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!
