Thanks for the heads up. I'll have to check mine. I use them to rotate my tires in my truck and am careful not to be under the truck.

quote:

Originally posted by Suppressed:
USA made jacks and stands: http://heinwerner-automotive.com/

For around six years now, their jack stands have been assembled in USA from domestic and global parts.

That sucks. I have two sets still in boxes, used once to hold up an empty aluminum boat trailer for new brakes. Are they giving refunds?

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
I just shelled out for two sets of these. What a great invention!

http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

[FLASH_VIDEO]<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X0flclqcxl0?start=131" width="560"></iframe>[/FLASH_VIDEO]

Looks fine for oil changes and such, but if you need to put all four corners up and work under the car, these aren't tall enough.

For many years, whenever I used jack stands I always used a floorjack at the same time. I figure if one lets go the other is a backup.

quote:

Originally posted by blueye:
For many years, whenever I used jack stands I always used a floorjack at the same time. I figure if one lets go the other is a backup.

Yup. Same here.

Harbor Freight has its uses...

Items like jacks stands IS NOT one of them in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by limblessbiff:
Who the hell would trust harbor freight jack stands in the first place?

I do, and have for decades... ever since switching from putting vehicles on concrete blocks with a bumper jack.

quote:

Who the hell would trust harbor freight jack stands in the first place?

Apparently about 500,000 people. Just because a few jack stands have failed doesn't mean that the other 500,000 are bad or that other products they sell are bad.

I understand the need for the recall, but don't believe the company as a whole should be judged due to a single recall.

Perhaps it's due to the work I do, but I don't put body parts beneath anything without a redundant set up. I wouldn't trust a single jack stand any more than a single cinder block or chunk of wood. I always use a primary along with a back up. Jack and jack stand. Jack stand and block of wood. Etc.

I evaluate jack stands like I would a parachute. Failure could be an end of life event.
Otherwise, why not just use the jack only and save the extra time?

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
I just shelled out for two sets of these. What a great invention!

http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

Because I'd never need to lift one of my vehicles to say...a different height.

Since all of my various jack stands pre-date Harbor Freight's existence I think I'm in the clear.

To me, if I am under the vehicle a jack stand is one of a couple items I am going to use. The other being a jack at least lightly set plus any removed tire being slid under the vehicle.

Using them to rotate tires is another application of less concern.

My latest purpose as I mentioned was to re-do brakes on a tri-axle boat trailer. I was never actually under it and only worked on 2 axles. I also use them to stabilize the front of the trailer when the boat is on it and stored on concrete for the winter. It is two additional points besides the screw jack up front. Makes it feel a lot sturdier when I am working on the boat.

HF stands have had their applications for me. Would I use them to hold a car with nothing else while I worked under it? No, no matter who makes them in that size range.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
This company has USA stuff.

http://usjack-com.3dcartstores...Jack-Stand_p_22.html

Thanks. Just put an order in.

My stepfather taught me to throw the wheel I remove when working on something under the lowest solid point of the vehicle, because if the jack falls it's better to buy a new wheel than a coffin.

I've got stands like these from HF. I'll have to check the numbers.

But as for trashing HF, some of what the sell is sold under several different brands. My HF jack stands are identical in every respect except color to Duralast (from Auto Zone) stands that I have. They appear identical to stands I've seen sold in Walmart. As for jack stands being recalled, I remember Napa had some of their stands recalled. Napa didn't get trashed. I suspect there are the same jack stands out there under different brand names that aren't getting recalled.

HF does sell crap. So does everyone. But a blanket trashing of their stuff is, in many cases, tantamount to an unknowing trashing of some respected brands.

I have several of their Earthquake XT brand battery operated tools. My 12v 3/8" ratch outperforms my Milwaukee 12v 3/8" ratchet by a mile, and cost much less. I've seen Earthquake XT tools get trashed in reviews, and seen AC Delco tools get praise. Apparently not many people know the Earthquake XT tools are rebranded AC Delcos. AC Delcos battery powered impact wrenches are widely praised, while the exact same tools under the HF brand are widely trashed. They are exactly the same tool.

I'm not brand-loyal. If HF has something that fits my need, I'll usually buy it there. I've never had a HF tool break. Never had anything from them fail. I've used their Pittsburg impact sockets on my Dewalt impact wrench for years and never had one fail. Their generators are highly regarded. I've used their gas engines and they are as good as any Honda they are a copy of. I have one of their gas powered chipper shredders for the last several years and use the hell out of it and it just runs and runs and runs. It's easy to maintain and has never failed to start of chip anything that would fit into it.

I like HF as well as any store if they have what I need.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Micropterus,

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
I just shelled out for two sets of these. What a great invention!

http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

[FLASH_VIDEO]<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X0flclqcxl0?start=131" width="560"></iframe>[/FLASH_VIDEO]

Looks fine for oil changes and such, but if you need to put all four corners up and work under the car, these aren't tall enough.

True. If you need to drop a transmission or something, these aren't your stands. I wanted them to do the brake hoses and flushes and oil changes. With the wheels on, and lifted on all 4 corners, the tires still touch, But you can lift one corner, pull a wheel, and then stand it. Thus all 4 are airborne when the shoes are off. Good enough for what I'm looking for.

Most importantly to me, is they won't fail, they won't slip, they won't damage the suspension members that I've been forced to position them upon because the jack location was used for the... jack.

I have never trusted other stands positioned in "incorrect" positions -- or vice versa, have I felt comfortable lifting in an "incorrect" location. But I understand there are many who don't subscribe to my one-right-way mentality.

quote:

Originally posted by limblessbiff:
Who the hell would trust harbor freight jack stands in the first place?

Well, I have a pair... but I use them as deadlift jacks, not to hold up a car.

quote:

Originally posted by LBAR15:
all I have are the Torin Big Red stands.

I just ran out to the outbuilding to see what I had - and it's Torin Big Red's. They look a lot (but not exactly) like the HF pictures. Are they not the same thing, rebranded? Sure they're OK? Just trying to be sure and not end up as an illustration to SigMonkeys' warning.

There is a reason we call it "China Freight"...

I would never use any life safety device from HF. I use next size up jack stands under my vehicles even though it leaves me less room to work. I also double up in the area I'm working with a redundant set of smaller jack stands. For some reason just can't stand the idea of being crushed to death. I MIGHT make an exception for their best Daytona model, just maybe. Otherwise you'll need to drop a grand or more on an American made professional shop grade long jack. They are the best, but they're damn expensive for a DIYer. FWIW, just like a gun safe, buy a bigger rated jack than you actually "need", the same principle applies. Trust me on this. Mine is a 3-1/2 ton hydraulic jack, but if this one wears out before I do, my next one will be a 4 ton. Anything heavier than that aren't made in China, they are USA made and very expensive. Worth it ? Oh yea, but expensive. For a serious motorhead though well worth it.

I wonder if these things are made in the same factory that produces their escalators...