Working on your car can be very satisfying, even if you don’t consider yourself a car enthusiast. There is a lot of maintenance you can do yourself, and a lot of it is pretty easy, but you have to make sure you have the right equipment. If you’re not equipped properly, it can be dangerous and can lead to serious injuries or even death.
This is especially true with using jacks. Jacks are designed to lift a car, but not hold it up. Although you can use a jack to hold up your car, it’s not advised because they can fail and the consequences can be catastrophic. Imagine lying under your car when the jack fails—it’s not a pretty picture.
That’s where jack stands come in. These inexpensive devices improve safety while you’re working on your car — they are designed to keep the car lifted in case the jack fails. It’s a no-brainer—if you plan to work on your car, specifically underneath it, you need jack stands.
Quick tip: always buy a jack stand that has a capacity that can hold the entire weight of your vehicle, measured in tons. Here are the best jack stands you can buy.
Updated 02/24/2020 with more information on jack stands.