Safe to use JACK this way?

Yes dangerous, you've done it many times but it just takes 1 earthquake to get you stuck under the car.

If it's going only a few inches, just use a couple 2x6 blocks of wood, giving you almost 4 inches

SM-N900P ?

 

Yeah get a floor jack and a pair of safety stands. Or ramps.

Your current setup is basically crawling into a loaded rat trap.

 

If you are under the car, you want it supported by more than a temp jack.

 

+1, your FIL is right, you are wrong.

SCH-I535

 

Use some ramps like these:

Edit: I was trying to post a link to Rhino Ramps here but after many tries gave up.

It will not only be safer, but much easier as well.

 

if you are thicker than the space between the car and the ground before jacking it up? don't do it!

 

I just drive one front tire up onto the sidewalk curb. That gives me enough room underneath for oil changes. Might be enough room for your drain valve as well.

 

I'm almost afraid to ask ...
How do you rotate tyres ?

 

I keep thing about your assertion "the wheels never leave the ground". Here's the thing:

You can't fit under the car without raising it slightly. So at rest the car would be an inch or two into your rib cage. Now you've raised it with the scissor jack enough that the tire's still just touching down. You're kidding yourself thinking that equals you're safe. If and when the car falls off the scissor jack it'll come down to the at rest point (an inch or two into your rib cage), and keep going down, another inch or two. Or three. Due to the spring in the suspension system. The car will basically stamp you.

At the very least go with JC's suggestion to put some solid timber cribbing under there, but you're overdue for some equipment upgrade, and it doesn't need to cost a lot.

 

Very imaginative.

Maybe he only sticks his head under the car into a crevice, and the low line of the car runs across his neck ?
Oh wait, never mind.

 

The OP can also dig a trough in their yard or driveway to gain clearance.

SCH-I535

 

It's unanimous so far.

Using the 'fix-a-flat' jack isn't optimum, but it will get the job done until you can get a proper jack and/or a set of ramps.
However (comma!!!)
You REALLY need to get a set of jack stands while you're saving up for the new floor-jack and ramps.
They're less than $20.

If you're unsure as to how to use them?
Look at a few YouTube video's.
You'll want to look at more than one.
Don't assume that the FIL (or people like me) are right all the time.

We're not.


Good Luck!

 

Easy.
The answer is:
Lawyers.

The $16 Craftsman jack stands are rated at 2t (4000#), IIRC.

Priuses tip the scales at about 3300# wet and with a junked up trunk and a car seat or two.

Any jack stands that you buy will be sufficient for the task, especially if you buy a name brand.
Here's why:
Lawyers Loooooooooooooove it when a product fails, especially if it results in a really bad injury......like you watching cartoons for the rest of your life.
If Craftsman says they're rated for 4000#???
You can probably bet thet they'll hold a good bit more.

Really.
The cheap ones will work.
If you have to store them outside?
Keep them covered up.
A little surface rust will make them ugly, but they'll still work.

Good Luck!

 

You should not be competing to see how unsafe you can be. The scissors jack is a relatively unsafe way to raise up a car and you never should allow any part of yourself to be under the car if only a scissors jack is holding the car up.

A 2.5-3 ton capacity on the hydraulic floor jack would be good. Get decent jack stands, 2 ton rating would be fine.

Maybe you can get your father-in-law to store (or even better, purchase and store) these tools for you. Good luck.

 

I used a scissor jack to change breaks once. on a slight incline. I was a dumb teenager. no surprise it fell off the jack with the tire off. 10 years later I still think back to how horrific that accident could have been.

 

I'm thinking the photo of the green truck demonstrates "Most Unsafe". I believe if the chair kicks out from under the car the right side would be damaged.

 

I thought the ratings is based on what the item will handle, meaning 1.5 ton jack lifts 3000 lbs. Since you will at most lift half the vehicle you look at the heaviest half to see how much capacity you need? Also, for the stands, is that not the rating per stand? It'd be a big difference. 2 ton per stand vs. 2 tons for a pair of stands.

SCH-R530M ?

 

you'll be fine with a 1.5 ton jack and stands. go two ton for piece of mind if you'd like. personally id never crawl under a vehicle on stands. get a set of ramps or make some out of 2x4's