Floor Jack Extension - Need one but cant seem to find one - Can someone make one for me?

Ravanelli

I am getting larger , rounder and i am looking for more room under the car. I have upgraded to 6 tom jack stands but the floor jack now does not extend far enough. I am looking fro a floor jack extension like this

This was from a UK site. Someone had made it for themself

I have made up a design that i think will work. Does anyone know of someone who could give me a quote to make one of these?

Ex850R

A lump of redgum does it for me......

johna

There doesn't seem to be much on eBay Australia but if you look on Ebay USA there are products like this one that extends by 5" (~130mm) that will cost you about A$100 shipped to Australia...

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Champ-Floor-Jack-Height-Extenders-5-Extender-7044-/130685924255

That might be cheaper than getting a fabricator to make something up. I had a small metal part made a few years back that just needed to be cut to size and two holes drilled and tapped and that cost me $60 or so. I imagine lathe work and welding would be a lot more.

A piece of wood would be the more economical solution.

Ravanelli

johna
There doesn't seem to be much on eBay Australia but if you look on Ebay USA there are products like this one that extends by 5" (~130mm) that will cost you about A$100 shipped to Australia...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Champ-Floor-Jack-Height-Extenders-5-Extender-7044-/130685924255
That might be cheaper than getting a fabricator to make something up. I had a small metal part made a few years back that just needed to be cut to size and two holes drilled and tapped and that cost me $60 or so. I imagine lathe work and welding would be a lot more.
A piece of wood would be the more economical solution.

Sure I can transfer my money to a US manufacturer and courier.,.. or ... I can support local maunfacture in a vivid depressed domestic economy

carnut222

Agree with the other comments - use a block of wood. You're NEVER going to get under the car with it raised on a floor jack like that (with or without extension) as you will have lowered the car onto jack stands of some sort anyway. Right? :) Safety first - this is a Volvo forum!

egads (she/her)

Block of wood is better IMO cos its real obvious you can't fully trust it so get nowhere near under it without stands setup

Ravanelli

As posted. I have jack stands. Never intended to be under a car supported only by a jack

Just thought something better than a lump of wood would be safer.

Major Ledfoot

Maybe @jamesinc could be tempted if he has time? Months ago he was looking for stuff to do with his lathe.

1971_144GL

That looks like a handy thing for the next gearbox I change, one coming up. I will try to get a moment this week to see if there is any steel in stock locally. It would probably be quicker to make it from a single piece I think.

Ravanelli

1971_144GL
That looks like a handy thing for the next gearbox I change, one coming up. I will try to get a moment this week to see if there is any steel in stock locally. It would probably be quicker to make it from a single piece I think.

Yes, a gearbox change is why i need one. Let me know how you go sourcing the metal. One piece sounds great. In my design i was trying to limit its weight by using 80/50 hollow bar.

jamesinc

I do have a lathe, though 80mm dia is near on the largest thing I could possibly mount on the spindle though. Also I am not an engineer (well, not that kind of engineer) / have reservations about producing a part like this for someone other than myself.

carnut222

I reckon a stack of half-a-dozen of these would do the trick! ;)

c30c30

They sell jacks like that you know. I keep seeing ads on facebook for them. They're usually sold as 4WD specific.

Ravanelli

Forward them on the next time. The ones that i have seen are for bottle jacks rather than floor/trolley jacks.

c30c30

You're in luck I just got "target" again this morning...

racer1234

The reason you can't find one in Australia is to do with our liability laws and jack standards. A piece of wood you source and use is an option with much less liability for someone else. If you really want to get one made at an engineering shop do not tell them what it is for.

Different jacks have different lifting heights so that may be worth looking into.

Ex850R

Funnily enough i know a dude who had a car fall on him! he is a mad young f#&ker , got serious scars and dints in his torso! LOVES to drink and is still able to work bloody hard at physical jobs but i suspect a painfull old age awaits!

carnut222

I personally find the best way to work under the car on transmission, exhaust etc. (before I got my hoist) is to drive the front up on ramps then lift the rear axle from the diff and put axle stands under it. Gives plenty of space for the most part. Doesn't work too well if you intend to pull the front wheels off tho! :)

Slowbrick

Is buying a new jack a good solution? I have one of these that I bought on special for about $220 2 years ago and it's more than paid for itself in the work I've done with it. Nice and low for the low cars and lifts nice and high. I don't think Jerry rigging this kind of stuff is a great idea. I know you don't plan on getting under the car but having a component under load fail at any time can be a bad time especially if something launches out the side and you're unlucky enough to be in the way..

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/toolpro-toolpro-low-profile-garage-jack-3000kg/563849.html

Ex850R

Costco has or had a high lift one too.