WATCH closely -

[Ramblin Fever]

where those tire shops are putting their floor-jacks when lifting your trucks.

Went back to the same tire store that I just bought new tires from - were not balanced correctly - didn't think anything of it, when I literally watched the guy lift half of the front of the truck, then sat it back down and had to relocate the floor-jack.

WHY did he have to relocate the floor jack, you ask??

Well, after returning home, walking around the front of the truck, my keys slid out of my hand and slipped a bit under the truck - in the middle of course, so, that's right you guessed it, had to climb under the front of the damn truck to get them.

As I'm pulling myself back out from underneith the truck, something caught my eye, the front skidplate - the one that protects the oil filter and the front of the engine. The DA$$ IDIOT had started to raise the truck with the floor-jack against the skidplate pushing it up by a good 2-3".

ARGHG! I was SO MAD when I saw that. I looked over everything, and from what I can tell, the skidplate isn't bent enough to show that the weight of the lower engine was resting on the floor-jack. I sure as he$$ hope not.

WATCH those guys from now on - don't EVER walk away or turn your back.

[surferfletch]

That's why I've learned to do most everything on my vehicles. At less than $10/hr, they really don't care about your rig. People say, "I make more money than the guy working on the car, so I'll take it to the shop." Well, if they only charged you what they pay the guy working on your rig, I might chance it, but they charge you $50 to near $100/hr for labor for that kind of stupidity. Unfortunately, I can't do tire mounting and alignment. Sorry to hear it... It's hard to take solace in the fact that it could have been worse, eh?

[rodeo02]

A co-worker of mine bought a brand new F150 in 1994. For it's very first dealer oil change, the dealer raised it up on the lift by the driver's side rocker panel! Their fix was to bondo and paint the crushed rocker panel. From that day the driver's door rubbed the rocker panel. He just drove it that way until the whole truck rusted to pieces in 2003 . It is definately a good idea to go over your vehicle anytime it's lifted by something. Ramblin, I'd get a new skid plate (or some $$$) from that place!

G/luck
Joel

[directory]

i had my 92 firebird convertible in to get new tires. putting on the tires wasn't the issue, they did that just fine. when they drove it onto some kind of lift, the ramp plate smacked up underneath my car. i watched it happen. no damage, i thought.

it was raining that day and when i go home, i got out and noticed that my neon was on--but only half of them...(i didn't turn it on)

they had smashed one of my neon tubes and with the rain, had grounded out--so they came on.

that was the day i found out that i had switched the power and ground wires and put a switch on the wrong side.

thank god i didn't burn on the way home.

[marcre]

Isn't it perfectly acceptable to raise the front by the skid plate? My manual I got online states that a front lifting place is the convex portion of the skid plate. My skid plate has a circular portion that fits perfectly into my lift. Underneath this area is a metal brace.

If I new how to post pictures here, I would post the image and directions from my manual.

Marc

[Cat Fuzz]

Originally Posted by marcre

Isn't it perfectly acceptable to raise the front by the skid plate? My manual I got online states that a front lifting place is the convex portion of the skid plate. My skid plate has a circular portion that fits perfectly into my lift. Underneath this area is a metal brace.

If I new how to post pictures here, I would post the image and directions from my manual.

Marc

I sure as heck wouldn't lift my Rodeo by that skid plate. I lift mine by the frame, the frame crossmemberor rear axle housing.

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by marcre

Isn't it perfectly acceptable to raise the front by the skid plate? My manual I got online states that a front lifting place is the convex portion of the skid plate. My skid plate has a circular portion that fits perfectly into my lift. Underneath this area is a metal brace.

If I new how to post pictures here, I would post the image and directions from my manual.

Marc

Well, if I could find a way to post a picture I would, of the near too closeness of that skidplate nearly touching the oil cooler/filter. The skidplate nearly touching them doesn't bother me, what does was they could have done extensive engine damage - at least I would think so. They didn't even have the front end half way lifted and the amount of pressure on the skidplate was incredible.

Don't do it!

[marcre]

I don't know, maybe different skids for different vehicles. Mine seems strong and when I jack it up, it doesn't bend at all.

[Ramblin Fever]

Could be a difference in years I'm sure. But I also have some added weight due aftermarket accessories, and they were lifting the whole front of the truck with just one jack, not two.

The truck itself was hanging off to one side while they were doing it - whole process was just wrong.

[marcre]

Yea, I'm not doubting you. There are a lot of dumb mechanics out there. I was just at one. The whole time I sat at my house nervous for my Rodeo. I spent a good 20 minutes looking her over when I got back to my place.

[marcre]

Here's the pictures from the workshop manual.

[Cat Fuzz]

Still won't do it. There are plenty of other, stronger places to lift.

[surferfletch]

I won't lift there either. What year is that for? I'm thinking that's the opposite of my plate, with mine having the floppy, unsupported end to the rear.

[marcre]

that's for the 99. But I think it applies to all 98+.

[surferfletch]

Mine's a '97.