How much can jack stands hold?

How much can jack stands hold? Specifially, when the ad or the box
says they are rated for 3 tons, is t hat 3 tons per stand, or 3 tons
per pair.

The answer seemed obvious to me until I came across these pages.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/double-lock...d=d2189y2000j1
and click on Item Details which says "12-ton Capacity (Pair) "
Same use of pair fo 2-ton and 6-ton.

But look at this page
http://www.jcwhitney.com/3-ton-or-6-...d=d2189y2000j1
and click on Item Details which says "3-ton capacity" (or 6)


Then I looked on my box at home and several brands at the store, and
realized that none were explicit.


Does the first one really require a pair to hold 12 tons?



BTW, this are only about 3 dollars cheaper than locally.

micky > wrote:
>How much can jack stands hold? Specifially, when the ad or the box
>says they are rated for 3 tons, is t hat 3 tons per stand, or 3 tons
>per pair.

Real jack stands are rated per stand.

If you buy cheap crap from JC Whitney or Harbor Freight, they could be
rated in all kinds of godawful ways, and I wouldn't come even close to
trusting any of their ratings anyway.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Oct 24, 9:04*pm, micky > wrote:
> How much can jack stands hold? *Specifially, when the ad or the box
> says they are rated for 3 tons, is t hat 3 tons per stand, or 3 tons
> per pair. *
>
> The answer seemed obvious to me until I came across these pages.http://www.jcwhitney.com/double-lock...tands/p2016891....
> and click on * Item Details which says * * "12-ton Capacity (Pair) "
> Same use of pair fo 2-ton and 6-ton. * *
>
> But look at this pagehttp://www.jcwhitney.com/3-ton-or-6-ton-jack-stands/p2008293.jcwx?fil...
> and click on * Item Details which says "3-ton capacity" (or 6)
>
> Then I looked on my box at home and several brands at the store, and
> realized that *none were explicit.
>
> Does the first one really require a pair to hold 12 tons?
>
> BTW, this are only about 3 dollars cheaper than locally.

I dunno, but I suspect you will also be limited by the surface on
which you place them, unless the stands you are considering have a
flat metal base. Otherwise you probably need to make a platform from
a square of plywood to keep them from destroying your driveway.

nate

On 25 Oct 2011 11:29:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

>micky > wrote:
>>How much can jack stands hold? Specifially, when the ad or the box
>>says they are rated for 3 tons, is t hat 3 tons per stand, or 3 tons
>>per pair.
>
>Real jack stands are rated per stand.
>
>If you buy cheap crap from JC Whitney or Harbor Freight, they could be
>rated in all kinds of godawful ways, and I wouldn't come even close to
>trusting any of their ratings anyway.
>--scott

This makes sense. Thanks.

And thanks N8N for suggesting a platform. I had my lebaron on stands
on asphalt with no damage, but it's not a very heavy car. (I don't
really own anything that's 12 tons, only about 2 tons at most. But
I'm planning ahead.)