Okay, so yesterday I tried to rotate my tires. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! My little floor jack just couldn’t get the car high enough to get the wheels off the ground. It was maxed out, and the tires were still firmly planted. That’s when I learned about tank jacks, so today, let’s talk about my tank jack adventure.
First, I watched some videos online and read a bunch of forum posts. Seems like these things are way stronger than my little jack. And they come in different “ton” ratings – basically, how much weight they can lift.
Getting the Right Gear
I headed to the auto parts store. After looking at about a million different ones, I grabbed a 3-ton tank jack. Figured that was plenty for my car. Also picked up some jack stands – safety first, always! You don’t want the car falling on you, trust me. And finally, get a chock for the wheel.
The Lifting Process
- First, I made sure the car was parked on a level, solid surface. No driveways with crazy slopes!
- Then, I found the jacking points on my car. My car’s manual showed exactly where to place the jack, so no guessing.
- I put the chock on the opposite side of the tire, and I slid the tank jack under the car, lining it up with the jacking point.
- Slowly, I started pumping the handle. This thing is way easier to lift than my old jack! The car went up smoothly.
- Once the tire was high enough, I quickly slid the jack stands under the frame, near the jacking point.
- Then, I lowered the jack just enough so the car’s weight was resting on the stands, not the jack. The jack was still there, just in case, but not holding the full weight.
Getting the Job Done
With the car securely up, I took off the wheel, no problem. Did the tire rotation, then put the wheel back on, tightening the lug nuts just enough to hold it in place.
Lowering the Car
- I pumped the tank jack back up until it was supporting the car’s weight again.
- Then, I carefully removed the jack stands.
- Very slowly, I turned the release valve on the jack, letting the car down gently.
- Once the tire was on the ground, I removed the jack completely.
- Finally, I used a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the right specs (again, check your car’s manual!). Don’t want those wheels coming loose!
And that was it! Honestly, it was way easier than I expected. The tank jack made all the difference. It felt super sturdy, and lifting the car was a breeze. If you’re doing any kind of work under your car, definitely get a good tank jack and some jack stands. It’s worth it for the peace of mind, and it makes the job so much easier!
