Using a jack on vans can be complicated because vans are heavy. A van needs to be raised at a point where the weight will not cause the van to fall off the jack or cause any structural or mechanical damage. A good floor jack will make this task simpler as it will be more than suitable to support the extra weight and size of a van.
Park the van is on level ground. Set the parking brake.
Place chocks behind the wheels on the opposite end of the van you intend to lift. If you are lifting the front of the van, chock the rear wheels, for example.
Place a jack under the front cross member if raising from the front. The crossmember is a solid steel beam that provides support for the frame rail. The crossmember runs from the driver to the passenger side under the engine. The crossmember will support the weight of the van. Raise the jack by pushing the handle down and pulling up until the wheels are off the ground.
Place the jack under the differential in the rear if raising the rear of the van. The differential is connected to the rear axle and is round in appearance. Raise the jack by pushing the handle down and pulling up until the rear wheels are off the ground.
Lower the van slowly to prevent the weight from shifting. Dropping the van too quickly will damage the shocks or the tires. This can be a costly repair in the future.
