I woke up to a flat tire yesterday so I pulled the jack out of my 2006 GMC Savannah to put my spare on. Just after I got the flat tire off and was fixing to put the spare on the jack collapsed under the weight of my van with over 1500 lbs. of machine, fresh water tank, etc. Fortunately the jack collapsed in such a way my van was not damaged. The rod that goes through the jack literally bent. Just thought I'd pass this along. If you carry a heavy machine and a fresh water tank it's probably a good idea to get yourself a heavier duty jack!!!
We gotta be careful with that, imagine for some reason you would be under the van. What type of jack was the one you used? Scissors type. I got a bottle one that i really never tried so i dont know how good or bad it would be.
Yes it was the scissors type that comes with the van. I guess they don't actually consider the extra weight you put in the van when making those jacks. My van is rated for much more weight than I carry. The jack is probably only suited to the van when empty or very little weight on board.
Good thread, most of use havent thought about that. Luckily you did not get hurt and your van was not damaged.
Here are a couple pics I shot of the jack. Fortunately it stayed in the upright position and kept the axle from falling all the way down. You can see how the screw rod bent.
I always us a floor jack (and jack stands if I'm doing more than changing a tire). I've done way too much mechanic work to use anything else.
Good post Randy! I never use the jack that comes with the van for that reason. Its a very good idea to get a heavy duty jack.. No one thinks of this till they get a flat.. Thank you for posting this...
I keep a 12 ton bottle jack on the van along with a jackstand and a couple blocks of 4x4's. I have no problem jacking the van up fully loaded. spotman
That's my intention to get a bottle jack too. I have a small floor jack, but it was almost impossible to position it on the right rear side because of the exhaust being in the way. It was all I could do to raise the van up with that jack because it was too short, but I finally got it up far enough to get the spare on. If it had been any other tire besides the right rear I would not even have used the scissor jack I don't think. I'll be looking for a replacement this weekend.
Thanks for post. I'm driving TM from NY to Florida next week. I did not plan on taking the hydrolic with the TM van until you posted this, Thank you. Do bottle jacks give good support from tipping. The hydrolic I carry in the other van is heavy and takes up alot of room it will take up needed space in TM van.
Yes I did and the jack was perfectly strait up. It just could not handle the weight. I had just taken the flat off and was grabbing the spare when it collapsed.
My bottle jack takes up very little room, I keep it behind the drivers seat and the TM. I always make sure I am on level ground. I guess that should go with any jack. Go with your gut decision. spotman
