Jacking a car in a dirt paddock
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,847
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Jacking a car in a dirt paddock
Yes, best advice is not to, but sometimes you don't have a choice
Not wanting the jack to dig in and the car fall off,
what's the best advice?
Carry a chunk of plywood? Which is rather cumbersome
Thanks in advance.
Not wanting the jack to dig in and the car fall off,
what's the best advice?
Carry a chunk of plywood? Which is rather cumbersome
Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 368
From: Montoursville Pa
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I wouldn't go smaller than a 3/4 inch thick piece. If you are using a floor jack you could use two pieces. One for the rear wheels and the other for the front. That would make it easier to pack. Probably would want something about 8 inches by 8 inches.
Bill
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
Just as a safety precaution, plywood or 2x4's under the jack should do the job for any surface other than concrete. The flat plywood spreads the load on soft surfaces like dirt or asphalt while the 2x4 seems to work best on gravel. Same procedure for jack stands too.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Probably are not going to have to have room to bring it with you, but soemtimes we got stuck in the grass at Mid-Ohio, Lime Rock, or Road America we brought 6 to 8 sheets of 3/4" plywood to put under the cars. We welded full plates on the bottom of each jack stand so they had a full 'skid' plate under them so they wouldn't punch through the wood. The jack worked ok but you still need to be really careful.
Still remember changing the clutch in the C6 challenge car in the grass at Mid-Ohio....nightmare.
Still remember changing the clutch in the C6 challenge car in the grass at Mid-Ohio....nightmare.