This arc lifting is true of all floor jacks I know of except one--sears
sells one that you snap a special jack stand into and roll it under the car.
It lifts straight up and when you withdraw the jack, the car is on the
stand. Then you snap in the other stand and do the other side. Costs $300
and I don't know if it will lift high enough to  do a Vanagon owner any
good, but I love the idea.

Jim

On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 9:13 AM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" <
camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

> Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>
>  I also find that vanagons don't really sit equally on for identical jack
>> stands, about a 3/4 wooden pad will make all four corners equally loaded
>> though.
>>
>
> So in your experience, four jackstands under the four corners of the van
> doesn't automatically result in even weight distribution, so a little
> shimming is useful. Is this a trial-and-error thing, or do you already
> know which corner needs a little shimming? E.g., crooked vans or crooked
> flooring?
>
>
>  I could mention that perhaps some people don't realize a floor jack pad
>> does
>> not travel straight up, it goes up in a curve...
>> this pulls on the van, like if the other end if off the ground.
>> so, the jack wheels have to roll, and if they don't you're putting a
>> pulling
>> force on the end your lifting ...
>> easy to pull the other end of jack stands or whatever , doing that.
>>
>
> This is a valuable warning. Worth the price of admission. Thanks, Scott.
>
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>