[stormchasin_racin]

hey all. have had my 1/4 ton(i think thats the size) floor jack in my trunk since i bought the car and its always been annoying to have it flopping around. Right now its held in place by my bowling balls and a small car kit/tool bag.

Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to secure something as heavy as the floor jack to the inside of the trunk. There is not enough room in the space tire compartment and I really dont trust the spider jacks enough to take it out of my car.

Anything would be appreciated.

TIA.

Jon

 

[ZenZone]

Re: ideas for how to store a floor jack in the trunk (stormchasin_racin)

Sears makes a portable floor jack with a carrying case that can be stored securely in the trunk - less than $200 IIRC.

Also, I would suggest getting that unsecured floor jack out of your trunk right away. In the event of an accident, it could come through the back seat area and possibly injure you. To secure it would require a box (HDPE) attached to the frame or metal bands with frame anchoring. Did you ever see the movie "Fearless" where Jeff Bridges runs his Volvo into a wall doing 60 mph to prove to his passenger, a young lady, that she could not hold on to a tool box during this level of impact. The tool box simulated trying to hold on to her baby during a plane crash both of them had recently survived - get the picture.

Apologize in advance if I'm a little strong on this point. Just want you to be safe.

 

[I Roll]

Re: ideas for how to store a floor jack in the trunk (stormchasin_racin)

You could get a hydraulic scissor jack and store it in the spare tire.

This is one from JC Whitney for under $60. If you need to take your floor jack for something like track use, I say use the tie down hooks in the trunk and some bungee cords.

 

[MAC1LSR]

Re: ideas for how to store a floor jack in the trunk (stormchasin_racin)

I keep my 1 1/2 ton floor jack in the right rear passenger foot well. It's a snug fit there, so it doesn't budge in rigorous driving, and leaves just enough room for the right front seat to move back fully, if needed. Of course, this arrangement leaves no room for anyone to put their feet down, so my car is pretty much a 3-seater. That's OK for me for 99% of my driving. Also, I keep a heavy ribbed rubber floor mat under the jack, in case the jack leaks hydraulic oil. The mat also prevents deep impressions from forming in the carpet under the weight of the jack. I also store a store a small scissors jack right alongside my floor jack. If I have a flat tire, I'll lift the car a little bit with the scissors jack, so that I can slide my floor jack underneath. If you have a low-profile floor jack, you won't need a scissors jack. Putting all this steel in the footwell also keeps the weight closer to the ground, compared to the trunk location.

 

[tomedkaz]

I think the OEM jack is fine enough for minor roadside flat-fixes. For anything else, I leave my 2-ton hydraulic jack in the garage. Space+weight "saving"

 

[Sue Esponte]

Re: ideas for how to store a floor jack in the trunk (stormchasin_racin)

This might seem like a stupid question but why are you driving around with your floor jack?

 

[Chilled Man]

Get AAA

and throw away your volvo jack

 

[Chilled Man]

Re: ideas for how to store a floor jack in the trunk (I Roll)

Quote, originally posted by I Roll »

You could get a hydraulic scissor jack and store it in the spare tire. This is one from JC Whitney for under $60. If you need to take your floor jack for something like track use, I say use the tie down hooks in the trunk and some bungee cords.

But this Idea I like , and its small its cheap and should work out great and fiti in the spare tirewell so you can keep it tied down back there http://********************/smile/emthup.gif http://********************/smile/emthup.gif http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Needsdecaf]

Re: (tomedkaz)

Quote, originally posted by tomedkaz »

I think the OEM jack is fine enough for minor roadside flat-fixes. For anything else, I leave my 2-ton hydraulic jack in the garage. Space+weight "saving"

You're kidding, right?

 

[02s60t5]

At least Volvo still includes a jack and a spare! My 335 has neither, and doesn't even have a cubby to store an aftermarket kit.

Run-flats don't do a bit of good if the rim is damaged, so I knock on wood before every road trip.

 

[Sue Esponte]

Re: (02s60t5)

If you're really concerned about it, stop complaining and buy a donut.

How many times you have damaged a rim so badly that it wouldn't take air? I'm not suggesting that it doesn't happen (it clearly does) but do you really waste energy worrying about it every time you go for an extended drive?

-Eric

 

[adykes]

I've done many a road-side fix, not to mention other work with the Volvo jack when I had to, its not that bad.

 

[02s60t5]

Re: (Sue Esponte)

Quote, originally posted by Sue Esponte »

How many times you have damaged a rim so badly that it wouldn't take air? I'm not suggesting that it doesn't happen (it clearly does) but do you really waste energy worrying about it every time you go for an extended drive?

I've been lucky so far, but driving in the Rockies does present a real chance for catastrophe hundreds of miles away from a dealer or tire shop. Add bad weather and lack of cellular coverage to the mix, and the situation could turn from inconvenient to dangerous.

It's a catch-22 though. Anytime I take a long road trip, I need the cargo space for luggage, and don't have room to lug around a spare & jack in the trunk.

 

[MAC1LSR]

Re: (02s60t5)

Quote, originally posted by 02s60t5 »

At least Volvo still includes a jack and a spare! My 335 has neither, and doesn't even have a cubby to store an aftermarket kit. .

There's no spare tire well at all? If there is no well under the trunk, what is under there, besides the mufflers? Just curious. A couple of years ago, when I was car shopping, I looked into the trunk of a new BMW 6-Series, and while there WAS a spare tire well, it was full of electrical components (fuse block, etc., I think). So if one wanted to add a mini-spare tire, it had to be laid down in the trunk.

 

[JoeLvo]

Re: (MAC1LSR)

hydraulic bottle jack FTW. Why even bother with the hydraulic scissor? It's the same concept but takes up more space.

I too, have used the OEM jack for roadside and minor auto work. It is scary. Whether or not you think it's too flimsy to use is your perogative, but it's plainly clear why anyone would say one would have to be crazy to rely on that jack for very long, and in questionable conditions (slick roadway, soft gravel, muddy conditions, etc..)

 

[02s60t5]

Re: (MAC1LSR)

Quote, originally posted by MAC1LSR »

There's no spare tire well at all? If there is no well under the trunk, what is under there, besides the mufflers?

There's a cubby that goes down beneath the trunk floor, but it's nowhere near large enough to hold a spare. I haven't crawled under the car to see what (if anything) is down there to prevent a larger storage space.

Here's a link to a picture that shows the cubby: http://www.roadfly.com/new-car...k.jpg

 

[MAC1LSR]

Re: (02s60t5)

Thanks for the photo. That's a cubby, allright! Good for a pair of work gloves and a folded-up emergency reflective vest or rain coat.

 

[MAC1LSR]

Re: (JoeLvo)

Quote, originally posted by JoeLvo »

hydraulic bottle jack FTW. Why even bother with the hydraulic scissor? It's the same concept but takes up more space.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is any bottle jack that has a grooved saddle to lift the car at the pinch weld along the rocker panels, like the pictured scissors jack. In fact, most small bottle jacks don't have any lifting saddle at all. That makes them slip off the contact point easily, especially as the car rises in the air.

 

[Sue Esponte]

Re: (02s60t5)

Quote, originally posted by 02s60t5 »

I've been lucky so far, but driving in the Rockies does present a real chance for catastrophe hundreds of miles away from a dealer or tire shop. Add bad weather and lack of cellular coverage to the mix, and the situation could turn from inconvenient to dangerous. It's a catch-22 though. Anytime I take a long road trip, I need the cargo space for luggage, and don't have room to lug around a spare & jack in the trunk.

Maybe you shouldn't have bought a Bimmer.

Or, there's always this if space is at a premium.

Or, more seriously, one of these if you want the security of room for a spare and luggage.

-Eric

 

[adykes]

Re: (JoeLvo)

Quote, originally posted by JoeLvo »

hydraulic bottle jack FTW.

If I'm going to carry a bottle of anything in my car, it'd be Guinness, not Jack.