larryconnors Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Do you consider bumper jacks to be unsafe? If you do, what do you carry for a jack and how do you use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldguy48 Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I have a bumper jack for my P15...but I will not use it. I bought a scissor type jack, and a small bottle jack that I keep in a tool bag in the trunk. I won't trust a 65 year old bumper jack. Heck, I'm 65 years old, and I can't do things anymore that I used to do. Guessing the same applies to that old jack. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 (edited) I consider them an annoying means to an end...they look good as part of the car neatly stored away where they belong...a scissors jack or a small floor jack is quicker and yes I feel safer to use. In my present build, the bz cp, I have stowed as scissors jack neatly and almost out of view to the eye behind the spare tire on the spare tire stand and by making a special retainer. Edited May 31, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15-D24 Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Unsafe if you don't have a good set of wheel chocks. Biggest danger is the car rolling off the jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel_ny Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I carry a hyd floor jack. I have a piece of 3/4 plywood for the jack to set on if needed, and wheel chocks. I am not overly confident that it will work to get the 235/75's with spacers removed from the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 235's and spacers...that car body gotta go way way up...I will be putting 225/75-16 on mine and using positive offset wheels,..,figure it will also have to go quite high.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel_ny Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 235's and spacers...that car body gotta go way way up...I will be putting 225/75-16 on mine and using positive offset wheels,..,figure it will also have to go quite high.... I know they will come off cuz they went on ,and it was up there, but I'm not sure if I used that jack, or the bigger one If I have a flat, I will just plan on it being a front tire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 maybe a couple of blocks and do it in stages...I do not recall the extension of the scissors I have..put that on my list to check... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I know they will come off cuz they went on ,and it was up there, but I'm not sure if I used that jack, or the bigger one If I have a flat, I will just plan on it being a front tire Well I've had 2 flats on the dakota so far this year. Both front tires. Ran out of spares after the second one so had to get them fixed finally. Sadly fixed equalled two new tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyHarold Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 My father's original '52 Plymouth rolled off the bumper jack and he never used it again. It's really a poor design that he (and I) considered to be unsafe. I only lift my Plymouths with a floor jack under the chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel_ny Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 maybe a couple of blocks and do it in stages...I do not recall the extension of the scissors I have..put that on my list to check... I will have to check out what it takes to get it done when time allows. I will see if that jack works. The car had a scissor jack when I bought it. I am not real fond of scissor jacks. I do want to pull a wheel to measure offset anyway. The 235's are on Dakota wheels and needed the spacers. Next thing is, I have 2 brand spanking new 235's on GM wheels. The ones on the car now are a bit iffy. I'm not sure if I really want to know how old they are. Question I have to ask myself is do I want to get adapters to mount the new mounted tires, or go through the tire wheel swap which will involve getting them balanced as well. I have no other use for the GM wheels. I now have a truck with 17" wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 (edited) Well Shel that would be a no brainer for me...swap the tires from the GM wheels....should not be that much given the cost of a set of adapters..plus you still have the concern of spare going on if you have a flat in the rear..not only changing it but then removing the adapter also..plus I have a slight advantage of owning a tire machine and a couple tire balancers...the newest balancer is not on line yet...the phase converter is scheduled for delivery June 4... I assume you have the early 5 lug Dakota rims...I have a set of these as shop roller tires on the 51 Suburban wagon..I also have the Dakota suspension and the setup fits ever so nicely without need for spacers..but am only running 215's if memory serves me correct...the target wheels are the modified Canyons.... Edited June 1, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCurrent Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I used a bumper jack years ago when I first started driving. It got me out of a pinch, but I would not use one again if I had another option. The car was a 73 Buick Lesabre and I had to get it way up in the air before removal of the tire could take place. Chocking the tires is a must not matter what type of jack you use along the road. Chances are the flat will never happen on level ground. The use of anything to stop the tires from rolling is always better than nothing. I scissor jack will get the job done safely if precessions are taken to jack where it was meant to. They can be had at a bone yard for $5 or $10. They have boatloads of them. If you can get one out of a truck, it might be a little stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pflaming Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 A close acquaintance of mine used two bumper jacks to rotate the tires on his daughter's car. For some reason, we think, a noisy exhaust system, I crawled under. . . he was cold when they found him. I only lift my vehicles with a hydralic jack. I NEVER use two and when I put any vehicle on two stands, I shake that car with all the effort I can muster to get it to fall off. For my cars on the road I use a AAA 'jack'. Oh and when ever I have two flats close together, I go buy a new set of tires. New tires seldom pick up nails etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 They are fine if all you need to do is lift a bumper. If thee is a car attached to it...............RUN AWAY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy49 Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 On the road I use a small floor jack. On the farm, I cheat, the "jack" will grab the entire bumber and clamp on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knuckleharley Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I use bumper jacks mostly to jack siding up into place so I can nail it off when working by myself. Which is what I usually do. Just used one from a 76 caddy and the other from a 38 Chrysler (I think) to replace the siding on my wooden storage shed. I also use them for similar stuff. In my shop it's hydraulic floor jacks. What I use when I am on the road is a cell phone and a VISA card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eneto-55 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I have used a bumper jack many times, and have never had the car slip off of it, including road-side tire changes. But I would also never crawl under a car supported only with a jack, not even my heavy duty hydraulic floor jack. I always use jack stands, and if possible will also leave the floor jack just snugged under the frame, just in case. I am personally not very impressed with the scissor jacks they put in cars now-a-days, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyHarold Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 If I'm working under a car with the wheels still on it, I put wheels flat under each tire and then when I lower the car onto stands the tire rests in the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldodge41 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 (edited) I use a bumper jack to break the bead on tires/wheels when I change them myself. Put the tire/wheel on the floor, remove the valve stem guts, place the jack base against the lip on the rim, up under it if you can, and jack up the car slowly. If it doesn't pop the tire by the time the vehicle tire leaves the ground, get a heavier vehicle. When it pops flip the wheel/tire over and repeat. I carry a scissor jack in the '41 and a bumper jack in the '69. Both for emergencies only. I use hydraulic floor jacks at home, and never ever, even for a second get under a vehicle without properly supporting it with jack stands or other means of blocking. Jacks are for lifting only, not supporting. Edited June 2, 2013 by oldodge41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel_ny Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Hyd jack is useful for finding the cg. Two needed. One for each side of the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Here is what not to do! When I was 15 years old I bought a 1957 Desoto two door hardtop Hemi powered. I paid $85 bucks for that car and I sure wish I had it today. The car had a bad U-joint. I drove the car up onto a wood ramp, set the emergency brake, that was located at the rear of the transmission, and slid under the car to remove the driveshaft. Upon removal of the last driveshaft bolt I popped the driveshaft off and the car started rolling in slow motion with me under it. Rolled off the wood ramp and I was trapped under the car. I yelled for my mom but she could not hear me. I finally wiggled my self out from under that car. I was very lucky and I have not forgot that lession I learned 50 years ago. I did fix the U-joint, stuck an Earl Scheib $29.99 paint job on it, and sold it for around $400 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodney Bullock Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I have used bumper jacks all my life. My Grandfather taught me how to use and test it. I have been shopping bottle jacks lately only because at these all original shows they ask if you have your cars tools. The floor jack is used at home all the time. On the road the Bumper jack is king. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainGTX Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Growing up in a rural area and driving an old car (53 Dodge) with mostly bald tires, I had a lot of experience using a factory bumper jack. Never had a problem, even though the ground was not always level where the car ended up. I always made a point of carrying and using a wheel chock, or a big rock or fencepost, anything to help stabilize the car. Happened sometimes on muddy or snow covered roads, too. Always used caution, and would never, ever, get under a car on a jack. The problem with the car I have now is that a bottle or scissor jack under the rear axle won't provide enough clearance to handily remove the stock wheel with comparable sized radials. My car needs to be lifted by either the frame or bumper to provide adequate room. I suppose I could carry a lot of wood blocks to set a modern jack on, but that doesn't seem too practical. So, I am looking for a bumper jack to replace the worn out one in my car, in case any of you are getting rid of theirs. Still, I plan to use it only in an emergency if no other alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 no one jacs these cars from the axle when changing a tire..the very design of the fender commands that the body be lifted for clearance...you can jack the frame with a scissors or floor jack at the front of the leaf connector..I have used the bumper jack on many occasions as a youth as that was in the car...but I have since learned that the other jacks are so much more convenient and afforadable..in the old days..floor jacks were not what we would say compact and portable..quick and easy, down and dirty change for a 25.00 compact jack just makes too much sense.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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