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Fri Aug 08, 2003 6:25 am

I need to jack up the front end tomorrow to begin cutting out some rust on the front edge of my belly pans.

Where is a safe place to put the jack to jack it up (I'm using a commercial floor jack) and where should I put the jack stands? Under the front beam?

Thanks,

Doug

Fri Aug 08, 2003 6:35 am

under the front beam is the best place. be sure to stay clear of anything you might damage with the floor jack (grease fittings, etc) keep in mind also the beam is a tube and the floor jack may want to skate around under it. use a floor jack that has indentations in the swivel saddle. keep in mind the best place for the floor jack may cause the bus to lift unevenly. thus, be careful letting in down on the jackstands.

jackstands are best positioned along the frame rails. try to put them in the same spot on each side on an even floor.

be sure to use jackstands, we'd hate to lose you.

Fri Aug 08, 2003 6:45 am

Earlyman,

When you say "put the floor jacks along the frame rails" exactly where is this. Sorry to sound so lame, but I don't like lying under all that metal while worrying it will come down on me.

Thanks,

Doug

Fri Aug 08, 2003 7:31 am

its where the belly pans attach. kinda where the center bellypan meets the outer bellypan. there is a lip that runs parallel the length of the vehicle. near the jackpoints is a good spot. you can easily eyeball if they are in the same spot on each side.

take your time, assess the situation, know what youre getting into. you could get killed under your vehicle.

Fri Aug 08, 2003 7:36 am

Doug,

The rails are the side members that run parallel to each other on each side of the bus. Just look under your bus and see where the front beam attaches to the frame. That's the rail that the beam is bolted to. Although the rail takes a curve down from that point, there's a fairly flat (parellel to the ground) area that works real well for the jack stand.

Scott

Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:31 pm

i say the beam because the rails have that lip so if you have older jackstands there resting on that little lip ot joining point but either place will work

DONT FORGET TO BLOCK THE TIRES

Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:36 pm

In addition to the above, I always throw a spare tire under there where the bus will land if all else fails. Could be the difference between injury and death.