Using Trolley Jack on Bongo

[apole]

Hi,

I have a trolley jack that I wanted to use on the bongo the other day. However I didn't in the end as the recommended jacking points are under the suspension arms, with the supplied jack having a half circular cup that fits neatly under the suspension points.

I was concerned that using the standard head on the trolley jack may bend these parts on the car.

Can you use a trolley jack and if so where would you put it (polite answers please !!).

Thanks.

Andy

[missfixit70]

mid point of the front crossmember is a protruding dimple, that's the front one, or I just put a lump of wood between jack & chassis if lifting a corner.

[phedders]

mid point of the front crossmember is a protruding dimple, that's the front one, or I just put a lump of wood between jack & chassis if lifting a corner.

Ditto.
Have also jacked the towbar mount once - not sure I'd recommend that though...

[bigdaddycain]

My bongo had to be trolley jacked from the rear to give clearance for the two poster ramp to do it's thing.

The dedicated rear jacking points were used,it just seemed to compress the suspension whilst in the air,no harm done.

[mikeonb4c]

And I think the manual shows the underside of the rear diff casing as an OK single point too, but check!. I didn't get too far using my trolley jack as it is rated at 2 tons and that proved just sufficient at the front (from dim memory) but insufficient at the back (I was sure it was straining, so I stopped). BF member Shad had a similar but brand new trolley jack and persevered in attempting to jack the rear of his Bongo when round at my place. The seals went pop, the jack went in the bin. So check yours is sufficiently rated and - of course - take precautions!

Unless I wanted to jack the whole axle off the ground in one go, I'd just stick with the std vehicle scissor jack. Even with that, a 2-stage lift involving axle stands got the whole axle off the ground without any drama.

[missfixit70]

The whole bongo is less than 2 tons, as you are only lifting one point of that, it should be perfectly adequate to use a 2 ton jack unless it's full of bricks Reckon you had a couple of duff jacks Mike. Mine's a 2 ton & it works fine.

[David Edwards]

I use my draper air bag jack via exhaust connection, hassle free and up and down again in seconds,lol.

[mikeonb4c]

The whole bongo is less than 2 tons, as you are only lifting one point of that, it should be perfectly adequate to use a 2 ton jack unless it's full of bricks Reckon you had a couple of duff jacks Mike. Mine's a 2 ton & it works fine.

I'm aware of that Kirsty but trust me, you might have been fine but the 2 x 2 ton jacks I witnessed trying it were not (interestingly, I seem to recall mine did cope with the back axle the first time I used it for the job, but not the second time). A 2 ton jack does not, in my experience, have sufficient reserve to ensure safety. I'd give it a wide berth!

PS - incidentally, I noticed in Halfords some time back that they seemed to stock 2 ton axle stands and 2 ton trolley jacks, and 3 ton axle stands and 3 ton trolley jacks. I reckoned it was a safe inference that 2 ton stuff was the one for guaranteed safe use (with reserve capacity) on small to medium cars and 3 ton stuff ditto but for medium to large cars, of which the Bongo would be one.

[scanner]

A 2 ton jack does not, in my experience, have sufficient reserve to ensure safety.

Mike you have to remember that "Chinese" tons can be measured in UK ounces.

[mikeonb4c]

A 2 ton jack does not, in my experience, have sufficient reserve to ensure safety.

Mike you have to remember that "Chinese" tons can be measured in UK ounces.

How true. Much as with peak output becoming quoted over RMS as the measure of speaker power - naughty naughty


...and Zimbabwean currency

...and, tomorrow, post 'quantitative easing', £ sterling?

[You've Been Bongod]

[quote="David Edwards"]I use my draper air bag jack via exhaust connection, hassle free and up and down again in seconds,lol.[/quote

i have one of these but never used it and have had a trolley jack bought me now

[mikeonb4c]

I use my draper air bag jack via exhaust connection, hassle free and up and down again in seconds,lol.

Yes, I do like the sound of those. Must look 'em up

[You've Been Bongod]

I use my draper air bag jack via exhaust connection, hassle free and up and down again in seconds,lol.

Yes, I do like the sound of those. Must look 'em up

mike are you goin snowdonia ??
if so i will bring the one i have to show you