Supporting Front of Bongo with Axle Stands

[apole]

Hi guys,

Anyone know where I can support the front of the bongo with axle stands. Best place would be the jacking points but that is already used by the jack.

Pic below:



The bit circled in red is where the jack fits and is the recommended jacking point as per the manual.

In green is where the car is currently being supported, pic taken whilst on a ramp. This is on the sill, I wasn't sure if this is a good place to use an axle stand as on a ramp you have a wide flat rubber support that spreads the load, you don't have this on the typical axle stand.

In yellow is a sturdy looking section of the front suspension, would this be any good?

Thanks for the help.

Andy

[Veg_Ian]

I've always used the towing eyes. 2 o clock from the yellow circle on your picture.

[apole]

Thanks for that.

Noticed a post from DemonAV that has a pic showing you can jack the front or back in in one go with a trolley jack.

That being the case I could do that then support the car on the normal jacking points with axle stands. That would be a result, much faster and easier.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 850#p56850

Is it only me that does a search, gives up and posts, then finds the answer afterwards ?? Head down time

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for that.

Noticed a post from DemonAV that has a pic showing you can jack the front or back in in one go with a trolley jack.

That being the case I could do that then support the car on the normal jacking points with axle stands. That would be a result, much faster and easier.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 850#p56850

Is it only me that does a search, gives up and posts, then finds the answer afterwards ?? Head down time

Make sure the trolley jack is suitably heavy duty. BF member Shad tried it with a 2 ton one round at my place (though I had cautioned him!) and it burst its seals.

I've put the Bongo on axle stands before now by using a 2-stage lift where I jack one side, put one stand in place, then jack the other side and do likewise, before returning to the first side and - with the jack on a suitable piece of timber, jacking it further and lengthening the axle stand setting before finishing off similarly on side 2. not as slow as it sounds and anyway, whose rushing.....not me, that's for sure

[Veg_Ian]

I'm far too impatient for that method Mike and coupled with the fact that I've never trusted jacking points on any vehicle over 5 years old, I've always jacked up in the centre of the cross member with a trolley jack then dropped it onto axle stands under the towing eyes. Unless in the way for the job in hand, I've left the jack in place as well for extra safety.

[mikeonb4c]

I'm far too impatient for that method Mike and coupled with the fact that I've never trusted jacking points on any vehicle over 5 years old, I've always jacked up in the centre of the cross member with a trolley jack then dropped it onto axle stands under the towing eyes. Unless in the way for the job in hand, I've left the jack in place as well for extra safety.

Ah but I don't have a 3 ton trolley jack and I'm not about to fork out for one for the number of times I'd need it. Patience is a virtue little grasshopper

You'd be in serious trouble I reckon if you couldn't trust the jacking points on a Bongo as they are part of the main suspension mounting points! Seriously though, I find it hard to imagine jacking points more solid (note to readers: the jacking points are not the cills - you really would be in trouble if you used them).

[missfixit70]

My 2 tonne trolley jack copes fine, as said before, the bongo is around 2 tonnes & you're only lifting half of it 2 tonne rated should actually be capable of more anyway with a safety factor built in IMO.

[mikeonb4c]

My 2 tonne trolley jack copes fine, as said before, the bongo is around 2 tonnes & you're only lifting half of it " tonne rated should actually be capable of more anyway with a safety factor built in IMO.

Sorry Kirsty, and please forgive me as you are right on almost all things, but I think its very risky to promote that idea. Both my and this other chaps 2 tonne jacks objected to the task (his 'let go' big style - you wouldn't have wanted to be underneath, although curiously mine didn't object on the first occasion it was asked to do the job, but did on a second occasion). I understand the theory, but two jacks seem to be saying 'No' to your one saying 'Yes' and my gut feeling too is that the likes of Halfords offer 2 ton and 3 ton trolley jacks with the latter in mind for 'larger vehicles', which the Bongo pretty much is.

[missfixit70]

I am merely stating the mathematics of it Mike, I've actually got 2 2 tonne jacks, both cope fine - repeatedly , they are only lifting half their rated weight, I always use axle stands & ensure I'm not in a vulnerable position when placing them.
One of the trolley jacks was my dads which was used on a much bigger motorhome than the bongo.

[mikeonb4c]

I am merely stating the mathematics of it Mike, I've actually got 2 2 tonne jacks, both cope fine - repeatedly , they are only lifting half their rated weight, I always use axle stands & ensure I'm not in a vulnerable position when placing them.
One of the trolley jacks was my dads which was used on a much bigger motorhome than the bongo.

I know, and I appreciate that, but I think we live in a world of declining standards and corner cutting where the letter means more than the spirit. For the sake of a few quid, is it worth the risk directing peeps to the lower rated jack when the evidence even suggests there might be a problem. Interesting your Dads behaved well. You can't help but think that in those days (assuming it is a reasonably old jack!) they designed them with better inbuilt redundancy whereas now they come in from the far corners of the world and probably don't undergo such rigourous design checks and quality control. As you say, a 2 ton jack should be fine - the maths shows that - but, as is depressingly common these days, what should be done isn't done.

[missfixit70]

Dads jack was newer than my one
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one Mike

[mikeonb4c]

Dads jack was newer than my one
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one Mike

I fear we will

[mikexgough]

I'm with you on this one Kirsty, in the few times I have lifted the Bongo, I have used 2 2ton jacks and then axle stands after the lift....must have my Health and Safety hat on again.... .....I even wear Safety goggles....

[mikeonb4c]

I'm with you on this one Kirsty, in the few times I have lifted the Bongo, I have used 2 2ton jacks and then axle stands after the lift....must have my Health and Safety hat on again.... .....I even wear Safety goggles....

I agree, but from her post, Kirsty was proposing the use of 1 x 2 ton trolley jack.

Frankly, its up to readers to choose. But a 50% failure rate (25% catastrophic) on this sample wouldn't pass any quality test I was ever involved with.

[scanner]

It all depends if you mean this sort of 2 tonne trolley jack

http://www.crazy4bargain.co.uk/marksman ... googlebase
Which will only lift 2 Chinese tonnes

or this type

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... sion-jacks
Which will lift 2 real tonnes.