A summary lesson in crap jacks.

I had a double puncture on the 2 nearside wheels tonight which was rotten luck. Anyway while I was waiting for the truck to take me home I thought I would do something useful and change the front for the spare.

Off with the wheel nuts and under with the jack. Level tarmac ground in a lay by so should be a breeze I hear you think. When I am at home I always use my trolley jack but didn't have it in the car today.

Anyhow, round and round it goes until the wheel is off the floor and I stop my only physical exercise for the day. Just as I slide the wheel off the hub, the jack gives way and the car lurches towards me. I'm not in a happy place as this happens but, luckily, the brake disc comes to rest on the inside of the alloy wheel. No damage done. I'm experienced enough to keep everything clear when jacking and was only using the jack provided in the emergency situation I found myself in as I didn't have my trusty Costco trolley jack. Anyway the truck turned up (after a couple of hours.....) and we get the trolley jack under the car and hey presto, easy peasy.

The jack had just buckled under the weight of the car. I suppose I might have over extended it but I don't think so. The tyre was quite flat and the bottom of it only an inch or 2 off the ground.

On the hunt for something lightweight and/or and robust enough to replace it now. I hope this helps someone who might not be as lucky as I was this evening.

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those standard jacks have plenty of nicknames, none of them good!

have a read of this...

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic14177...ottle+jack


Beautiful car by the way... looks great in stornaway !

. 2012 L322 4.4 TDV8 AB low mileage - a peach
1986 V8 Defender 90 County ex-Swiss Army - Red everything....

My preferred Independent: Roy Hardy. R & B AUTOS LTD, 20 Brook Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2BH 07500 866775‬ (Ex LR Chief Technician)

Last edited by Range Rover L322 on 11th Apr 2022 9:55pm. Edited 1 time in total

Mercedes Sprinter bottle Jack is the way to go.

The factory one is useless… as you have now found out.

Least you are ok.

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Lesson identified. Have sent Ben a message about a Sprinter jack. Thanks chaps

I carry an old style LR jack with the 2 "horns". Works a treat under the lower suspension arms all round. 2 pumps and wheel is clear.
I threw the LR scissor jack "Widow Maker" on Day 1 Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------

Me too - on the D4 it went straight in the recycling. I have kept the FFRR one in the boot just for neatness/resale etc. but carry a suitably rated bottle jack with adequate 4x4 lift which worked well even off-road with D4.

How manufacturers are allowed to provide those pressed-steel jacks is beyond me in an age where we benefit from so much safety regulation in every other field of lifting and pulling, etc.

I am glad that you managed to escape the situation, good of you to share your experiences for the education of others. FFRR SDV8 Autobiography

Are bottle jacks as good as a trolley jack for swapping wheels/changing brakes at home on a flat surface? (With axle stands of course).

just reading this post ok the jack that is with the car for the money you spend is very sad . but i think that if you would of used the wheel chocks that are in the boot this would have not come of the jack . i would have put one in front of the rear passengers wheel and the second one at the back of the passengers rear wheel or tyre if you like . i no it is in park and hand brake on but it can still rock front and back just saying . new vehicle purchase
2007 supercharged 4.2 java black .sand leather vogue se trim
previous cars .
range rover classic 200 tdi
discovery 1 200 tdi
freelander 2 2008 hse
discovery 1 300 tdi
p38 4.0 ltr man r380 ex royal support vehicle on v5c
discovery td5 man off roader

Bottle jack for the boot, trolley jack for the garage - OE jack for the bin.
Chocking the diagonally opposite wheel is a must. There is so much suspension travel that to get a wheel off the ground introduces a substantial force along the driving axis. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

trolley jacks have a far better foot plate more stable than the bottle ref phillip 1972 post my return comment new vehicle purchase
2007 supercharged 4.2 java black .sand leather vogue se trim
previous cars .
range rover classic 200 tdi
discovery 1 200 tdi
freelander 2 2008 hse
discovery 1 300 tdi
p38 4.0 ltr man r380 ex royal support vehicle on v5c
discovery td5 man off roader

Last edited by oggy on 13th Apr 2022 9:40am. Edited 1 time in total

Don't usually stow a trolley jack in the boot though🤔 Previous cars:
S-Max 2007-2013 (only diesel I've had, good car but expensive when diesely bits go wrong, so what's the point?)
Galaxy 2001-2007
Mondeo Estate 1997-2001
Sierra Estate 1993-1997
Uno Turbo 1987 -1993
Fiesta 1984 - 1987
Fiat 127 1982 - 1984

Bottle jacks are and were only ever for emergency use in changing a wheel by the roadside. They rely on having 3 wheels on the ground to stop any lateral movement of the car when it’s lifted on a jacking point as they have no inherent lateral stability. Trolly jacks are a different tool altogether for garage use. The ones I would use for a vehicle the size of an L322 would be too heavy to lift into the boot even if there was the space. The small trolly jacks I’ve seen recommended here sometimes are little better than a bottle jack in terms of stability on a vehicle this size and weight esp as they will need to be fully extended to lift an L322 and therefore at maximum instability. Also they need a flat hard and smooth surface like a concrete floor to work properly as the wheels need to creep to maintain stability as the vehicle is lifted. I’d place much more emphasis on getting a large and substantial pair of axle stands than a jack as at least you can carry one in the car for emergency use. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Yes and as mentioned above Axlx stands are essential in my opinion even when changing a wheel.
Also leave a slightly door open when jacking as this will prevent any self adjustment of the air suspension. Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

I've only had to use my standard jack once for a puncture on a front wheel. The ground was flat and I raised the suspension first. Once the wheel is off the ground I always test the stability of the jack by gently nudging the car and then really giving it a good sideways push.
I must say the jack felt very secure and stable. Like previous comments, a bottle jack has as much footprint as the scissor jack and if the car can move I think both have a chance of bending or toppling.

i was replying to phillip 1972 post is a trolley jack better which i said yes it is . i never said anything about putting one in the boot this is for appj62 comment that he made new vehicle purchase
2007 supercharged 4.2 java black .sand leather vogue se trim
previous cars .
range rover classic 200 tdi
discovery 1 200 tdi
freelander 2 2008 hse
discovery 1 300 tdi
p38 4.0 ltr man r380 ex royal support vehicle on v5c
discovery td5 man off roader