Jack Hook Question

[Greg C.]

So I was camping on Watts Bar Lake last month for the Feathercraft Rally. Got up one morning, and had a flat tire. Less than 1200 miles on all new
tires. Of course, I did not have a jack, and my spare tire

has a 1990 date code on it. Plus, I have 16" American Eagle wheels with a 16.5" steel spare. So no lug nuts, either. I knew this was a problem before
I went, and decided to gamble. Fortunately for me, it

turned out that when I checked the tires I must have let a piece of trash get under the Schrader valve, because once I re-inflated the tire with a
friend's portable compressor, it has held air ever since.

With all that being said, I must remedy the situation. I have a 16" steel wheel coming, Chuck Boyd can supply me with lug nuts, and I plan to buy a
new matching tire this week.

This still leaves the jack. I see that a lot of people use the Ford bottle jack with a jack hook, and I am leaning this way.

JimK has the combination jack hook that works in front and back. But the link to this on his Instructions part of his website does not work.

My question is this: After all the warnings I have read about jacking up the coach ONLY in the middle and ONLY on the front crossmember to prevent
cracking a windshield, how does this jack hook work? It does

not look like it will fit under the front crossmember. Can you jack it up on the side behind the front tire without worrying about breaking a very
expensive windshield?

Thank you.
--
Greg Crawford
Knoxville, TN

1977 Royale
403
Rear Bath
American Eagle Wheels
Alex Sirum Quad bags

 

[john r. lebetski]

There is a jacking hole on centerline of front main crossmember. Jack hook fits into that hole to be steadied. Not core support, further aft, the main
frame crossmember.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[jim kanomata1]

Greg,
Just call me and I will coach you on how to work on the front sides.

On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 6:50 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

> There is a jacking hole on centerline of front main crossmember. Jack hook
> fits into that hole to be steadied. Not core support, further aft, the main
> frame crossmember.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[jim kanomata1]

Maybe the instruction is not complete as the front use is on the back side
I will look tomorrow.

> Greg,
> Just call me and I will coach you on how to work on the front sides.
>
> On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 6:50 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>
>> There is a jacking hole on centerline of front main crossmember. Jack
>> hook fits into that hole to be steadied. Not core support, further aft, the
>> main
>> frame crossmember.
>> --
>> John Lebetski
>> Woodstock, IL
>> 77 Eleganza II
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[jim kanomata1]

The Duel jack is designed to be used only in two places.
At the Rear Boggie case and on the Front SIDE Frame as shown.
When you look at the way the weight is distributed on the hook, it should
be obvious that that is how we avoid overstressing the unit.

> Maybe the instruction is not complete as the front use is on the back side
> I will look tomorrow.
>
> On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 8:44 PM Jim Kanomata

>
>> Greg,
>> Just call me and I will coach you on how to work on the front sides.
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 6:50 PM John R. Lebetski via Gmclist <

>>
>>> There is a jacking hole on centerline of front main crossmember. Jack
>>> hook fits into that hole to be steadied. Not core support, further aft, the
>>> main
>>> frame crossmember.
>>> --
>>> John Lebetski
>>> Woodstock, IL
>>> 77 Eleganza II
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jim Kanomata
>> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
>> jimk
>> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
>> 1-800-752-7502
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[Greg C.]

Thank you, Jim, for the reply.

So now I know you can jack it up on the side without breaking a windshield.

I will look for a hole on the frame somewhere as the link to "Bottle jack adapter" on your website's "Instructions" page returns "Page Not Found".

Will the Dual Purpose Bottle Jack Adapter fit the 4 ton Ford Super Duty bottle jack? (Yellow one).

Thank you.
--
Greg Crawford
Knoxville, TN

1977 Royale
403
Rear Bath
American Eagle Wheels
Alex Sirum Quad bags

 

[jim kanomata1]

When the body diameter is larger, it will cause the adapter to tilt a bit
at first till the adapter clears the body of the jack.
Never lift mor than 8-10 " at the outer frame as it does twist the frameand
effect the body.Soalso lift the other side to avoid.

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 6:40 AM Greg Crawford via Gmclist <

> Thank you, Jim, for the reply.
>
> So now I know you can jack it up on the side without breaking a
> windshield.
>
> I will look for a hole on the frame somewhere as the link to "Bottle jack
> adapter" on your website's "Instructions" page returns "Page Not Found".
>
> Will the Dual Purpose Bottle Jack Adapter fit the 4 ton Ford Super Duty
> bottle jack? (Yellow one).
>
> Thank you.
> --
> Greg Crawford
> Knoxville, TN
>
> 1977 Royale
> 403
> Rear Bath
> American Eagle Wheels
> Alex Sirum Quad bags
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[sgltrac]

To lift the front.
Either lift at center of the front suspension xmember where the two holes
are or lift a little at a time and go side to side at the joint between the
stub frame and frame side rails.

Sully
Bellevue wa

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 8:02 AM Jim Kanomata via Gmclist <

> When the body diameter is larger, it will cause the adapter to tilt a bit
> at first till the adapter clears the body of the jack.
> Never lift mor than 8-10 " at the outer frame as it does twist the frameand
> effect the body.Soalso lift the other side to avoid.
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 6:40 AM Greg Crawford via Gmclist <

>
> > Thank you, Jim, for the reply.
> >
> > So now I know you can jack it up on the side without breaking a
> > windshield.
> >
> > I will look for a hole on the frame somewhere as the link to "Bottle jack
> > adapter" on your website's "Instructions" page returns "Page Not Found".
> >
> > Will the Dual Purpose Bottle Jack Adapter fit the 4 ton Ford Super Duty
> > bottle jack? (Yellow one).
> >
> > Thank you.
> > --
> > Greg Crawford
> > Knoxville, TN
> >
> > 1977 Royale
> > 403
> > Rear Bath
> > American Eagle Wheels
> > Alex Sirum Quad bags
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[Greg C.]

Thank you Jim, and Sully.

I have been lifting from the center of the crossmember, and then wood blocking at the frame junction just behind the wheels on both sides to work on
it. I also added jack stands just in front of the tires so I

had four points of support while under the coach.

My question has more to do with flat-tire-on-the-side-of-the-road situations where I don't think you could get the jack under the crossmember. So with
your answers, it seems I need to carry some wood blocking

with me, and jack up the side opposite the flat, put blocking under the frame junction to support that side, then jack up the opposite side (side the
flat is on) to change the tire.

My Ford jack, which I have not yet used, has 10" of extension. That may or may not get the wheel far enough off the ground to change it. On the other
hand, it keeps to the 10" max Jim K has suggested.

What do you guys do in this situation?
--
Greg Crawford
Knoxville, TN

1977 Royale
403
Rear Bath
American Eagle Wheels
Alex Sirum Quad bags

 

[Jim Hupy]

I run new tires, avoid road hazards, and carry AAA. I have never had a flat
tire on the road, In any vehicle that I have owned and driven, since high
quality radial tires became available. When I was young and near broke
constantly, I drove on tube type bias ply tires that I bought off the USED
TIRE rack. I changed enough flats with bumper jacks and lousy lug wrenches
to educate myself on tubeless radial tires.
Also, I keep accurate track on tire pressures, before I start out on
a trip, and every potty stop, I do a walk-around on the coach with my IR
thermometer and shoot every hub on the coach. If something is not right,
the rest stop area is a whole bunch safer than beside the busy freeway with
18 wheelers buzzing by inches away. Kinda like driving on the top half of
your fuel tanks. Just how I roll. Yes, I carry a jack hook and bottle jack
for dire emergencies. Many times prepared.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020, 3:55 PM Greg Crawford via Gmclist <

> Thank you Jim, and Sully.
>
> I have been lifting from the center of the crossmember, and then wood
> blocking at the frame junction just behind the wheels on both sides to work
> on
> it. I also added jack stands just in front of the tires so I
>
> had four points of support while under the coach.
>
> My question has more to do with flat-tire-on-the-side-of-the-road
> situations where I don't think you could get the jack under the
> crossmember. So with
> your answers, it seems I need to carry some wood blocking
>
> with me, and jack up the side opposite the flat, put blocking under the
> frame junction to support that side, then jack up the opposite side (side
> the
> flat is on) to change the tire.
>
> My Ford jack, which I have not yet used, has 10" of extension. That may or
> may not get the wheel far enough off the ground to change it. On the other
> hand, it keeps to the 10" max Jim K has suggested.
>
> What do you guys do in this situation?
> --
> Greg Crawford
> Knoxville, TN
>
> 1977 Royale
> 403
> Rear Bath
> American Eagle Wheels
> Alex Sirum Quad bags
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[thomas phipps]

If you have upgraded to 80mm front brakes, the 16" steel wheel will not clear the calipers. You would have to move the 16" aluminum wheel to the front
and use the 16" steel rim on the rear wheels, assuming you still have drums in the rear.
Been there, done that.
Tom
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG

 

[john shutzbaugh]

Before relying on the Jack Hook & Bottle Jack combination, I suggest that you let all the air out of one side in the rear to simulate a flat tire,
then see if your combination will work. I found that before I could get the rear wheel off the ground far enough to change a tire, that the bottle
jack was leaning so far that it scared me into abandoning the exercise. I can only imagine what would result had I been doing this with the coach
leaning over alongside the road with the jack maybe in the gravel, instead of on my flat concrete pad.

I carry the Old Red OEM jack & chain. It will pull a coach up out of the dirt! I stow the jack upright strapped to the wall in the outside
refrigerator compartment of both coaches. It seems heavy but the chain and jack are only a couple of pounds heavier than a Hook/two stage bottle jack
combination.

Jim Hupy has the best solution with AAA and frequent attention to the tires, but when AAA comes, they may not be equipped to get a GMC up, as they get
lower than a snake's belly!

JohnS

--
John Shutzbaugh, Vacaville, CA, ncserv;
77 Eleganza, bought it new, can't blame PO; and
78 Buskirk stretch, "What were we thinking?"

 

[Greg C.]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies.

As Jim does, I have all new tires all the way around, and have AAA. I check the pressure before driving, and shoot temps with my IR gun going down the
road. I carefully torque my lug bolts every time I take a

wheel off and on, which has been more times than I ever thought would be necessary by my third month of ownership.

All that being said, sometimes S*#t happens, and I like to be prepared.

Tom, I just found out yesterday what you said. If I had known this before, I probably would have thought about the 80mm calipers a little more before
installing them. Since my coach had practically no brakes,

I can't say if the 80mm upgrade made a difference over stock brakes. They were about the same price, just cost a little more for the brake lines and
the labor to reshape them. They're on there now, anyway.

So it seems like there's just no good way to lift this thing short of the factory jack, and I've read bad things about those.

In Ken Henderson's photos, he shows a jack adapter he made to enable him to jack up under the A-arm. Now, that's the way I've jacked up cars and
trucks for decades. But truthfully, I read so many horror

stories on this forum, I'm scared to do anything that I'm not sure about! Everyone has a different opinion, and sometimes that's a good thing. I'm
just going to do what I think will work. Thanks again, for

taking the time to reply on this.

--
Greg Crawford
Knoxville, TN

1977 Royale
403
Rear Bath
American Eagle Wheels
Alex Sirum Quad bags

 

[Matt Colie]

Greg,

There have been several cracking windshields when jacking that I remember. The thing that seemed to be common was that most had part of the coach
already supported by other than the suspension. So, if you are jacking just one wheel and the rest are on the ground where belong, I don't see great
risk. Two that I remember well had the front on a pair of jack stands and then jacked at the bogie casting for some reason.

I will also suggest that you not count on AAA to show up with the right tools. We were in Ohio - Not far from Toledo - When I cracked a rim that I
thought was radial capable, but was not. (It turned out to be one of two that were not.) The AAA truck that finally showed had no jack that could
get under the coach any place that was capable of jack load. So, I had out the OE set and some blocks that I carry for leveling and stabilizing at
camp locations and hooked the OE hook into the steel wheel and lifted it until I could block under the lower ball joint (yes, the same that be
infamous 12 years later). That let him finish getting that wheel off and then he could use his wheeled bottle jack to lift it off my blocks and set
her back down. If it had been a wheel I cared about the appearance of, that might have mattered.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[LarryW]

I am one of those that accidentally cracked the windshield by improper jacking. When I brought our coach home from Texas, I noticed it had terrible
brakes. So the first thing I did was jack it up to inspect the brakes. I was not aware of the GMCnet at the time so without consulting anyone, I
started by placing a jack under the frame directly behind the RF wheel. Lifted the coach high enough to get the tire off, did the inspection, let it
down and went to the other side to do the drivers side. As I was walking the tools etc to the other side I noticed that the windshield had cracked.
That is when I learned about jacking the front at the main crossmember. BTW, my center of balance for jacking is directly in front of the final drive,
which is 6-8" left of center. I think it is because the Cadillac engine weighs less than the Olds.....I THINK...

BTW, as it turns out, my windshields were fogged around the edges and needed replacing anyway, and even though I told the insurance agent that I had
cracked the windshield, insurance covered the replacement of it anyway. Sometimes bad things happen for a good reason.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.