How do I size axle stands?

Against the whole vehicle weight, not half of it: 2 tonnes for a passenger car, 3 tonnes for a light commercial or SUV, 6 tonnes for a van and above. Stands are always bought in pairs.

Three-legged or four-legged stands?

Three legs sit on three points and do not rock on an uneven floor; four legs give a wider base and a higher rating. On a level floor, four-legged is the stronger choice.

What is a creeper for?

It keeps the mechanic off the floor and rolls, so they can change position under the vehicle without getting up. On long underbody jobs it cuts fatigue noticeably.

How does a hydraulic body repair kit work?

A hand pump and a set of extensions apply pressure to a dented panel from the inside. Because it pushes rather than pulls, it also works inside closed sections.

Does an oil extractor replace the sump plug?

On most engines, yes: the oil is drawn out through the dipstick tube and the plug stays shut. Where sediment at the bottom of the sump has to come out too, draining through the plug is still preferred.

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Axle Stands & Workshop Equipment

The jack lifts the load; the stand is what holds it. Every minute spent under a vehicle should be planned on the assumption that the weight sits on a mechanical support rather than a hydraulic cylinder, and this group is the equipment that makes that assumption true: folding axle stands, creepers, engine stands, hydraulic body repair kits and sump oil extractors.

Sizing axle stands

Stands are always bought in pairs and sized against the whole vehicle weight, not half of it. Three-legged models sit stably on uneven floors; four-legged models offer a wider base and a higher rating.

Place stands at the support points the manufacturer specifies, and once the weight is down, rock the vehicle gently to confirm it has seated.

Vehicle class	Recommended stand rating (pair)
Passenger car	2 t
Light commercial / SUV	3 t
Van and above	6 t

The rest of the workshop

A creeper keeps the mechanic off the floor and lets them move about on their back. An engine stand holds a removed engine on a rotating mount, so every face can be reached without a bench. Hydraulic body repair kits push a dented section out from the inside rather than pulling it, which is what lets them work inside closed sections.

A sump oil extractor draws the oil out through the dipstick tube without opening the plug — cleaner and quicker, and equally at home in marine and generator servicing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I size axle stands?
Against the whole vehicle weight, not half of it: 2 tonnes for a passenger car, 3 tonnes for a light commercial or SUV, 6 tonnes for a van and above. Stands are always bought in pairs.
Three-legged or four-legged stands?
Three legs sit on three points and do not rock on an uneven floor; four legs give a wider base and a higher rating. On a level floor, four-legged is the stronger choice.
What is a creeper for?
It keeps the mechanic off the floor and rolls, so they can change position under the vehicle without getting up. On long underbody jobs it cuts fatigue noticeably.
How does a hydraulic body repair kit work?
A hand pump and a set of extensions apply pressure to a dented panel from the inside. Because it pushes rather than pulls, it also works inside closed sections.
Does an oil extractor replace the sump plug?
On most engines, yes: the oil is drawn out through the dipstick tube and the plug stays shut. Where sediment at the bottom of the sump has to come out too, draining through the plug is still preferred.