Almost everyone at some point in their lives has had to change a tire – it is quite unavoidable. The real problem is that we don’t know when it’s going to happen, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for when it does. Having a jack available to help you change the tire is as important as having a spear, the two go together like a hand and a glove. When you are on the road, it doesn’t matter how many spare tires you have, you need something to help you lift your car and this is why a jack is a must-have whenever you go out on the road.
Before using one however, you should have a general understanding of how they work. For instance, if you car weighs 2 tons, make sure you are using a jack rated for 2.5 tons. Never use a jack on a vehicle that goes over its designated capacity. Usually every car comes with a standard jack, capable of lifting the car a couple of inches off the ground and that is fine for changing a tire. But sometimes we need more stability and standard jacks can get the job done most times, but not if you need more access to your vehicle and don’t want to risk the car falling. This is where jack stands come in handy.
If you want to be able to perform maintenance and more in-depth work on your car, you must have a jack stand. They are usually shaped like a tower or tripod and their purpose is to support the vehicle once it has been raised. Once the vehicle is jacked up and jack stands are put in place, you’ll have much better access to your car and will be able to perform many different types of work, not just changing a tire. Jack stands usually come in pairs and are rated for their maximum height and weight capacity. The stands’ height typically ranges from 33cm to 63cm, whereas the weight capacity can go from 2 tons all the way up to 25 tons.
Having a couple of jack stands in the trunk can ensure that you are able to perform more technical and precise work while on the road. And because they usually come in pairs, they provide much better support than your regular jack, they are stable and you don’t have to worry about your car collapsing thus causing even more damage than you were trying to fix. So if you want to be sure that no flat will ever stop you from getting where you need to, or you just want to be extra careful when lifting your car, getting a decent jack and jack stands can make sure that that scenario never happens.
