Pay attention to what you're doing. Or - how I almost killed myself.

[ragedracer]

So, I was lifting my K5 the past couple days. I got the front done and was getting ready to do the shackle flip in the rear. My driveway has a slight slope down to the street. I put the front wheels back on, and just spun the lugnuts back on, just finger tight.

I got my jackstands and jack and got ready to jack up the rear of the truck. I put the jack under the rear diff and started jacking. My jack handle is kinda short, and I was on my stomach under the truck. All of a sudden I decided I should tighten the lug nuts on the front wheels before I forgot about it, got excited to test drive the new lift, and drove off with loose lugs.

As I was tightening the lugs I had a serious OH **** moment. I forgot to chock the front tires. If I had jacked up any further, the truck could have rolled back and smashed my ass. The wheels on my jack roll pretty good. It could have been ugly. I wonder what made me decide to tighten those lug nuts and climb out from under the truck. It was strange, all of a sudden I decided it was very important to get those snug, when I could have easily done it later.

Moral of the story. Before you do something that's potentially dangerous, stop and think about everything that could go wrong, and what you should be doing to protect yourself.

 

[jt512]

Moral of the story. Before you do something that's potentially dangerous, stop and think about everything that could go wrong, and what you should be doing to protect yourself.

Excellent advice!

 

[4X4HIGH]

First thing that came to my mind was "sloped driveway to street, jacking up rear of vehicle, hope he has the front wheels chocked).

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

good to hear it was only a near miss and not another run away truck lol

 

[ragedracer]

Yup.

I knew I was supposed to chock the front wheels, I even had my chocks out. I just got ahead of myself. I would have felt really stupid laying there smooshed under the axle.

It only takes a few seconds to make a monumentally stupid decision.

 

[chaser0517]

Yeah, it sounds like the truck wouldn't have gotten too far.
But a dismemberment would've been lurking for sure.
Glad to hear you had good luck and you're still here.

 

[jekquistk5]

That is my biggest downfall getting ahead of myself. I have learned to slow down a little and the end result turns out better

 

[k20]

bigger tires and the axles will go right over you........hey its a reason to upgrade

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I always chock my tires and put it in 4-lo with the hubs locked too as a backup.

 

[G-Force8]

!!!

I'll be lifting my 'Burb soon and my dumb ass needed this reminder

glad you made it out alive!

 

[big dan]

I put myself in a similar situation several years ago. didnt think to chock the front wheels and I dont know what made me decide that it was time for a glass of water but when I came back out of my house the truck had rolled backward and the rear axle was on top of the jack (no tires).

Learned from that "almost" accident how to use chocks and jack stands. Since that first lift I installed I have had 3 of my friends die from cars falling on top of them by making a similar mistake, one of them was pretty close and pretty sad, I knew most of his close family.

I have now got into the habit of making sure jack stands are present when anything is jacked up and before I let any one I know jack up a vehicle I ask where the jack stands are.

you were luck just as I was and its good to hear it

 

[joecowap]

I always chock my tires and put it in 4-lo with the hubs locked too as a backup.

That's exactly what i do also. It works great never had one fall. Now i just need a bigger jack. My 3 ton craftsman jack is almost maxed out w/ my 40" tires.

 

[Greg72]

I always chock my tires and put it in 4-lo with the hubs locked too as a backup.

I also draw out the winch cable and secure it to the gas line in the garage! Can never be too safe....

 

[scrappyk5]

I learned also the first time I was putting a body lift on my s15. I didnt chock the wheels and my driveway was on a slight hill. well i was underneath disconnecting shift linkage to add the extension and it popped out of gear. Just as I it popped out, I slid out from under the truck sooo freaking fast, and grab a board and threw it under the wheel to stop the beginning of a bad day .
Anyways after that, I always chock the tires, when I have it lifted, I always put tires underneath just in case of jackstand failure.

 

[rjpastor]

It's really easy to screw up. I've been lucky that since I've had the Jimmy my kid works in a shop. We were able to do the lift kit on a lift with all the tools available. I've got a couple of jacks and stands, an air compressor and impacts, etc, but it's so much nicer not having to roll around on the ground, especially when you're old and fat.

 

[Stomis]

Yeah also watch jacking up a truck with a hi-lift on any sort of angles. I made that mistake and almost dropped the front end of my truck off my front axle and onto the ground simple because I didnt think to compensate 5 degrees....

 

[dremu]

Ah yes, the joys of living on an incline! I forgot to chock once, undid the driveshaft, and the truck started rolling. With me underneath it on a creeper, thankfully; I don't think a creeper has ever rolled so fast before. The end result:

-- A

 

[ragedracer]

Well, its good to know that I'm not the only idiot on CK5.

 

[joecowap]

I also draw out the winch cable and secure it to the gas line in the garage! Can never be too safe....

I think i would have my wife or kids hold on to the winch line instead of the gas line. I think severed fingers are better than no house

 

[76zimmer]

Yup.

I knew I was supposed to chock the front wheels, I even had my chocks out. I just got ahead of myself. I would have felt really stupid laying there smooshed under the axle.

It only takes a few seconds to make a monumentally stupid decision.

You could have been a Darwin award winner