi Folks:
In our shop, with pits, we use Hydraulic Jacks and heavy-duty jack stands. Tried the off-shore stuff mentioned and it did not hold up, but you must understand that we use these everyday.
Our most successful experience has been from Sears Hardware as far as longevity. They are American Made and hold up well, used daily!!!!
I like the American made, but more importantly, I want my employees to be working safely. We therefore have a shop policy that even though a coach is jacked up by quality equipment, that it be supported by "Heavy Duty" Jack stands.
For the back yard converted coach owner, I would suggest that you be working on a "solid" surface and not "DIRT"!!!
These wonderful beasts that we all love, are heavy and can "KILL"!!!!
BE CAREFUL and take all the precautions that you can to work safely!! If in doubt???, DON'T!!!
If not sure???, then please ask again!!!
I Hope this HELPS!!
Happy & SAFE!! Bussin' & Workin' to ALl!!!
LUKE at US COACH |
Jeff (Jeff) (68.10.1.118)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 9:26 pm: | |
I have one 20 ton air over hydraulic and one 20 ton plain hydraulic bottle jack. I have a pair of 12 ton jack stands. I got mine from Harbor Freight and Northern. I never get under even my pick up truck with only a jack. Ramps, Blocks or Jack Stands are a must! Also chock the wheels. Parking brakes aren't always failsafe. I had a neighbor that went under a car with bumper jacks holding up his car. They collapsed and he was pinned. Lucky to be alive after that but he did have pneumothorax with both lungs getting punctured by broken ribs.
Jeff
"Take Another Road"
Member 4:10 Club
Rustless not Busless in Buckroe
1988 TMC RTS-06
6V92-TA DDEC IV/V731
da Bubba |
vern rainville (68.9.3.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 10:08 pm: | |
For me, screw jacks. Relatively cheap (on ebay about $30-$50 each). Positive stop (no leak down).Nothing to go wrong (parts). Jack handle or anything similar to raise or lower it. Kinda important if you are "leveling" your bus and do not want it to move (leak down).Vern (in RI) |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.213.62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 10:50 pm: | |
Hello all.
Remember that for most of our buses, we need one of those lower profile jacks for it to fit underneath if we are trying to change a flat tire, even with the help of a run-up block.
Short and stubby versus tall and skinny.
And of course it will be dark and raining....
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Emery (198.166.229.54)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 11:42 pm: | |
Luke, said it like it is. Keyword Pit! One more thing, Never-Ever! go under a bus while using (any) kind of jack be it hydraulic (or) mechanical. Slippage can be nasty. |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.53.202)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 2:42 am: | |
Well, if I had my choice, it would be the hydraulic tire lifts, but then, I don't have my choice, so I use a HF 20 air/hydraulic if working on tires or brakes and elevation ramps if I'm under the thing. |
MC - Iv (24.83.235.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 3:35 am: | |
When building my shop, I took the opportunity to build a pit at the same time. Before I started I asked Luke for instructions on how they built theirs.(length, width, depth etc). I now have a full length pit with access at each end. Works great. Now I can shop for a jack.
Thanks Luke for your help.
Iver. |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.54)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 8:46 am: | |
A pit is not possible for most of us, but what works for me is a set of ramps I made out of 2x12 pressure treated wood. Eight feet long with one foot increment raises cut at a 45 degree angle, with a two foot flat board at the top. I can drive the bus up the ramps and get it nearly a foot off the ground. Of course you have to make sure the bus and ground are stable when you use ramps. |
Doug Dickinson (Dougd470) (65.161.188.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 9:04 am: | |
I made the mistake of buying 2 manual hydraulic jacks. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can jack up the coach on each side. I will be replacing them with air/hydraulic jacks this year.
As for cribbing, I use pressure treated 4X6 wood (pine) that is cut into 24" lengths with a cord through one end to make handling easier. I use a 1/4 inch steel plate on top of the stack to distribute load. I don't trust jack stands - I saw one fail! Bad welds. It's just me I guess. Mechanics work with them all the time.
Doug
St Louis MC9 |
John Rigby (65.112.227.94)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 9:38 am: | |
Cant wait, I will be adding a pit to my back yard this year.It will be so much easier to work and check things out. I guess after 18 years of jacking the beautiful beast up each time we both deserve a pit.
John |
Larry (208.18.102.165)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 9:40 am: | |
I bought 2 Michelin 20T bottle jacks at Sam's for $19.95 Ea. Crib With rail tie stubs. |
FAST FRED (65.154.176.44)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 5:57 am: | |
IF a quick look see is all thats needed , either stradeling a shallow drainage ditch , or driving one side on a steep incline works.
Not for much work , but a quick look to see if everything is OK.
Alternativly backing up to a steep drop off is fine for chainging oil ect.
Doesn't take lots of slope to get to the drain plug with an oil pail or old filter out .
Works for me,
FAST FRED
Works for me |