Most pickups have ample ground clearance, but sometimes the clearance is not enough. You have several safe options for elevating your pickup truck. You can place the vehicle on a lift at an auto shop, drive the vehicle onto ramps or jack up the vehicle using a scissor or hydraulic jack. Accessing the wheels requires using a jack. Safely jacking up a vehicle follows five simple steps.
Park the vehicle on level ground and turn off its ignition. Place a chock block in front of, and behind, the tire that will remain on the ground.
Set the emergency brake. Some vehicle work requires it to be released. Set the brake unless you need the rear wheel to be free spinning.
Place the jack on a level surface beneath the lift point on the vehicle, such as brick or wood block. Do not place the jack on loose gravel or soft dirt. Hard dirt, pavement, or packed rock is sufficient. The lift point for each vehicle is detailed in the owner's manual. Use the axle or vehicle frame as the lift point when in doubt.
Elevate the vehicle slowly while watching the jack. Lower the vehicle to the ground immediately if the jack begins to lean. Correct the angle on the jack and try again.
Place a fully extended jack stand adjacent to the jack. The jack will hold the vehicle up, but the jack stand will catch the vehicle if the jack fails.
