any 850 What kind of jack do you carry?

[cn90]

I have never had any issues with factory jack, whether it is Honda, BMW or Volvo etc.

There are a few principles that people tend to forget.

1. The spare tire is "out of sight out of mind", so once a year check the spare tire to be sure it is properly inflated (usually 50-60 psi for the spare).

2. The time required to swap tires should not be more than 15-30 sec. max.
So have the spare tire lying next to the flat tire, ready to go before jacking up the car.

3. Always, always and always chock the wheels on the opposite side. Failure to do is is the #1 cause of jack collapse. If you are jacking the LEFT side, then chock let's say the RR tire on BOTH the front and back sides of the RR tire. I have some short pieces of 4x4 wood as chocks in the trunk. You can find some rocks, bricks on the side of the road as chocks.

4. Bring some wood in the trunk:
- a short piece (12-inch) of 2x4 wood as support for the jack to prevent jack sinking into the soft surface. Best is to use solid surface like concrete or stone.

5. Position the jack correctly and gently jack it up, watching for sideways movement.
Again, swapping should not take more than 15-30 sec.


PS: Never replace the flat on the shoulder of a highway, get as far away from the shoulder as you can. Too many distracted drivers these days, this can be deadly! Or drive the car to the nearest exit, knowing fully you may destroy the tire. But a $90 tire is cheaper than your life.

[abscate]

Which ever vehicle I take, this light weight aluminum floor jack comes with. Regardless, and in spite of the OEM jack.
It is low profile, mostly aluminum, and quick pump. The pole is foam covered in the lower area, and breaks down into two pieces.
About $70. on sale.

IMG_2300.JPG

ben850, how do you get the handle from popping out of the jack? Did you cut a hole and use a nut/bolt? My handle is always popping off

There is a spring loaded screw at the base which secures the handle on the Pittsburgh jack

[850 LPT]

I have never had any issues with factory jack, whether it is Honda, BMW or Volvo etc.

There are a few principles that people tend to forget.

1. The spare tire is "out of sight out of mind", so once a year check the spare tire to be sure it is properly inflated (usually 50-60 psi for the spare).

2. The time required to swap tires should not be more than 15-30 sec. max.
So have the spare tire lying next to the flat tire, ready to go before jacking up the car.

3. Always, always and always chock the wheels on the opposite side. Failure to do is is the #1 cause of jack collapse. If you are jacking the LEFT side, then chock let's say the RR tire on BOTH the front and back sides of the RR tire. I have some short pieces of 4x4 wood as chocks in the trunk. You can find some rocks, bricks on the side of the road as chocks.

4. Bring some wood in the trunk:
- a short piece (12-inch) of 2x4 wood as support for the jack to prevent jack sinking into the soft surface. Best is to use solid surface like concrete or stone.

5. Position the jack correctly and gently jack it up, watching for sideways movement.
Again, swapping should not take more than 15-30 sec.


PS: Never replace the flat on the shoulder of a highway, get as far away from the shoulder as you can. Too many distracted drivers these days, this can be deadly! Or drive the car to the nearest exit, knowing fully you may destroy the tire. But a $90 tire is cheaper than your life.

Great advise in this post. So often it is the simple things and common sense that can make a big difference.

[shaker_chi]

I have a cheap jack from wal mart that comes in a case and a 4 way lug wrench. Also, I have a 15" steel rim as my spare. It pushes the carpet up about an inch or 2, but I'd much rather have that than a donut.

[MarkySparky]

I drive a 2000 V70 XC but here's what I do with all my vehicles- I carry a 12 inch square of plywood and a couple 2x4 scraps stored in the spare tire well. Chock the wheels with the 2x4's, then place the jack on the plywood. Much more stable!

[JimBee]

+1 for j-dawg's breaker bar suggestion, that's what I use.

I'll add to cn90's thoughtful list: when removing and installing a wheel ALWAYS handle wheel with hands below axle height on the tire and never allow hands to be on top of wheel.