Long term Storage

[o1marc]

Okay great, what if the floor underneath is concrete driveway?

So what rating Jack should I get? And my dad said there's some that are like a bottle or cylinder shape??

Jack stands 6 ton each?

Don't know what bus you have but adding larger pieces of wood under the bottle jack will distrubte the weight out and not possibly crack your concrete. Get a bottle jack that will lift at least a 1/4 of the total weight of the bus. I would get like a 4 ton bottle jack.

Go all out, here's a 50 ton jack for just over $100:

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-Capacity/dp/B000234ITO

 

[powderskier]

Bottle jack sizing

Hi, I've lifted my 40 ft Thomas several times to adjust the wheelbase length. I was 1 inch out between sides. Anyway one 10 ton jack was sufficient but I found it very hard. Two ten ton jacks using both together was way easier.

 

[Rawlings]

Don't know what bus you have but adding larger pieces of wood under the bottle jack will distrubte the weight out and not possibly crack your concrete. Get a bottle jack that will lift at least a 1/4 of the total weight of the bus. I would get like a 4 ton bottle jack.

Go all out, here's a 50 ton jack for just over $100:

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-Capacity/dp/B000234ITO

Okay great, what weight rating Jack stands should I get? Bus has unladen 22,000lb and gvwr 36,000 lb ...it's pretty empty now except the back side we built out some areas already. Would 6 ton jacks stands suffice?

 

[EastCoastCB]

Okay great, what weight rating Jack stands should I get? Bus has unladen 22,000lb and gvwr 36,000 lb ...it's pretty empty now except the back side we built out some areas already. Would 6 ton jacks stands suffice?

I bought a couple ten ton bottle jacks from Harbor Freight. They can't be beat for the price and worked perfectly.

 

[banman]

I bought a couple ten ton bottle jacks from Harbor Freight. They can't be beat for the price and worked perfectly.

Good to know -- I hate owning something I can't change the wheel on...

Wan't asked but I'd also add a quality bio-cide to the fuel to keep it from deteriorating while sitting. And be sure and store with a full tank to minimize condensation in the tank...

 

[Rawlings]

Good to know -- I hate owning something I can't change the wheel on...

Wan't asked but I'd also add a quality bio-cide to the fuel to keep it from deteriorating while sitting. And be sure and store with a full tank to minimize condensation in the tank...

So am I missing something everyone keeps saying bottle jacks, I got the bottle jacks I plan on buying 2 of the 10 or 12 ton bottle jacks. But don't I actually need to buy 4 jack stands where the bus will actually sit on top of. I wanted to know if buying 4 of the 6 ton jack stands would be sufficient. I plan on jacking the bus up with 2 of the 10 or 12 ton jacks and then putting the jack stands for long term storage.

I'm going to run the summer fuel left over dry this november and then filling it up with new fuel. Am I safe to think that fuel in November in Missouri is already winterized?

Last year I just filled it up around December for storage, but I did not jack it up on jack stands but this year my dad mentioned we should to help the tires. He said just to take some weight off the tires.

 

[Gdog 5651]

So am I missing something everyone keeps saying bottle jacks, I got the bottle jacks I plan on buying 2 of the 10 or 12 ton bottle jacks. But don't I actually need to buy 4 jack stands where the bus will actually sit on top of. I wanted to know if buying 4 of the 6 ton jack stands would be sufficient. I plan on jacking the bus up with 2 of the 10 or 12 ton jacks and then putting the jack stands for long term storage.

I'm going to run the summer fuel left over dry this november and then filling it up with new fuel. Am I safe to think that fuel in November in Missouri is already winterized?

Last year I just filled it up around December for storage, but I did not jack it up on jack stands but this year my dad mentioned we should to help the tires. He said just to take some weight off the tires.

1 10 ton bottle jack 4 6-ton jackstands is the minimum you need to get the bus suspended and if it is on a decent concrete pad that is all you need. Lift the bus so the tires are about an inch off the ground that will be approximate because of of jackstand adjustability. That's 48,000 pounds of support on a bus that cannot weigh more than 36,000 pounds. Cover the tires for UV protection and treat the fuel with a good conditioner at lable rates running the summer fuel out is a waste as most fuel conditioners bring the fuel up to much better than winter fuel specs. I have been climbing under jackstand supported vehicles for more than 40 years and if well placed on a solid surface are as safe if not safer than sitting on tires. Gene

 

[o1marc]

Okay great, what weight rating Jack stands should I get? Bus has unladen 22,000lb and gvwr 36,000 lb ...it's pretty empty now except the back side we built out some areas already. Would 6 ton jacks stands suffice?

I'd stay away from limits that are close to max.
Here's a 20ton for $40

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-low-profile-hydraulic-bottle-jack-66481.html

 

[Broachbilly]

Harbor Freight Jack stands



https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/12-ton-jack-stands-34924.html

 

[Gdog 5651]

It should be obvious that a ten ton bottle jack and 4 6 ton stands should be more than enough to pick up and hold a 36000 pound bus providing it is on a solid surface if it is not on a solid surface than a 40 ton jack and and 4 20 ton stands would not suffice. Most if not all equipment is built with a safety factor built in but even with out you are not picking up the whole bus at once and at some point the jack gets bigger than the space you have to put it under. I worked on trucks and busses my whole life and have never found a
truck I couldn't lift at least a corner of if not the entire front or back of with a ten ton jack one has to remember the gross weight is the vehicle fully loaded which in practice rarely happens. Gene

 

[PNW_Steve]

I bought a couple ten ton bottle jacks from Harbor Freight. They can't be beat for the price and worked perfectly.

I bought the same.

They lifted the bus with no issues. My biggest complaint is that they don't have a spring return.

I have to stand on it to get it fully retracted.

 

[Danjo-SKO]

Whoever is doing this should understand that putting a vehicle on 4 stands is not as stable as it is on the tires and exercise extreme care. Keeping the wheels obviously improves safety, but having a big vehicle pop off the stands could still be hazardous.

Never work on a vehicle on 4 stands.

 

[MacC-SKO]

Don't forget about vermin control.

 

[Sleddgracer]

Whoever is doing this should understand that putting a vehicle on 4 stands is not as stable as it is on the tires and exercise extreme care. Keeping the wheels obviously improves safety, but having a big vehicle pop off the stands could still be hazardous.

Never work on a vehicle on 4 stands.

we like big log rounds - a log 24' across cut 24' long - set on dimension lumber on flat ground makes a very stable block