I�d say this depends on whatever you�re supposed to do....
My primary buy was the floor jack that could take 2� ton up to 2 feet height
and then I put a stand the height of what I need !
If I�m to work on the brakes, I�ll just use the jack and put the wheel I
took off under the brakedisc/drum  IF the jack would sink.
When I changed the engine  I had the Vanagon standing on four piles of tyres
4 feet up in the air ........
But for normal maintenance under the bus I try to drive it up on metal ramps
that are about 1 foot high.
I regard this as the easiest and most secure way when working under your car
since you�re easily tempted to "crawl in for a peek" before looking in the
garage for the axlestands :-(
I�ve also been close to a car that fell off the stands and feel much more
safe if it`s actually standing on it�s own wheels, this makes it harder to
crawl under the axles and there is often enough groundclearance to survive
if it comes down on you, at least on a Vanagon...

Calle
-88 Volgon
Mullhyttan, Sweden

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Nadig" <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 3:39 AM
Subject: Re: Vanagaon axle stand height?

> It has been my experience that taller is always better. The question that
> you should be asking is, "what is the distance from the ground to the area
> that you will be supporting on the van?" This is assuming that the van is
> unloaded and tires are at proper inflation levels.
>
> Once you establish this height, find the heaviest duty stand you can find
> that will fit in that area. In general, the heavy duty stands are also
ones
> that will lift the van the highest. While you may never need to raise the
> stand to its maximum height, you never know if you will. Wouldn't you
rather
> buy a heavy duty, very capable stand just once, rather than buy a less
> substantial stand now, only to become frustrated later to find that you
have
> some job you would like to do that requires that you have the van higher
off
> the ground?
>
> I have never regretted having my work high off the ground. Ground
clearance
> good. What you will regret is not having sufficient clearance to do your
> work properly, or worse yet, just enough height to get the job done, but
> only so much that it makes the job very difficult.
>
> As for where to buy, I hate to endorse them, but I have yet to find fault
> with my heavy duty Harbor Freight stands. In fact, if I remember
correctly,
> Harbor Freight has the heavy duty ratcheting stands available in at least
> two heights. I have a pair of each.
>
> Cheers,
> Bruce
> motorbruce
>
>
>
>
> >From: Jens Jakob Andersen <jens.jakob.andersen@POST.DK>
> >Reply-To: jens.jakob.andersen@POST.DK
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Vanagaon axle stand height?
> >Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 09:21:26 +0200
> >
> >Hi
> >
> >A slightly OT question, but still should make it into the FAQ, since
> >everybody needs it?
> >
> >What is the needed height of axle stands for the Vanagon?
> >
> >I am asking, since all the shops around here only has 35 cm height (or
so)
> >axle stands. Cheap, yes. 2 ton capacity, yes. But not the clearence
needed
> >for the Vanagon, I guess.
> >
> >If I dont get any input, I guess that I will jack the car myself, and
> >measure the height needed to take off the roadwheels, and then make the
> >entry for the FAQ myslf :-)
> >
> >But if one of you guys has the info the hand, I can get on with searching
> >the net for axlestands available near Copenhagen, and then I can get them
> >today - and begin working properly (I have not yet had the car up in the
> >air - I do not work underneath vehicles only supported on jacks...)
> >
> >Happy driving
> >
> >JJ
>