Trolley Jacks & Jacking Points

[zippee]

Morning all,
Does anyone know where/if I can get a trolley jack that will fit under a Chim without having to use the tool kit jack first of all?
With the Chims being so low I find I have to use the crappy std jack to raise the wheel up before I can get enough height to slide the trolley underneath. I'm just worried that one day I'm going to forget aand lower the car off the trolley and forget this, causing a bit of damage.

Also, does anyone know if its OK to jack the car up using the centre of the front chassis member, the one that goes across the front of the car. Up till now I've been using the corner of this one and jacking up one side at a time but this does seem to cause a bit of a twist. Is this piece of chassis strong enough to support the weight of the car as it has no supporting poles to the top chassis rail, thus allowing me to jack the whole front up in one go?

>> Edited by zippee on Tuesday 14th June 11:15

[puffsorted]

I drive mine onto a couple of paving slabs first to get the height to get the trolley jack under.

Then I use a 2 foot long piece of hardword flooring wood between the chassis cross member and the jack to distribute the weight

>> Edited by puffsorted on Tuesday 14th June 11:31

[shorty123]

Hi Zippee, i have got a Kinzo trolley jack thats good for 2 tonnes, and it fits fine under the front and rear chassis members that run parrallel with the wheel arches, the jack lifting plate fits snugly and safely onto the cross members and then it can be lifted and propped with axle stands. As for going down the centre line, my jack wont reach under before clashing with the underside so best to jack from the sides.

Mine was only a cheapo job, i think it was 20 quid from Makro (cash and carry) but similar ones can be got in most car accessory shops.

[travelsveryrapid]

I run the car on to a couple of paving slabs and that just gives enough height to get the trolley jack underneath. I have always used the front crossmember and it has been ok.

Steve.

[victormeldrew]

I use the scissor jack to raise the car enough to get the trolley jack under.

[Martin_S]

Depends on the height of the trolley jack, obviously - they do vary a little in saddle height.

I specifically selected mine to have a low saddle height.

If you are a little tight at the front, the usual trick is to turn the steering to full lock, then roll the trolley jack in between the front of the tyre and the wheelarch. If there isn't quite enough clearance to get it under the chassis rail, lifting the body from the nose intake will normally lift it enough on the springs to get the jack under.

[shorty123]

Just found this in the classifieds... could be just the ticket for you if the price wasnt so steep


check it out


www.pistonheads.com/sales/35457.htm

[zippee]

Looks nice and exactly what I need, but for the number of times I'm likely to use it it's about £165 too expensive.
Think I'll just take a look at the £22 ones in Halfrauds and invest in a pair of paving slabs.

Anyone else use the centre of the front crossmember to jack the front up in one go?

[GarryM]

zippee said:

I'm just worried that one day I'm going to forget aand lower the car off the trolley and forget this, causing a bit of damage.

I had the same thoughts but when you drop the car it takes a while for the suspension to sink back to normal ride height which, in my case, gives me enough added clearance to remove the jack without touching the car. HTH