Consult a service handbook to find the suggested lift points and support locations for your particular vehicle before learning how to jack up your truck properly. Repair guides are typically offered online or at auto parts retailers.
- Engage the parking brake and block the back wheels before you start the jacking procedure to stop unwanted movement.
- You should begin lifting the car up from the front. Trucks with four-wheel drive can have their front ends elevated by setting the jack under the differential.
- A helpful hint is to position the jack for two-wheel-drive trucks underneath the engine’s jacking pad.
In This Article...
How is a 2001 Toyota Tacoma jacked up?
A 2001 Toyota Tacoma DLX 3.4L V6 Extended Cab Pickup Jack-Up Guide
- Find the jack kit, the jack handle, and the lug nut wrench.
- Pre-Jack List: Actions to take prior to lifting a car.
- Position Jack: Put the jack handle together and place the jack beneath the jack points.
- Vehicle Lift: Lift the car securely using the jack.
Is lifting a truck by the differential acceptable?
Sadly, despite the fact that this is one of the most frequently discussed subjects in relation to jacking up cars, everyone appears to have a different suggestion for what you “should be doing.” If you ask your friendly neighborhood mechanic, he’ll undoubtedly admit that he frequently presses a floor jack up against the differential. To determine which elements of a car or truck can withstand the force of the jack, he depends on expertise.
Others will just advise you to consult your owner’s manual or get in touch with the car’s manufacturer. Technically speaking, that’s a really good response. Why? It doesn’t follow that something is unquestionably safe just because it is probably safe. The tire shop workers are undoubtedly acting safely when they lift a car by the differential. Similarly, if you perform the same task at home using a reliable hydraulic jack, you are likely acting safely.
You are surely being safe if the differential is listed as a recommended lifting point by the manufacturer of your car. Your handbook, however, most likely instructs you to lift from the pinch weld or frame. If in doubt, refer to the book!
A 2 ton floor jack capable of lifting a truck
Each type of automobile jack is rated to support a particular weight range, and the precise rating is listed on the jack itself in the form of a clearly visible sticker. It’s crucial to realize that you won’t be lifting your car or truck in its whole with a single jack, so you don’t need one that is rated for the vehicle’s total weight. A two-ton jack should be adequate for elevating a corner on the majority of sedans and small automobiles. In order to provide you with the necessary margin of safety, a pickup truck or SUV may need to be rated at double that weight (four tons).
How is a truck jacked up?
We can finally go over the procedures you need to follow now that you have all the tools you need to jack up your truck. Of course, the detailed instructions below depict the operation using a floor jack in order to be as clear-cut as possible. Watch out for a separate paragraph at the conclusion of this article if you plan to use a bottle jack. However, both types go through a process that is largely the same.
Find a suitable place to park your truck
Finding flat ground with a large working space is the first rule of jacking. If you are at home, your garage is ideal, but if you are traveling, any other flat, firm surface will work just fine.
Here is a quick tip to look for tiny slopes that could endanger you since you aren’t required to carry a level with you everywhere you go. When you’ve reached the desired location, stop your truck, shift into neutral, and carefully let up on the brakes. If your truck starts to roll in any way, move to a leveler place.
In addition, park as far away from the road as you can if you have to stop on the side of a road where cars are passing, especially if you need to remove a wheel from the left-hand side of your truck.
On the other hand, it’s highly improbable that you will discover solid ground nearby if you are in the middle of a trail far off in the woods. I would then advise placing a square piece of wood under your jack in that situation. It will be much more sturdy due to the greater surface, which should prevent it from sinking in the muck. You should be set to go as long as you select a piece of wood that is large enough to sustain the weight of your truck.
Engage wheel chocks
It’s time to safely jack up your truck once you’ve located a secure, level parking space. First, engage the emergency brake and park the truck. Then, while your truck is being jacked up, gently secure the wheel chocks around one or more wheels that will remain on the ground. Place the wheel chocks around the rear passenger’s side wheel, for instance, if the jack is placed close to the front driver’s side wheel.
Wheel chocks are obviously unnecessary because both the front and rear wheels should be securely blocked if you put the car in park and use the handbrake. I must admit that I don’t often use wheel chocks when jacking up cars and trucks in my shop. Since the ground is level, it is quite improbable that the object will roll in any direction. However, when you are outside, you are never completely safe from a component failure (you never know when a parking brake cable can crack, for example), and you should always err on the side of caution, especially when driving on a trail.
Additionally, even if you manage to locate a very flat spot to park on, we still advise utilizing wheel chocks as an additional safety precaution. If none are available, you can alternatively use bricks or sizable pieces of wood; these are particularly effective on muddy ground.
Picking the appropriate jacking point
The saddle of your floor jack must be placed at a proper jacking point; otherwise, you risk permanently damaging the truck’s bodywork or damaging valuable components. Fortunately, all manufacturers will offer certain designated jacking locations, regardless of the make or model. You can always look in your truck’s owner manual if you are unsure of where to look. Your best bet is to try to find these spots visually if the manual isn’t available; they are typically identified by an arrow or a little depression under the rocker panel.
If your truck has an independent suspension, you can set your jack under the control arms because your truck is a body-on-frame model rather than a unibody one. If not, keep an eye out for corrosion. Additionally, you can position your jack under the differentials to lift a full axle off the ground.
Jack it up
It’s time to begin pumping after choosing the proper jacking point and positioning the floor jack correctly. 12 to 15 pumps will often be required to raise the truck high enough to access the underbody. When the truck is in the desired location, carefully position a jack stand near the saddle and slowly turn the jack’s lever until the hydraulic system releases just enough pressure to position the truck on the stand. Because you will lose a few inches while mounting the truck on the supports, be sure to jack up the truck a little bit higher than the necessary end height.
Make sure to choose the proper height and firmly engage the locking pin before setting up the jack stands. Slide the floor jack out of the way after the truck is supported by the jack stands. If the truck is about to fall, it best fall when you are not underneath it, so you might want to give it a good wiggle to make sure it is held securely before reaching under it.
Lowering the truck
Start pumping after setting the floor jack below the truck. If you’re lucky, certain floor jacks have a fast-lift option that, with 4-5 pumps, raises the saddle to its highest point. Adjust the jack’s location when the saddle approaches the lifting point to make sure it makes contact where you want it to. Put in a few extra pumps to clear the stand and remove it once you start to feel any resistance on the handle. Before lowering the truck back onto its wheels, remove the jack stand.