Lifting & safety · Starter kit
Jack stands
Non-negotiable if any part of you goes under the car. Buy them with the jack.
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Where to buy
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Why you need it
- Hydraulic jacks can and do bleed down. A pair of rated stands is what actually holds the car while you are under it.
- They let you lift one end, support it and move the jack to the other end for tire rotations.
- Cheap insurance: a decent pair costs less than one oil change at a shop.
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What to look for
- Rated capacity per pair. 3 tons covers cars and crossovers; 6 tons for trucks and SUVs.
- Double-locking stands (ratchet plus a pin) are the current safety standard; ratchet-only stands have been recalled in the past.
- Wide, flat base. Avoid stamped-steel bases that rock on a driveway.
- Height range that matches your jack: the stand must reach the frame rail at your working height.
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Goes with
Lifting & safety
Floor jack
The fastest, safest way to get a car off the ground for an oil change or tire rotation.
Starter kit
Lifting & safety
Wheel chocks
The cheapest safety item in the garage, and the one people skip.
Starter kit
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