Rotating tires without long reach jack

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by C Clay, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:38 AM.

  1. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    I’ve had this 2019 for a 2-3 months. I have jack that meets most of my needs- but the front jack point is way back there on this model (coming from a Gen 3).

    AI is suggesting that can you raise the side of the car at the weld, and that the whole side will raise just enough to take both wheels off. Seems unlikely - AI used to give its source, that’s getting harder to determine it seems.

    How are you all accomplishing this task?
     
    #1 C Clay, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:38 AM
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I go to the neighborhood fixaflat. They do it in 6 minutes for $20.

    I still change my own oil and do a lot of other maintenance myself, but when it comes to tire rotation I can't compete with that at home.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:53 AM
  3. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    I’m thinking the same. But I hate to miss the opportunity to look underneath and inspect the brakes.
     
    #3 C Clay, Jun 9, 2026 at 10:54 AM
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That's me, too. I like to do a reasonably thorough brake inspection at each rotation.

    I do have a long floor jack now. When I didn't, I just put four jackstands under the corners one by one with a little jack. Tedious but gets the job done. You want jackstands under the car anyway, not just your jack.
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Jun 9, 2026 at 12:19 PM
    C Clay likes this.
  5. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Probably a bit of overkill - but I've seen similar ideas.
    Always use jack stands ;)



    I have the otha problem.
    By jack really is too small for my truck - so I use a '2x6 lift' on the jack to give me an extra inch and a half to yank the tires.
     
    #5 ETC(SS), Jun 9, 2026 at 12:49 PM
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2026 at 12:57 PM
  6. C Clay

    C Clay Member

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    Chief, I’m assuming you drive up on those ramps just a little bit so that you can see and reach the jack point?

    (By the way, you’re the first submariner that I’ve been able to chat with since I saw something on TV a couple weeks ago. A tour guide was saying that submarines will often store food in canisters in the birthing space when they first go underway for an extended period. True?)
     
    #6 C Clay, Jun 9, 2026 at 12:55 PM
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