Jacking safely

A car falling off a jack is one of the most dangerous things that happens at a roadside. A firm base, chocks and the right jacking points make it a routine job, and a shortcut can make it a fatal one.

These notes cover the 5-door Jimny in India. The jacking points and the wheel nut torque are in your owner's manual, so use those. This is general safety guidance, not a substitute for the manual.

By Gypsy Overlanding Family ®

1Flatfirm, levelground2Chockthe otherwheels3Pointsonly themanual's4Nevergo under it
Four rules of jacking: firm ground, chocks, the right points, and never go under the car.

The short answer

Jack only on firm, level ground, chock the other wheels, use the jacking points shown in your manual, lift only as high as you need, and never put any part of your body under a car held only by a jack. On soft ground, use a wide base under the jack.

Do

  • Park on the firmest, flattest spot
  • Apply the handbrake, select gear and chock a wheel
  • Loosen the wheel nuts before lifting
  • Use the jacking points in your manual
  • Use a wide base on soft ground

Do not

  • Get under a car held by a jack
  • Jack on a slope or soft ground
  • Use bumpers, the tow ball or suspension parts as lifting points
  • Lift higher than you need
  • Leave the engine running and the car in gear on the jack

Why jacking goes wrong

  • The ground is soft or sloping, and the jack sinks or slides
  • The car is not chocked, and it rolls
  • The jack is placed on a part that bends or breaks
  • Someone gets under the car, and the jack slips
  • The jack is overextended, and it tips
The factory jack is for changing a wheel, on firm level ground. It is not a workshop jack, and it is a last resort on soft ground.

A safe method

  1. Choose the spot. Firm, flat, away from traffic, with the hazard lights on
  2. Secure the car. Handbrake on, in gear (or P on an automatic), and a chock or rock against another wheel
  3. Loosen the wheel nuts about half a turn while the wheel is on the ground
  4. Place a base under the jack on anything but hard, level ground
  5. Find the jacking point in your manual and seat the jack square to it
  6. Lift only as much as needed, slowly, watching the jack and the ground
  7. Swap the wheel, then lower, and tighten the nuts to the manual's torque, in a star pattern
  8. Recheck the nuts after a short drive

Soft ground and trails

  • Use a wide, firm base: a board, a flat rock or a traction board, so the jack cannot sink
  • Move the car to firmer ground if you can, even on the flat tire
  • A bottle jack often has a smaller base than a scissor jack, so the base matters even more
  • A high-lift jack is tall and can slip off, and it needs proper lifting points and training. Do not improvise with one

Support and checks

A jack is for lifting, not for holding. If you must work under a car, support it with proper axle stands on firm ground, and never rely on a jack alone. For the full wheel change, see trail-side fixes.

Pick your surface

Tap the surface to see how to set up the jack.

Tap a surface (6 to try)

Setup for Firm tarmac

Setup
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Why
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Common mistakes

  • Getting under a jacked car. Never, for any reason.
  • Jacking on soft ground with no base. The jack sinks.
  • Skipping chocks and the handbrake. The car can roll.
  • Using the wrong lifting points. Parts can bend or break.
  • Lifting too high. Higher means less stable.
  • Forgetting to re-torque. Loose wheels can come off.
A final word. A car falling from a jack can kill. This guide is general safety information, not a substitute for your owner's manual, which has the jacking points and the wheel nut torque. If the situation is unsafe, do not jack. Call for help.