What Is an Under-Hoist Jack Stand? Posted on May 22, 2025 by Nurul Afsar Last Updated on May 22, 2025 An under-hoist jack stand—sometimes called an underhoist stand—is a tall, adjustable support you position beneath a vehicle that is already lifted on a two-post or four-post hoist. Where the familiar pyramid-style jack stand supports a car only 30–50 cm above the ground, an under-hoist stand telescopes from roughly 1.25 m to more than 2 m, giving technicians a safe, sturdy point of contact with chassis rails, control arms, exhaust pipes, or driveline assemblies while the vehicle is high in the air. How the Stand Is Built The core of the unit is a heavy-gauge steel column rated anywhere from 0.5 tonne (1,000 lb) to more than 1.5 tonnes (3,000 lb). A spin-handle ACME-thread screw, a hydraulic ram, or a pin-through-hole system allows precise height adjustment so the saddle can be wound snugly against the vehicle. The saddle itself comes in flat, V-shaped, or U-shaped designs to suit frame rails, axle tubes, and suspension arms. All of this rides on a wide tripod or square base—often equipped with swivel castors for easy positioning—that keeps the stand balanced on shop floors even when a load shifts during component removal. Benefits of Using an Under-Hoist Jack Stand 1. Greater Shop Safety Relying solely on the lift’s arms is fine for basic work, but once you start removing heavy components the vehicle’s centre of gravity changes. An under-hoist stand creates a redundant load path, reduces chassis sway when you wrench on a stubborn bolt, and gives you controlled, millimetre-perfect lowering when reinstalling a transmission, fuel tank, or EV battery. 2. Improved Access for Complex Jobs Long-throw height adjustment means you can let a suspension droop fully for a bushing replacement, prop one corner of the vehicle during a diff swap, or support an exhaust system while you separate rusty clamps—no more improvising with stacks of wood blocks. 3. Faster Turnaround Time Because the column fine-tunes in seconds, technicians spend less time jockeying floor jacks and more time on the actual repair. In a busy shop that can translate into extra billable hours every week. 4. Longer Life for Your Lift Relieving some of the vehicle’s mass from the hoist extends the working life of cylinders, cables, locks, and carriage bushings—protecting an investment that costs far more than a support stand. 5. Versatility Across Modern Vehicles Today’s SUVs and EVs weigh more than yesterday’s sedans, and their components often need mid-air staging. Under-hoist stands are available in light-duty 680 kg models for compact cars and in robust two-tonne versions capable of stabilising half-ton pickups or cargo vans—exactly the type of range you’ll find at Redline Stands. Situations Where an Under-Hoist Stand Is Essential When you remove wheels for brake or hub service, a stand keeps the suspension from hanging on brake hoses and ABS wires. During differential or axle-shaft work, it supports the free end of a live axle, making gear alignment easier when you reinstall. Pulling an engine or transaxle? A stand balances the chassis so it doesn’t teeter once that big lump is out. Exhaust swaps on long-wheelbase vans go more smoothly when a stand holds the pipe section you’re releasing, and fuel-tank drops become a one-person job because you can lower the tank incrementally and park it at waist height for hose disconnection. Finally, EV battery packs—often weighing hundreds of kilos—can be staged safely in mid-air before sliding onto a scissor table. How to Choose the Right Under-Hoist Jack Stand Start with weight capacity. Pick a stand that exceeds the heaviest component you expect to support; for most passenger vehicles, something in the 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) class offers plenty of headroom. Height range comes next: the stand should collapse far enough to fit under low sports cars yet extend tall enough to reach lifted trucks on a four-post. Pay close attention to the saddle design. A V-pad cradles an axle tube, a flat pad is perfect for sub-frames, and a rubber-coated version prevents marring on painted surfaces. Decide whether you prefer the infinite control of a screw top, the speed of a hydraulic ram, or the simplicity of a pin-style column. Check that the base footprint is wide enough to resist tipping and that castors—if fitted—roll easily across your shop floor. Finally, look for ASME PASE or ANSI certification, a durable powder-coat or zinc finish, and clear capacity labels stamped into the steel. Tip: Redline Stands stocks economical one-ton pin-style models perfect for keen DIYers as well as industrial two-ton hydraulic stands that transmission specialists swear by. Correct Setup and Safe Usage Inspect before every shift. Look for cracked welds, bent columns, or thread galling, and make sure locking pins seat fully. Place the base on level ground. Even a slight slope can become dangerous once weight transfers. Raise the column close to the contact point. Slide or roll the stand under the vehicle so it clears the frame rail. Fine-tune until snug. Turn the screw or pump the hydraulic pedal until you see the chassis lift barely 2–3 mm off the hoist pads or until you feel solid tension. Do not over-crank. Rock-test the chassis. A gentle shove on a bumper should show minimal movement. If the stand shifts, relieve the load, reposition, and tighten again. Respect the rating. For wide components use two stands, but never exceed a single stand’s stated capacity without explicit confirmation that they can be “paired.” Lower slowly and in stages. When dropping a diff or fuel tank, back off the screw one turn at a time or bleed hydraulic pressure gradually. Store stands dry and upright. Wipe hydraulic rams, lubricate screw threads with dry PTFE, and keep moving parts clean. Under-Hoist Stand vs. Traditional Jack Stand—Key Differences Explained A traditional jack stand is meant to hold a car that you have already lifted with a floor jack; it tops out around 50 cm high and relies on a broad, four-legged pyramid frame for stability. An under-hoist jack stand, in contrast, is tall, extending to two metres or more, because it supports vehicles that are already perched well above head height on a hoist. Standard stands usually use a ratchet bar, while under-hoist versions employ screw, hydraulic, or pin mechanisms to achieve millimetre-precise height control. Capacity overlaps somewhat (0.9–4 tonnes for standard stands versus 0.5–2 tonnes for under-hoist models), but the purpose differs: one secures a car at ground level, the other stabilises it in mid-air. Attempting to prop a hoist-raised SUV with a low stand is dangerous, and sliding a two-metre stand under a floor-jack-lifted coupe is simply impractical. Maintenance Tips to Extend Stand Life Monthly, give screw threads and pivot points a shot of dry PTFE spray. Annually, perform a load test by hoisting a known weight—about 125 percent of the stand’s rating—following ASME PASE guidelines. Replace worn saddles; cracked rubber pads compromise grip and can slip on painted surfaces. Touch up chipped paint promptly to ward off rust, and for hydraulic models, change the fluid every two years while bleeding off trapped air. An under-hoist jack stand might not be the first tool you rush out to buy, yet it quickly becomes indispensable once you tackle suspension overhauls, clutch jobs, or EV battery service. The stand turns potentially hazardous repairs into routine tasks by adding a redundant load path, calming chassis sway, and giving you a controlled lowering mechanism. Choose a model with the right capacity, keep it maintained, and use it exactly as the manufacturer recommends, and you’ll protect both your expensive hoist and—more importantly—the people working beneath it. Whether you’re a weekend enthusiast looking to stabilise your project car or a professional technician handling multiple repairs a day, investing in a quality under-hoist jack stand from Redline Stands is a smart, safety-first decision that pays dividends in smoother work. Redline Stands also offers a wide range of other support equipment, including ATV & Cycle Jacks, Dirt Bike Stands & Jacks, Center Stands, Scissor Frame Jacks, and Sport Bike Stands—everything you need to safely lift, support, and service your vehicle with confidence.
