The Cheapest, High Quality Ratchet Axle Stand Available Now – Cheaper Than Halford’s Model And A Lot Safer to Use Too!

Draper 2 Tonne Axlestands

 
Unlike Halford’s axle stand this model has a built in ratchet mechanism rather than a safety pin which gives you more control and is less fiddly – compare with the prices of other stands – it really is a great deal.

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Draper 2 Tonne Axlestands

Silverline 3 Tonne Axlestands

Silverline 6 Tonne Axlestands

We have a close relationship with Amazon to give you the best value for money axle stands – check out the prices on other sites and you will see that they are far more expensive for lower quality models.

If you are going to be working on your car frequently, it pays to buy some axle stands. A lot of accidents happen each year due to people using the incorrect equipment to jack up their car – as you can imagine, this can have devastating consequences should something go wrong. They are fairly inexpensive items to buy, and they can really save your bacon on occasion, so try to get a pair as soon as possible if you have not done so already. Here are the features that you should check for when it comes to buying axle stands:

Safe working load (SWL): This value indicates how much weight each individual axle stand can hold. If you have a big vehicle such as a SUV, you are going to want each one to support at least 2 tonnes or more. While this may not sound like a high enough rating, remember that each stand only has to support one corner of the vehicle in question. One thing to watch out for is that some makers of jack and axle stands grade both of them together on the box, so the box might say rated for 2 tonnes but each stand really only support 1 tonne maximum.

Saddle: Look for a stand that has a wide or Y-shaped saddle at the top. This should be more than enough to support the vehicle without any slipping. Stay away from stands that have flat saddles – the car could be likely to slip and fall. Another thing to consider is what metal the stand is constructed from. Be more inclined to go for one which is made of iron rather than steel, since this will not scrape the supporting beams as much.

Height: The heavier the vehicle that is to be supported, the higher the axle stand that will be required. Look for stands that are around 300mm if you are going to be jacking up a car, and buy high axle stands (350-400mm) if an SUV or 4×4 is going to be raiseed.

Feet: Look for stands with padded feet to prevent slipping. Enough said!

A stand is an essential tool to have in every mechanic’s toolkit. They provide you with the reassurance that the vehicle will be well supported, and let you work in safety underneath it. When buying an axle stand, first work out the safe working load and height of axle stand required. Once these have been determined, you can start to look at the type of metal and saddle used. Many accidents happen each year to those that try to take a shortcut and only use jacks to raise their car. Avoid any accidents; get some high quality axle stands!

Introduction to Axle Stands – To do any kind of work underneath your car, it is important to fully support the vehicle before you begin. In the past, people have used materials such as brick to do this, but this is unsafe since these materials could break if the full weight of the car is on them. Nowadays there are a wide range of car axle stands available that will fully support the weight of the vehicle, allowing you to work safely on it from below.

Axle stands are used to fully support your car once it has been raised up by a car jack or a similar item. They have a Y shaped top that cups the axle or frame rail of a car, preventing it from slipping. Once they are in place underneath both wheel axles, you can work safely on your car to your heart’s content.

Now, you may be asking, what is wrong with using the common car jack? Plenty! A car jack is really only designed to raise the car enough off the ground to change a tyre, and they are not designed to support a vehicle for any extended amount of time. There are plenty of examples of people using car jacks to raise their car and getting crushed when the seals fail while they are underneath it.  An axle stand can raise a lot more weight than a car jack, and it is also not prone to failure.

There are many different types of axle stand available, such as foldable axle stands, heavy duty axle stands, and there are also stands available for supporting trailers, such as caravan axle stands. Be sure to buy one that is designed for the weight you are intending to raise, and remember to stay safe with a set of axle stands!

Axle stands are handy pieces of equipment to have, but it is important to make sure that they have the proper safety features before using them. An axle stand is used to support a car once it has been raiseed up in the air by a jack stand, with one placed under each axle near the wheel, hence the name. By using car axle stands you can be reassured that if the jack were to fail (this can happen, with hundreds of accidents reported each year) you will be protected from being crushed.
There are a few different types of axle stand available, but before buying or using one, check for these safety features to stay as safe as possible:

• Check for good build quality: The first thing to check is the general appearance of the axle stand. Check for signs of rusting, the quality of the welds, and also make sure that there are no rough edges. First impressions count, don’t buy one if these features are present.

• Look for stable feet: Make sure that the stand has stabilizing feet on its base. If it does not, the stand is likely to be a liability on soft surfaces, and it could be prone to slipping.

• Check the support mechanism: There are generally two types of support used on axle stands, ratchets and pegs. A ratchet mechanism is a generally better and safer to use, since it allows precise control on the elevation of the raise. Peg based stands can be more awkward to use, although they are a little cheaper. If all you have is a peg axle stand, make sure the pegs fit and have a safety catch before using them!

There are so many stands that are inexpensive AND still have these safety features, so why skimp on features just to save a few dollars? Buy quality axle stands to protect you in case an accident happens.

If you own a caravan then you should have a set of axle stands to go with it. When your caravan is stationary for long periods of time, axle stands allow the weight of the trailer to be taken off the suspension. They should also always be used whenever changing wheels or when working underneath the chassis. You should get used to the procedure of placing axle stands correctly, as it is a common chore that unfortunately goes hand in hand with the ownership of a caravan.
Before you begin, you are going to need the following: a trolley jack axle stands kit (single trolley jack, and 2 to 4 stands), a concrete slab, and maybe some wheel wedges.

1. Put on the parking brake. If your caravan is of the single axle type it is best to use wheel wedges to stop the trailer from moving.

2. Place a concrete slab or thick grade plywood underneath where the axle stands will go. This is to prevent the caravan stands from sinking into soft ground. For the best type of grip on the material, get a caravan axle stand that has feet at the bottom or, even better, a continuous surface one.

3. Using a side or trolley jack, locate the jack points and raise the chassis of the caravan just enough so that the weight is taken off the suspension.

4. Place the stands under the axle, and then slowly lower them until the stands take all the weight.

5. Place your hands on the front of the caravan and give a gentle push – make sure that there’s no movement, and that it is sitting solidly on the stands.

Tip: Any model of axle stand should do the job, but try to get some with a ratchet mechanism, such as draper axle stands, since they give more control over the elevation.

Stopping wear and tear on your caravan will save you a lot of money further down the road, so be sure to use caravan axle stands whenever possible. When doing repairs on the underbelly of a caravan, stands are absolutely essential. Once you have seen a caravan slip off a trolley jack you will see why they are a must! Remember – safety first – use axle stands!

Lifting up your car to perform routine maintenance is something we all have to do from time to time. For safety reasons you should make sure that you do this you have a set of axle stands ready to fully support the weight of the car. The thought of having multiple tonnes come crashing down onto a bag of flesh and bones is not a very appealing one, so always make sure you have a set at hand when it’s repair time.

Over the years, I have seen many cars and other vehicles slip off a jack, and luckily no one I know has been under the vehicle when it happened but the sight and sound of a metal chassis bouncing off the ground makes you realise that you wouldn’t want to be there if it were to happen! Car axle stands only take a few seconds to install, and from that point on you can work safely underneath the vehicle.

Here’s how to use axle stands:

• First lift the car up with a trolley jack or similar tool. You want to get the front wheel a good few inches off the ground before moving onto the next step.

• Now have a look just behind the wheel area – hopefully you will be able to see an obvious jack point near to the wheel or around the axle. If you can’t see one, it’s time to get out the car manual and have a look. Position the axle stands under the area selected. It’s worth taking your time to make sure the positioning is millimeter perfect.

• With the stands in place, slowly use the jack to lower the car a little bit at the time. Eventually, the axle stands should start to take up all the weight of the chassis.

• Pull the jack out, stand up, and rock the car slightly using your hands. You want to make sure that the car is stable.

Congratulations, you can now work underneath the car, safe in the knowledge that you are well protected. The best type of stands to get if you do not already have some are ratchet axle stand, since they provide the most stability and they’re easy to raise and lower. Now, get to work!