How to buy a good quality stand

If you are lifting your vehicle into the air for any reason other than changing the spare tire, you will need to use jacks. Never leave your car supported only by a jack. If the jack loses pressure or is knocked off track, the vehicle will collapse. Jack stands provide a stable solution to this problem.

There are a few things to consider when buying jacks, but you should pay particular attention to the weight rating, construction material, lock design, and lift height.

Keep the following in mind regarding jack stands:

• Weight Rating: All jacks have a nominal weight. This is the maximum weight they can safely hold. Make sure you buy jack stands that can support the weight of your car (you'll see a weight rating marked as 2 tons, 3 tons, 6 tons, etc.).

• Construction materialA: Most jacks are made of steel. However, you will also find aluminum versions on the market. They are usually more expensive, but lighter, so they are easier to move around. Aluminum doesn't rust either.

• Lock designA: There are several different designs of locks on the market today. The most common is the ratchet/lever style. However, you will also find pin locks. Of the two, pin locks are a bit more stable, but the ratchet/lever style is quite usable.

• Lifting height: This is the rating for the maximum extension possible with a stand without sacrificing safety. Make sure it's enough to get the car off the ground so you can do what needs to be done.

• base widthA: The width of the base is an important factor. The wider the base, the more stable the jack will be. Pyramid-shaped jacks have a very wide base, but there are other models on the market (piston with an octagonal base).

The right jack stand ensures that you can safely lift your vehicle into the air.