Kwiklift Users: What Bottle Jack Are You Using?

[Bernica]

Hello all,

I have my Cobra parked proudly on a Kwiklift with 4 flat Billboards that need to be replaced (Yea, don't ask).

I have two of the Kwiklift bridges that will support the car's weight on jackstands while on the lift and allow removal of the wheels / tires. So now I need to get it up in the air corner-by-corner then insert the jackstands on the bridges and under the frame tubes. The standard method from Kwiklift is to use a bottle jack mounted on the bridge to raise the car enough to insert the jackstand. That's all good, but not so much when you are on flat tires.

Any experiences with this scenario and bottle jacks that might fit or other experiences doing something similar with a Kwiklift are much appreciated.

Thanks!

[bobcowan]

I have an old scissor jack I picked up somewhere. That's low enough to under the frame when the tire is flat.

To fit on the bridge, the jack stands need to be kinda small. I have some smaller aluminum one's that will fit under there without raising the car up too much.

But, I really don't use jack stands any more. I have a 6' piece of 4x4 fence post that I slide under the car from one side to the other. That sets the frame at about ride height. To go higher, I put additional pieces of 2x4 or 4x4 in place.

You can also put pieces of wood under the foot boxes at the front, and under the outrigger, near the rear of the door.

[FatBoy]

Have you tried re inflating the tyres?

Paul

[Ron61]

The bottle jack that came with my Kwiklifts was just one from NAPA. I used to have a small flat sizzor jack that I could use if the car was on the ground but I let it go when I sold the Cobra. I still use the ramps and the bridge but have a different type jack now.

As suggested above, try putting air in the tires and see if they will hold it long enough for you to get your jack under there.

Ron

[CowtownCobra]

I have a Kwiklift and I'd try re-inflating the tires and getting it off the lift to do this (how flat are they?). The Kwiklift is good for many things, but changing tires really isn't one of them. But that's just me

[Bernica]

Thanks Guys! I think I'll be hunting for a scissor-jack.

As for inflating the tires, that won't be an option. All 4 BB's look like this. Still have the nubs on them too!

[FatBoy]

Whilst you obviously wouldn't want to drive in them, they'll still probably hold enough air to get them off the floor while you get a jack under there.

At least try it before you struggle with scissor jacks etc.

Paul

[Ron61]

From the looks of those sidewall tears along the bottom, it won't hurt them to move them a little that way. If you have a board that is thick enough just drive the wheels up onto the board and that should lift the car enough to get a jack under it. If those tears go all the way through, no way is it going to hold air long enough for you to get them all aired up and a jack under it.

Ron

[Bernica]

Good idea Ron.

I guess the rims are padded well enough with rubber to be able to limp up onto some boards. I think I'll try that.

And no, those tires won't hold air. I can put my finger all the way inside in several places. Glad they decided to go to hell on the lift and not on the road!

[Bernica]

I don't know why I didn't think of this before! I have raised entire structures with stuff like this.

Buy one, use it everywhere. It would come in handy for plenty of situations if it does what I think it will. . I will post a review once I try it.

Unique Truck Equipment - Yellow Jackit Bladder Air Jack, 1.8 Ton

[bobcowan]

Look at the minimum height - 4.5". My frame is lower than that with all the tires inflated.

[Bernica]

Mine too. But when its on the KwikLift the bottom of the frame is about 9" from the bridge that runs across the lift, so it should work. I might end up cutting the handles off the air jack but we'll see when it comes in.

[rodneym]

Bernica,
Sorry to hear of your dilemma, and I don't mean to hijack your thread, but...what the hell happened?!?!
You can put your fingers inside the tire?
Did the sidewall delaminate from the tread? (They always look like it to some degree).
Did you use a strange product?
This is crazy.

So this is a new set of BBs? (You had a thread last year about flats in the garage).

[Bernica]

I already have posted somewhere about the details on another thread. Basically it sat for about a year, then 1 by 1 they blew up.

Not slamming BB's at all, but based on what I have learned they don't have any preservatives in the rubber. Made to buy on Friday and throw away on Sunday.

Nice if you can afford that!

[Bernica]

A quick update. Just got this little jack. See video. 4-1/2" to just under 12". Capacity is 3,600 lbs.

It fits perfectly inside the cross member of the Kwiklift.

The video is just my first-fire with air.

I'm pretty impressed, but we shall see...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbEOa3U0zBg[/ame]

[Ron61]

Now that looks like an easy solution. Does it have a small tank that you can fill and carry with you when on the road?

Ron

[Jaydee]

What about a airbag that inflates from your exhaust?
JD

[STEVE-O]

Just curious but how old are these tires? Is it 8 years that tires are suppose to be replaced regardless of mileage?

[Bernica]

Ron61: No tank but I suppose you could carry one.

Steve-O: Tires lasted about 2 years. Still have the nubs and probably have 500 miles max on them. Confirmed with Roger Krause and Goodyear that they will tend to do that due to lack of preservatives in the rubber compound. Going with Avons now.

The entire unit is portable and weighs about 35 lbs. We'll see how much control I have pushing the buttons. May want to change to manual control valves to be able to ease it up and down more gently.

I'll post another video when I lift the car.

[Bernica]

OK....you guys tell me this isn't cool.

Raise it, slide in the trestle and install the jack stands and I'm 4 wheels in the air!

Patting meself on the back on this one...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLkZ6sY2Ukk&feature=em-upload_owner[/ame]