Ideal Prius Jack Stand Size

Since the single stand won't be supporting the whole weight of the vehicle, 2 tons is plenty.
The most would be 1 ton(2000#s) in the front with both wheels raised.
I use the stands and have 2 jacks that I leave under also, as insurance. The stand is supporting the majority
of the weight and the will help hold it up should the stand fail. Maybe not for long, but you'd be surprised just
how fast you can move when you need too!

 

It depends on what you're doing. For something like tire rotation only, I want the whole car with the wheels just clear of the slab, to make it easier on my back. For oil changes, I have a set up with a very squat container with a very big funnel atop. For this I want pretty much as much lift as I can get.

Accordingly, I have a set of 4 each, of 2 ton and 6 ton. With the 6 tons they're almost always with the cradle fully down, a little overkill, but they seem safer, more stable. It takes pretty much the full travel of my 3 ton floor jack to be able to sneak them in at my preferred bearing points in the front. The jack has a theoretical max lift of 21", more like 20" loaded I think.

If I'm lifting just the front or rear, I always chock the tires at the end still on the ground: heavy rubber official chocks, front and rear of each tire. Not a rock, lol.

Also, whenever practical, which is most of the time, I push a tree trunk section (about the proportions of a giant marshmallow) under the car, at some strong point. Just in case...

 

Raising a Prius is a pain! Anyway you look at it unless you have a lift!
It is so low you pretty much need a low profile jack to get under it to lift it.
I just raise the right front wheel, change the filter, then drain the oil. And then lower the car until
the oil stops and raise it back up and replace the drain plug. It sure is a LOT faster and easier!

 

My jack is not low profile. It clears ok. And I've sub'd a rubber saddle, and put a shim under it as well, just sneaks under the front plastic.

 

I used the "oil door" and the pinch rails, once.

Trying to flex that little flap, the whole underpanel was bending as well: decided that was not good, and from then on took the whole panel off at each oil change. Wash all the plastic fasteners clear of grit too. Grit tends to jam them, cause them to break, I think.

The pinch rails are indicated as the proscribe bearing point for the scissor jack, but if you try out that scissor jack, you'll see it cups around that rail, is actually bearing on the metal of the body directly behind. The pinch rail only provides lateral stability. The one time I needed to use the scissor jack, for a flat tire, I checked afterwards and that one use had dimpled the body at the point of bearing. And this was a rear point.

Again, I put safety stands on that pinch rail once, and decided they were way too thin, basically you're balancing the car on flimsy knife-edges. Instead I put my safety stands, front or rear, or both, at these points:

Just nitpicking: the specified curb weight is 3048 pounds, basically 1.5 tons. Maybe mixing up kilos and pounds?

 

I solved that ridiculous problem by making my oil door detachable, using two short sheet-steel straps and six screws (of which only two must be removed to remove the door). Now there's no need to lift the car so high or remove the entire panel as Mendel loves to do.

 

Removal of the full panel allows you to eyeball the CV joints and look for leaks.

I had a similar, albeit more severe issue with our previous Civic Hybrid: it had a large engine underpanel, thick/soft plastic, with a much more durable hinge point, so that you you could flip down the front half. The operative word though, was half: It was more-or-less impossible for a DIY'r with ramps or floor jack to get enough clearance for that bloody thing.

Manufacturers are not considering DIY'rs; just picture the car going up on a lift, as high as needed.

 

For oil changes and most other service, I use ramps made of 2"x8" lumber, like this. They're gradual enough that the front air dam doesn't hit them, but give me enough clearance to open the oil filter access door if I go 4 high (which is 6" since the nominal thickness is 1.5" per board)

 

That's pretty nifty. I was thinking about something like this, but it's a better built one then I was thinking of. Thanks.

 

Just adding my 2 cents. These work perfectly for me and have made it possible for a 6'1" 270lb man get under my wind up car.

13,000 Lb. Portable Vehicle Ramp Set


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Thanks! I've been looking at getting something like this. But the ones I've seen are too steep of an angle and will damage
the plastic trim. Do you have photos or a short video of your Prius riding up them? I have a 2010....

 

I can get you one. Should be able to do so today.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

As requested.

Video of the harbor freight ramps I use.

I show an under shot at one point and say something about the body pan. Derp, I meant the engine pan or skid plate. You get the idea. Nonetheless they work great for me and I just priced them today at harbor freight. 35 for inside track members. 39.95 for non but don't forget the 20 or 25% off coupons.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Thanks, but it's just a photo. It's not a video file....
Wait,,, very weird... I can play it in my message, but not yours.. oh well, as long as it plays! THANKS!
Man, that is SUPER close, but it works. Looks almost like it just might touch the body work.
But not enough to do any damage. Guess those are on my list.
Thanks a lot for making the video!

 

I use the ramps and a single jack under the middle of the rear.

 

Super close yes but nothing rubs that I can see and they work great. Without them my large self would not be working on this car.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

For situations that do not require tire removal, I use ramps. The only part that can be tricky is getting ones that have a gentle enough angle so as not to scrape the air deflector/bumper cover as you drive up.

 

Did you NOT watch the video? Or read what he wrote?