bob_dallas

Trying to decide which AC Hydraulic jack to buy for garage use. I've been using my aluminum race jack and want something with better reach to use in the garage. Is the 20 long enough to reach the motor with the front end on jackstands? I want to do it with the rear wheels on the floor rather than having to park on top of wood planks to raise the rear end too.

I'd just buy the 13 but it looks awfully big and unwieldy if you don't need one that big. Thoughts?

mds

I have the DK20. You will need a hockey puck to place on top of the supplied rubber pad on the jack and a couple of 4x4 pieces of wood for the rear wheels.
Raise one side of the car using a rear jack point,
Place jack stand under front jack point, and 4x4 under rear wheel,
Lower car, raise other side using rear jack point,
Place jack stand under front jack point, and 4x4 under rear wheel,
Lower car,
Place jack under engine, the 4x4's under the rear wheels provide sufficient space to get the jack under the car.
Raise the rear and place jack stands under rear jack points.

rockitman

Go for the longer version, the DK20HLQ. It's alot more expensive and while you can get away with the shorter version, in retrospect, I wished I had gone with the long reach version to give me more jacking point options...

http://www.alltiresupply.com/Merchan..._Code=SJ_MQLSJ

mds

The longer version won't help IMO. With the front on stands the rear is too low to get anything under there. You need to raise the rear wheels a bit.

rockitman

Thanks Mike...I feel better about my purchase now and I am a few bucks ahead of the game (wink)... :-)

rockitman

Great procedure for getting the car up on 4 jack stands. I have only needed to do the rear(2 stands), but when I drain the oil, I would like it up on 4 so the car is level during the draining process... I was in a bit of a quandry on that one... Thanks

mooty

mds has the jacking order right on.
i seem to always forget to put the wood under rear so end up having to re-jack at rear jacking point to get the wood under.

i also have the longer version.

mds

If you want to raise the rear only, the 20 works fine too. It is long and low enough when the car is on a flat surface - no wood under the wheels is necessary. Just be careful not too raise the rear too much or you will damage the front spoiler.

bob_dallas

Thanks guys - I think I'll go for the regular DK20 and save the $$/space. I'll put the balance towards a full lift in the future... BTW - great tips on the 4x4s - I hadn't thought of doing it that way, I was driving the rear wheels up on 2x8 but jacking onto 4x4 or 2-2x8s would be easier.