What capacity jack should I use to lift a 7 1/2 tonne truck?

Question

I need to raise a wheel so that I can change it The truck might be laden

Answer 1

7 1/2 tonne or above jack....

Answer 2

Depends. If the vehicle has 5 tonne of that weight over the front wheels, and you are lifting the whole front axle (and not just one corner), then you will need a jack with a capacity of over 5 tonne. If you are only lifting one corner, then you are lifting A LITTLE OVER half that weight, and accordingly would need a 3 tonne jack. (As you raise one corner, the other wheels start to raise slightly, so you are actually lifting a little more than half of the weight that is on that particular axle.)

If you're not sure how much weight is on each axle, just find a commercial weigh bridge and ask them to help you out. Simply measure the weight with only the front wheels on the bridge, then with only the rear wheels (the total will be the complete vehicle weight. Actually weighing the truck is important, as some trucks are listed as 7 1/2 tonne, meaning that they can carry that much weight (but don't actually weigh that much on their own), or it may mean that the vehicle (when loaded) cannot exceed that total weight, and sometimes it's the actual unladen weight of the vehicle.

Answer 3

try a 3 ton bottle jack, aka lorry jack.
you are not lifting the whole vehicle just one corner, 3 tonner will do the job laden or un laden.

Answer 4

A heavy bottle jack of 3,1/2 tons should suffice.
If you have the space and muscle, use a trolley jack.

Answer 5

5 ton

Answer 6

straight lift ten ton to be on the safe side. one corner lift. two and a half ton