Esco Jack Stands - Ramps Needed?

[TurboLag23]

Hi all!

I recently purchased a set of four Esco jack stands. I accidentally purchased the full-size ones, which have a minimum height of 13.5" (10498), instead of the low-profile ones with the minimum height of ~11" (10499).

For people who own the 10498's, do you need any ramps for the front/rear wheels in order to jack the car up completely by the subframe/diff? And if so how high do those ramps have to be?

Thanks!

[Ohio Enthusiast]

My jack stands range between 11-3/4" and 16-3/4" and I typically use them fully extended. Why would the extra 2-1/2" bother you? Most floor jacks should be able to raise the car that high and more (I use a Harbor Freight 3 ton low profile).
I wouldn't consider 11" enough to comfortably work under (even at my stands' 16-3/4" it's pretty cramped).

[TurboLag23]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

My jack stands range between 11-3/4" and 16-3/4" and I typically use them fully extended. Why would the extra 2-1/2" bother you? Most floor jacks should be able to raise the car that high and more (I use a Harbor Freight 3 ton low profile).
I wouldn't consider 11" enough to comfortably work under (even at my stands' 16-3/4" it's pretty cramped).

Main worry is if the front is jacked up & placed on stands at X height (vs. X - 2.5"), the rear bumper could drop too far to allow the jack to reach the differential when jacking up the rear.

But if this never happens even when you use your jacks at full height then that's perfect!

Ideally these do work - 21.5" maximum height would be AWESOME for bigger jobs.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Yep, never had issues with jack clearance to the diff to raise the rear after the front is raised. Hope it works out for you as well!

[86TOYO2k17]

Depending on if you’re lowered on springs/coils, And or have aero mods like front splitter and rear diffuser, and how high you jack up front, and what
Jack you use. Mostly if it’s long enough.

I like to use my creeper so 17-18”min height, the higher the better.

With RCE yellow and front lip and rear diffuser I can’t get to the front jacking point at all nor can i get to rear once front is up about 12”.

Discount Ramps Low Profile Plastic Car Service Ramps – 2 Pack, 2 sets of these and I have zero issue getting to front and zero issue getting to rear even when front is up 24”.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by 86TOYO2k17

Depending on if you’re lowered on springs/coils, And or have aero mods like front splitter and rear diffuser

Great point! My car is stock height and no aero, so definitely something to consider.

[Capt Spaulding]

I'm not sure what role the ramps will play in your workflow. I have those stands and have only one problem - Getting my floor jack under the car. It's at oem ride height. I use a hockey puck in the jack saddle to protect the jack points on the car which makes the saddle a little taller. That make the clearance tight. Once I raise one end of the car the other end tilts down enough that the jack saddle won't go under the bumper (in the front) or under any part of the rear.

My solution is to use a set of 4 12" by 16" by 1" plywood planks. I put the planks behind the wheels, roll the car slightly forward and back it up onto the planks. Works like a charm. Once you get that resolved the only fly in the ointment is have enough travel in the jack saddle to get the car high enough to get the stands under the pinch welds. In my case it's no problem. Oh, and I use a set of 4 of these to preserve the rubber pads on the stands.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are a number of sellers hawking them under different names - they all look the same to me.

[DarkSunrise]

I have the full size Esco 10498’s and they work great. I use the harbor freight low profile 2 ton jack and it reaches the front and rear jack points (even using a jack puck and with my car being lowered about 1”).

That said I also use ramps to progressively raise the car onto jack stands to prevent a large angle on the pinch welds, but not necessary.

[Swift]

You really want something like these. Chef's kiss


JackpointJackstands

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Swift

Jackpoint Jackstands

For the price of four of these I'd prefer Quick Jacks. Plus at around 14" (can't find a clear figure) they're not that high to comfortably work under.

[zc06_kisstherain]

if you're lowered, even low profile jack cannot fit either front or back
i am lowered and i put mine on plywood 2 x 4 and slide jack

[Muskoka800]

I keep 4 one foot lengths of 2x4 handy.
Drive the car up onto them for an extra 1.5” of clearance for your floor jack.
Does the trick for me riding on TRD springs (about a 1 inch drop).

[Swift]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

For the price of four of these I'd prefer Quick Jacks. Plus at around 14" (can't find a clear figure) they're not that high to comfortably work under.

I don't like spending all day on cars. So the fastest I can do it the better.



-So...use these to do front.

-Lift back up..but now higher...put the stands and perhaps even the jack itself on some large 2 x12 wood.
-Go back to front and now do what you did to back.
-Go back and forth to get higher.



I have done this on normal jack stands, but a pain and slow..with these style jackstands(and those others) ..I was just pointing out how much faster, easier, and accessible the actual pinch weld jack points are to get to.



Or you know, get a hoist Which I am finally doing.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Swift

-Lift back up..but now higher...put the stands and perhaps even the jack itself on some large 2 x12 wood.
-Go back to front and now do what you did to back.

I wouldn't trust a 2x12 for that, too much risk of splitting. Perhaps properly flattened and faced with plywood. Everyone has their risk tolerance, though.
I'd love to get something better than a jack and 4 stands, but money and space in the garage (which I actually use to house the minivan and the BRZ) mean it will probably never happen... I did snag an extra jack recently, so at least I don't need to move a single jack back and forth.