Safe jack stands for boxster
 

When I jacked my car up last week, I just happened to go back and look at the 1st side I jacked up to find the stand had changed position to a point where it wasn't very safe. Any suggestions for good safe stands that won't break the bank. Thinking $150 or less.
Thanks. I like something that would fit the jack points.

best jackstands I've ever used are ESCO.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200358558_200358558?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Automotive%20 %3E%20Jacks%20%3E%20Jack%20Stands&utm_campaign=ESC O&utm_content=146640&gclid=CjwKCAiAjanRBRByEiwAKGy jZfgN6pxZSUhUNMUW3nAc5wOFrdilMbMMcfG_RMJv6PcqFn7RW gnGIhoCwO0QAvD_BwE

May be able to get them cheaper somewhere.

+1. I love my ESCOs. Never had any reason to worry about stability. With a good quality floor jack you are all set.

Yeah I've got 4 ESCO stands as well. I use them and I put the jack near where I am working, and I also have a pair of 6 ton harbor freight stands that I put near where I will be under the car as well.

I have had the stands tilt when jacking up the car and one time I had the back stands tilt so much the car dropped back onto its wheels, this is with HF 3 ton stands, that was an educational experience (I think I was trying to go up to one of the higher settings in one lift), now I do it in stages. The ESCO stands have a very substantial base and resists tipping and I haven't had that issue since.

For something that fits the jackpoints, try https://safejacks.com/products/the-rennstand-by-safe-jack, although it falls above your budget :)

The ESCOs have been very popular for a long time now. That said I'd never go under a car on jack stands without a secondary restraint like a floor jack under the structure.

I like the liftbar from liftbars.com. The bar is tailored specifically for the Boxster. The ends have slots where standard jack stands fits securely. It make lifting and adjusting height very easy. The best part is you can leave the jack on the liftbar as secondary device.

Liftbars
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the bars in full view.

I do really like the look of those liftbars...

A bit pricy but a very clever solution.

Re: Liftbars
 

+1 on the Liftbars. I bought mine about a year ago and haven't looked back. I used to dread the thought of jacking up the car one corner at a time to work on it. Now, it takes less than five minutes to have all four wheels in the air with the bars securely located in the factory lift points and the jack stands under the bars.

I like the liftbars but almost $300 w/shipping sems pretty steep. And they don't work withESCO stands.

That’s what I though at first but after using them a few times and see how it made the work so much easier was well worth the cost. Specially when you have to raise the stands higher.

Just to put the Boxster in Jack Stands alone is quite a bit of work, if you have to raise the car really high you would think twice before doing it. With the liftbars It makes it so easy to raise the car as high as you need it to go as long as your jack stands are high enough to support it. If not this my next choice would be quickjack.

I am the very same way on this
 

Redundancy is life

They work with any jack stands, which by-the-by do not need to be anything special. Regular old 2-3 ton quality stands are just fine.

Same for me. I've seen "Final Destination" far too many times. :D:D:D

I use a set of Esco's, if I didn't sometimes work on other cars I would have bought liftbars. I normally slide the wheels under the rotors as a backup, and put some block under the center post of the jack stands.

I bought my liftbars years ago... Love them. They also fit my 911.

That's really cool. I find the 986 to be pretty easy to lift as it is, wish they made one for my other cars!

The only other problem with liftbars is I'd have to buy a jack that is low enough to fit under them, pushing the total price higher. So for now, I'll do it the hard way !

BTW, there are similar adjustable versions available to fit a range of vehicles.

Can you point me to the site?

If your car is too low for your jack simply drive over a piece of 2x4. One on each side will do.

I don't remember off the top of my head, I'd have to play around with some Google search terms.

Here's some, though not very low profile. I thought about fabricating a set, but I just don't jack my car often enough for it to be worth the effort.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cross+beam+jack+adapter&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS7 66US767&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=0ahUKE wj_9uORmorYAhUOUd8KHTWHAFcQsxgIKw&biw=1185&bih=115 7

+1 for driving on a 2x4 to get some extra height

I will also mention an alternative idea to jack stands, cribs. If you are not planning to remove the wheels, build a set. Mine are two stages, cost about $80 in 2x6's and an hour of time. I use them for oil changes when I don't want to mess with alternative jack points to get the car on stands.

http://blueboxster.weebly.com/upload...-0659_orig.jpg

Yea be careful with that. I've got a set of 4 - 2x12's with a 45 deg on each end so I can roll off. I use them to set a different car on to get a little space for (long explanation). Anyway I got the bright idea of placing them under the wheels of the Boxster to drive up on. Launched the two that had been in front of the real wheels about 40' out the back of the garage across the yard! Could have been a really bad day but escaped that one unharmed and a little smarter.

and a fun game of jenga, life or death version.

There are about 40 3" screws in each section, I did not notice any movement in them when I lifted the car. Based on the information available online about crib designs, these can easily support a 986, or the foundation of a house.

I may just replicate what you have done. I have a ton of 2 X 6's and deck screws left over from a deck I built and this looks like a great use for them. Do you happen to have the dimensions you used to construct these?

Here's a copy of the blueprint I made. The only tweak I would make, would be to make them a bit longer and use 2x4 instead of 2x2 for the ends. I predrilled the holes to avoid splitting any of the wood, and put 2 screws into each side of every board. They weight a lot, but you could also add some metal handles and edges if you wanted to get fancy. :cheers:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1513362696.jpg

what weight do you estimate these will support 5-7 tons?

I don't have an exact number, but according to this a 3x3 crib built out of 4x4's supports 55,000 lbs. The 986 weights just under 3,000 lbs, and that is split between 4 points.

http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-165/issue-9/departments/training-notebook/timber-cribbing-use.html

Oh, yeah---lumber that's in good shape and assembled right (like in Rick's crib) will hold one helluva lot of weight. It's used to build house foundations!

I've for years used ramps made out of 2x8s. (Sorta wish I'd used 2x10s, although as constructed they have the obvious advantage of being lighter.) I've got a sloped driveway, so I back onto them for oil changes. Sometimes (as in this pic) I'll use a couple of my smaller ramps under the front tires to give a little more lift and to help accomplish a level car. (I should add that after this pic was taken I chocked a couple of the wheels before getting underneath the car.)

I've got 4 of those short ramps and use them to lift the car a little to be able to get the jack under it, or even if I'm just detailing the car (wash, wax, whatever)---just so I don't have to stoop quite so low to get the lower portions.

Marck makes a good point. I remember driving up on a separate piece of 2x8 or 2x10 one time (I don't remember why I wasn't using what's in the pic---maybe it was before I made them). But I over-gunned it a little and it fired outta there like it was coming out of a cannon! My dog was running around the yard---I'm super glad he was not behind the car at the time :eek:

I think the chunks of wood I have attached to the top level of the ramps helps some, plus (of course) it makes it less likely I'll back all the way off the tall end of the ramp. :eek::eek::eek:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1513374546.jpg

I work under the Porsche with jackstands. The only way my car is coming off those suckers is if there's 7.0 earthquake or if an A-10 from the air base crashes into my house. Neither is likely in Tucson.

My ramps are made by Rhino and came from Autozone for about $45. They are plastic and I believe made from recycled Coke bottles and water bottles.

I have a bunch of floor jacks, but for doing a lot of work under the Boxster, I drive it up on the ramps and then use a 12 ton air jack from Harbor Freight. And then put it on my 6 ton jackstands. My worksurface is 6" concrete, very level, btw.

I feel the same about my 2x8 wooden ramps in NE Ohio :)

That said, I have no reservations about working under the car on jack stands on those occasions when the wheels need to come off. That, of course, I do on a level stretch of driveway. But if I'm just changing the oil? Why waste time doing more than just backing onto the ramps? :dance:

Thanks Rick, much appreciated!

Totally agree to this. Just be sure you have a sturdy ramp. I do use ramps when changing oil.
There are those times when the wheels needs to come off and you have to work under the car. This is why I really these. The slots fit right Into the jackpoints of the Boxster and slots for jackstands. This ensures no slipping. As a secondary I leave my floor jacks under the liftbars to adjust height and secondary safety.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1513436736.jpg

Yeah, I'd love a set of those---they look amazing.

The only thing holding me back? My kid bought a plot of land and is planning on building a home in the not-too-distant future. And he plans a 3- (or 4-) car garage, with one of the bays having a built-in lift. ;)

That would be my dream garage but missing one thing. A lounge and a bar. 🤙

I'll suggest that to him..

I finally broke down and ordered a set. They are due the first week of January. I already have four jack stands. Watching the videos of them in use convinced me. The car goes up quickly and appears to be rock solid.

Rex,
After you get them (if it's ok with you), I would like to swing by to check them out, as my car is pretty low but the idea seems like a good one...

Will do sir.

As mentioned, Always have a safety backup, whether it's a jack, or the tires shoved under the car. Any single device can fail, even a jack stand, though rare. Do you want to be under the car when you experience a fluke failure ?