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We all remember that scene in the opening credits of the old Hulk TV show where Lou Ferrigno picks up a car and rolls it off a cliff. Few can make it look as easy as Lou did, but with the right technique (and the right car) it’s entirely possible for a hard-training gym rat to lift a car off the ground. Leg strength is obviously critical, though you don’t need a monstrous full squat to be able to pull off this feat. If you can half-squat 500 pounds or more, then you can totally lift a Honda Civic. You’ll impress the hell out of your friends, and for once in your life, someone might confuse you with the Hulk. And isn’t that all any man asks for? A two-door Honda Civic is good for most guys. I wouldn’t recommend starting with a fully loaded police cruiser like the one I recently lifted. Derek’s Tips
The Moves (From Left)
Related Articles Success!Thank you for signing up. Your information has been successfully processed! The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more. There are plenty of reasons to raise your car: changing oil, rotating tires, bleeding brakes, or, if you're a garage hero, swapping in a 1,000 horsepower Dodge Hellephant crate motor. But not everyone has a mechanic-spec car liftthat's bolted to the concrete floor and will withstand three or four F-450s. For most, that means a jack and jack stands are the best option to raise your vehicle off the ground and get to your vehicle's disgustingly dirty underbelly. Using a car jack is relatively simple, and the tools you need to get the job done aren't expensive. The trick is having the right jack, a couple of jack stands, a set of wheel chocks, and the right location to lift your car into position safely and securely. Follow along as The Drive's editors walk you through how to safely lift your car and gain access to its seedy underbody. Let's get high! Wait, scratch that. BasicsEstimated Time Needed: 30 minutes or less. Skill Level: Beginner Vehicle System: Your car's underside. SafetyWe're not going to lie; there's a real danger of the car falling off of the jack and turning a simple oil change into a disaster. There are a few simple ways to help mitigate the dangers of lifting your car you can take to keep yourself and others safe. Here's how to do it:
Everything You'll NeedWe’re not psychic, nor are we snooping through your toolbox or garage, so here’s what you’ll need to get the job done. Tool List
You’ll also need a flat surface, such as a garage floor, driveway, or street parking. Check your local laws to make sure you’re not violating any codes when using the street because we ain’t getting your car out of the clink. Organizing your workspace so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the sandpaper or blowtorch. (You won't need a blowtorch for this job. Please don’t have your kid hand you a blowtorch—Ed.)
How to Lift a CarLet's do this! Positioning the Car Jack
Raising the Car
Securing the Car
You've done it! Congrats. Repeating the Process
Lowering
Tips from a ProWe've lifted cars more times than we care to admit—don't ask us about the mismatched axles of '95—so here are our top tips for jacking up your car.
FAQs About Car JacksYou’ve got questions, The Drive has answers! Q. So Why Would I Need to Lift My Car?A. I mean, you might want to install Underglow. Do you want to install Underglow? Q. Maybe...A. Don't be shy, we love Underglow! Also, there are a number of DIY repairs and services that require lifting a vehicle. Even simply changing your oil requires you to get underneath the engine to access the oil pan. More extensive procedures, like lifting the car’s suspension, require more ground clearance. Q. What is the Best Type of Jack?A. We're partial to good ole hydraulic jacks since they are easy to move around and still strong enough to take the weight of most vehicles. Scissor jacks are good when you need to lift the vehicle on the side of the road to change a tire. More specialized jacks, whole car jacks, are also useful but are less flexible since they're sorta bolted to the floor. Q. How Many Wheels Can I Lift at Once?A. Most car jacks are designed to lift one wheel at a time. You can lift all four wheels with sequential lifts, but always make sure you are working with one corner of the vehicle at a time. Let’s Talk, Comment Below To Talk With The Drive’s Editors!We’re here to be expert guides in everything How-To related. Use us, compliment us, yell at us. Comment below and let’s talk! You can also shout at us on Twitter or Instagram, here are our profiles. Featured ProductsGot a question? Got a pro tip? Send us a note: Can you lift a car with your hands?It shouldn't be able to happen, theoretically; a car on the smaller end of the spectrum weighs around 3,000 pounds, but the world record for a deadlift is just over 1,100, and the average man can maybe do around a fifth of that.
Can a human lift a car?Probably not. Most reported hysterical strength examples describe a person lifting a portion of a vehicle several inches off the ground, and not an entire automobile.
How do you lift a car without a jack?You can either leverage a natural slope to lift the car or dig out some dirt beneath the wheel to create natural height differences. Something else you can do is strategically park your car on a curb. If done correctly, this one is probably the easiest. That said, it can cause damage if done improperly.
What is the easiest way to lift a car?3 Ways To Increase the Ground Clearance of Your Vehicle. Purchase Larger Tires. One of the easiest and most popular ways to increase the ground clearance of your vehicle is to invest in larger tires. ... . Install Coil Spring Spacers. ... . Invest in a Suspension Lift Kit.. |