Jack stands

This is gen 3, but I believe gen 2 is VERY similar. The front points I actually borrowed from priuschat member Hobbit (IIRC). This is what I use all the time for jackstand placement:


The front points are at the leading edge of longitudinal "rails", just beyond the zone covered by plastic (on gen 3). The rear points I turn the cradles 90 degree, they're on these reinforced, heavy-gauge "humps", that have the oblong slots (used for locking pins when shipping?).

Twice yearly for the last 15 years ownership I've had the whole car up on these points, for swap between all-season and snow tires. Also at least 30 times lifting the front only, for oil changes and the like.

I put a floor jack at either the front or rear central jacking point, and whichever end I'm raising, I place heavy, rubber wheel chocks fore and aft of each wheel at the other end. Typically raise the front first, and release rear parking brake (after chocking wheels), so car can "hinge" at rear axle.

 

Depends on how much clearance you need under the car... If not much clearance is needed I've found putting jack stands where the front wheels control arms bolt to the frame to be one of the easier spots that's higher up. And if I need to get the car way high up in the air with multiple stages of jacking it up then I usually use jack stands on the outer part of the control arms close to the wheels.

 

If you are changing tires or doing brakes and never be going under the car to work o n anything, I'd buy two of those $35 Hyper Tough 2 ton hydraulic floor Jack's from Walmart and get two pinch weld adapters to do the job.

If you are working under the car, I'd get a pair of ramps.

 

There are several threads where issues of lifting for changing wheels and other things were discussed.

Jacking / Lifting points on your Prius | PriusChat
jacking up front point for Prius 2nd generation | PriusChat

 

My pinch welds have been messed up from rocks. I went to a play it again sports and bought 2 hockey pucks for $1. Cut slits in them with a hack saw and use them on top of my floor jack and jack stands. Working well after 9 years

 

I would like to recommend using the middle lift/jack point (a tower for the rear, behind the wheels in front) and my new favorite item for us without any professional lifting equipment!
VEVOR Electric Car Jack 5 Tons /11000 lbs Portable Jack kit with Remote Control | VEVOR EU

Out of stock, but with the remote I feel like a real mechanic

 

I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling looking at that thing. Actually more of a sense of dread. The center of the lifting pillar appears to be about 1 inch from one of the edges, which means it will be very unstable when force is applied in that direction at the top of that pillar. Is there a way to solidly bolt this thing to a large square steel plate, to make it more tip resistant?