Good morning to everyone here at TMS -

I would like to simply say this, I hope no one ever gets a phone call from a family member, buddy, or neighbor like I got Sunday evening. I was headed home from having dinner with my family. I got a phone call from a buddy of mine, name is not important here, I answered and the call was dropped.

I began to flip open my phone to determine who had called and it rang again, it was a very close personal friend of mine who lives maybe 14 minutes from where I live in my condo. I answered and this is real hard to type so bear with me.

Hey, you gotta help me because my wife is at work and my kids are taking a nap in the living room. I was sure what do you need, he was like I am crushed, he said crushed under my Expedition. He asked me to cover over and to hurry, I was like how long have you been under there, he could not remember and said there was no blood so just hurry.

I know I turned white as a sheet and I am tanned from the summer sun. I hung up the phone, called 9-1-1 and raced to his house. Keep in mind as I was passing the Fire Station within maybe 12 blocks of his house the doors were opening and the lights began to flash.

Long story short, NEVER I mean NEVER work on a vehicle without a jack stand ALONE at home. I was really scared as I literally slid into his yard to get out of the street and was able to get to him as the fire truck pulled around the corner and rolled to a stop.

He was simply changing his oil and filter and for some reason he had to apply pressure on the filter and the floor jack slid along the frame rail and came out from under the SUV.

He is going to be okay, bruised ribs, chest is bruised and sore back. I really am not sure what I would have done had this not turned out like it did. Just remember if you work in your garage, leave the door open if possible and always make sure someone knows you are under a vehicle. If you raise your vehicle off the ground, jack stands are meant to create a safe and stable work area.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. Good advice for all of us.

 

I'd only add top this..not only jackstands but chock the tires and set the brake as well. Jackstands will do no good if the tires start rolling.
Glad all turned out ok!

 

^ +1. always be safe and use the tools avaliable to you. if you dont have them, go buy some

 

Are you listening Sean (mustanggt90210)??





That's a close call. Had something similar happen to a friend one time.

 

So glad your friend is going to be ok and thanks for the reminder. You can never be too careful. I bought some rino ramps and right after tha. I saw a thread somewhere where they cracked on somebody. Been leary of them every since. I can only imagine how you felt during that call. It scared me just reading it.

 

I spoke with him this afternoon, he is taking time off of work since his lower back may have taken the blunt of this event. I also use chocks and brake as well.

 

That's downright scary! Kudos to being there for him, and I'm second handedly learning the importance to jack stands. My truck fell off my jack and luckily I wasn't under it and a tire was on.

I can't imagine having a vehicle on top of me. It's a VERY good thing he had his cell in his pocket, that can be something everyone can learn here too.

 

Yeah I was thinking that too.
I still treat my mobile as a home phone so it usually stays on the desk unless I'm heading to town. But I should have it in my pocket when I'm working on the house or out working with the stallions. Already had one life threatening situation 11 years ago so you'd think I'd keep a phone in my pocket when messing with ball bearing horses... But for some reason I haven't been doing so...

 

being stuck under a car (79 Capri to be exact) I too agree with this. luckily the car was a bare shell and I was able to manuever the jack & lift it up again.

 

Good reminder for all.

 

Glad all is good with your friend. When i have my car in the air with a jack or jack stands, i always slide the removed wheel under the car so if it fell it would fall on the removed wheel.

 

talk about a close call.. Dumb question.. An Expedition is pretty high.. Why was it jacked up to change oil?

 

To answer your question, because it is lowered and has 22's on it all the way around.

 

This is why I am a fan of ramps for oil changes. Metal or wide solid wood ramps are very stable, when used correctly. Having these tools is important, using them properly equally so!!

 

Yikes! Glad he's ok.

 

This. I've been doing my own oil changes for the last 25 years or so, and can't recall the last time I used a jack to change the oil. I always use ramps, or nothing at all if a 4wd or AWD vehicle (like our Subaru) with enough ground clearance. The only time I work on a car with a jack but no jack stands is if I'm not actually under the car, like changing wheels or ratating tires.

This is a good reminder though, and can never be stressed enough, as many of us I'm sure rush things on occasion, and are tempted to skip the jack stands. I do remember a guy in my old neighborhood a number of years ago who had his car fall on him and it broke his collar bone. He got off lucky.

 

Thank God he's okay.

 

Wow, thanks for sharing.