I carry a 6 ton bottle jack and would like to use it on our Subaru. However, the jack points there are relatively thin vertical pieces below the rocker panel and I would prefer having a V shaped head instead of the flat round piece on the bottle jack. The only accessory I've found that is close but no winner is this. 6 Ton 3" Universal Lift Pad – Safe Jack (https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories/products/axle-tube-pad-for-bottle-jack)
Does anyone have another suggestion for how to make that work?
Jim
Scissor jack with a notch wins here. There are legions of them on ebay. Add an allen key with a 90 degree angle to a cordless drill and you have power up and down.
H Jim; Your Subaru doesn't have, what in the old days, was called a frame. Instead the body rails are just folded metal in a 'monocoque' structure. The scissor jack that came with the Subaru should have a cup shape on the lifting part that is designed to fit into the designated proper lifting point on the underneath rails. Depending on that shape, you could come up with a contoured steel piece that would fit on the bottle jack end. You would want to spread the load over a larger area, about where the scissor jack would go. A Subaru 'forum' might have better answers but it is do-able. RonB
Scissor jack with a notch wins here. There are legions of them on ebay. Add an allen key with a 90 degree angle to a cordless drill and you have power up and down.
I do have the scissor jack and your idea is a good one. I just don't carry a cordless drill around in the car, maybe I should though. Thanks
Jim
H Jim; Your Subaru doesn't have, what in the old days, was called a frame. Instead the body rails are just folded metal in a 'monocoque' structure. The scissor jack that came with the Subaru should have a cup shape on the lifting part that is designed to fit into the designated proper lifting point on the underneath rails. Depending on that shape, you could come up with a contoured steel piece that would fit on the bottle jack end. You would want to spread the load over a larger area, about where the scissor jack would go. A Subaru 'forum' might have better answers but it is do-able. RonB
Good idea Ron but I don't know that I'm that creative. I will take a look at the Forester forum. It isn't that important but working with the bottle jack today got me thinking about it.
Jim
If I understand your request properly you may wish to take a small piece of 2x4 and rip a 1/8-1/4" cut in it just deep enough to accept the thin vertical piece of your Subi. Make sure you cut across the grain so your wooden tool does not spilt along the grain.
Just for clarification - sandwich the wood between the jack and the frame.
If I understand your request properly you may wish to take a small piece of 2x4 and rip a 1/8-1/4" cut in it just deep enough to accept the thin vertical piece of your Subi. Make sure you cut across the grain so your wooden tool does not spilt along the grain.
Just for clarification - sandwich the wood between the jack and the frame.
Makes sense and while today I have access to woodworking tools I don't know how to use them. The list of things I don't know how to do is almost endless.
Jim
Many folks use a hockey puck with a slot in it for this, which results in something like this:
Amazon.com: DEDC Jack Pad Universal Slotted Frame Rubber Jack Pad Medium... (https://www.amazon.com/DEDC-Universal-Slotted-Rubber-Protector/dp/B01MA232WY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PKTQZMPWB5XWEN864PNC)
Others use stuff like this:
Ford Focus Jack/Lift Pads – ZL1 Addons (https://zl1addons.com/collections/ford-focus-jack-lift-pads)
Basically, you're looking for a pinch weld protector for a jack.
Many folks use a hockey puck with a slot in it for this, which results in something like this:
Amazon.com: DEDC Jack Pad Universal Slotted Frame Rubber Jack Pad Medium... (https://www.amazon.com/DEDC-Universal-Slotted-Rubber-Protector/dp/B01MA232WY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PKTQZMPWB5XWEN864PNC)
Others use stuff like this:
Ford Focus Jack/Lift Pads – ZL1 Addons (https://zl1addons.com/collections/ford-focus-jack-lift-pads)
Basically, you're looking for a pinch weld protector for a jack.
I think the puck would work well. Thanks.
Jim
Makes sense and while today I have access to woodworking tools I don't know how to use them. The list of things I don't know how to do is almost endless.
Jim
I feel your pain. We on this forum are so very lucky to have a bunch of expert shade tree mechanics, engineers and technicians who are willing to share their expertise with mechanically disadvantaged folks such as us.
Chris
Many folks use a hockey puck with a slot in it for this, which results in something like this:
Amazon.com: DEDC Jack Pad Universal Slotted Frame Rubber Jack Pad Medium... (https://www.amazon.com/DEDC-Universal-Slotted-Rubber-Protector/dp/B01MA232WY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PKTQZMPWB5XWEN864PNC)
Others use stuff like this:
Ford Focus Jack/Lift Pads – ZL1 Addons (https://zl1addons.com/collections/ford-focus-jack-lift-pads)
Basically, you're looking for a pinch weld protector for a jack.
Great info - thanks so much for sharing Chip!
The first thing that comes to my mind is, if you had a flat or what ever, would you be able to get the bottle jack and adapter under the unibody frame? Our Subaru has a sizzor jack and it's pretty low profile.