Building Inexpensive Wheel Cribbing or Wooden Wheel Stands

In this video, I demonstrate how to build wheel cribbing or wooden wheel stands for your vehicle. These are great for those times when you want to lift your vehicle off the ground to work on it but you don't want it on wobbly jack stands.
As a reminder, please be safe out there. I do not know what the actual capacity of well-constructed wheel cribbing is, and if your cribbing is not well-constructed or deteriorated, it's going to be unsafe with just about any load. As mentioned in the video, proceed at your own risk. Also, please follow all manufacturers guidelines for your floor jack and jack stands as well.
If you found the video informative or helpful, please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to the channel!

[@michaelberl7711]

I've been struggling in my mind as to how I would raise my '89 Volvo 240 wagon up high enough to R&R the transmission. These cribs are the perfect solution. I built mine 16" high. And also built 3" extension plugs just in case. I also bought the same jack and the T bar attachment. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks for the feedback and good luck on the wagon! Scott

[@JesseOldRodz]

Nice video, complete instructions. I have looked into these cribs and your video provides great tips. Also, your cribs will save me a few bucks from the ones I was going to build. Thx

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Happy to help, Jesse, and thanks for the feedback. Scott

[@shanemullen7470]

I've been struggling on how to safely work on my 67 caddy transmission..best idea I've seen yet. thanks

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks for the comment and good luck with the caddy! Scott

[@Morningstar36913]

Interesting video. I will definately give the wooden blocks a go. Check out the Gortech multi stage heavy duty scissor jack with the extra height accessory. Its a company out of South Africa and available in the US. You can lift heavy 4x4 's and even tractors with it and much cheaper than the Daytona low profile jack too.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I'll check it out. Thanks

[@hasserl]

Good job. There was a thread on this subject on the HAMB not long ago, and some of the cribbing that was shared in the thread looked really sketchy; some guys are obviously engineering challenged. I don't like pine boards for cribbing, but I think the 4" long blocks you inserted in 2 sides made a huge difference, in effect transferring the weight straight to the ground. As long as the weight of the vehicle doesn't exceed the crush weight of the wood, you're good to go; and with the weight of the car you're working on you're fine. But for those watching, if you're working on heavier off-road equipment, don't use soft wood like this, get some hard wood for your cribbing. Again, good job on these. Be safe!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks! I hear you on soft wood; I think these would be really strong with some rough-cut hardwood 2" x 4"s - something that's a full 2" x 4" of course. Scott

[@larryfontana9207]

Thank you for the great video,I just went through the same thing,my neighbor loaned me the exact transmission jack you have and I pulled the trans out and even with the car as high as I could get it the trans wouldn't clear the exhaust so I thought I was going to have to remove the trans from the jack (would have been fun!) but then I realized all I had to do was tilt the front of the trans down with the jack adjustment.We always seem to overlook the obvious.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Glad you got it figured out! Scott

[@jacobshort6528]

Hey, congrats on that solution! When I was a little kid I was the tool runner for my Dad and The Airforce G.I.s he invited to work in his garage. I saw them use this kind of method to clear the exhaust pipes. This was back in the 1980s.

[@peterk917]

great video, thanks for sharing! I like that you carry the load bearing all the way down.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Glad you found it helpful! Scott

[@Chevelle_5150]

Hello Scott, great video on the wheel cribbing!!!! I did the same thing for my 69 Chevelle, and they work great, I will use them to store the car on as well in the garage for the Minnesota winters, Thanks again!!!!!!!! ~ Mike

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Hey Mike - thanks for the feedback, glad you liked the video! Scott

[@The_TOMMYRAZOR]

I have a lot of scrap 2x4’s and now I’m gonna make some of these haha

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Good call. They're good to have around and quick to assemble. Scott

[@willhermann9813]

Hi Scott! I made a similar cribbing a while back and it has been a very useful tool, seems like I'm always needing something about that size to set something heavy on. Keep up the good work!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Will! Really handy to have around, aren't they? Scott

[@pingwuan_works]

Always a good day seeing another video from you scott! Thanks for the great information.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Great to hear from you, Mr. Pingwuan! Thanks for the comment, Scott

[@hawkeyetec]

Delivered to alot of auto and tractor trailer repair shops and dealers. Ive seen them use metal and wood extension for what your doing. Dont remember what type of wood..

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks for the feedback, Scott

[@karlrussell6765]

Looking good Scott. Good to see you're still at it. I'm looking forward to seeing your 68 progress. My favorite year. I've owned several 68 GTO's. One a verdoro green convertible.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Hi Karl - Good to hear from you and thanks for checking in. This is the only '68 I've ever owned, but I've had several 69's, including a few RAIII Judges. Vedoro is a stunning color when it's fresh, but I hope you had black interior and not green! Thanks, Scott

[@karlrussell6765]

Yes. Black interior, 400 4 speed.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@karlrussell6765 - 3 pedals and black guts? Very nice.

[@hrushivarma866]

I also made wooden blocks after watching your video to keep my Mercedes Benz .

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Excellent! Glad you found it helpful! Scott

[@MrAlternation]

this channel is a hidden gem! i subscribed

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I think so too! Thanks! Scott

[@robertleese5039]

You can always put lumber under the floort jack as well. And im starting to buy floor jacks in pairs makes things alot easier and safer

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

True, but you have to be very careful if you're lifting front and rear with floor jacks at the same time because there's really nothing to keep the car from tipping over on its side. Thanks, Scott

[@jacobshort6528]

​My Dad and I have always stacked 18 inch blocks of railroad ties underneath the chassis of our project vehicles if they are too high for the jackstands. And then blocks of six by six inch beams. But my Dad remembers cribbing like yours, (but bigger), used by his Uncle Jack when moving houses in the 1950s. The whole crew was a bunch of young guys that used bottle jacks to lift up the houses, and then Uncle Jack would tell them, in his Norwegian accent: "Ho-kay, effry bodday jahk koff!!!" Which always brought gales of laughter!

[@jacobshort6528]

And then we stack up the four by six inch blocks. And then the four by four blocks. We had to do this kind of wood stacking when my Dad's car hoist broke a cable while lifting a neighbor's plow truck. All because Dad was too proud of a mechanic to hire a hoist repairman. We even stacked spare steel truck rims underneath when we ran out of wood blocks.

[@royhaught9516]

I usually use three cement blocks stacked on top of one another, but this looks a lot safer! Ha Ha!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Hey Roy - Good to hear from you. I'd prefer wood to concrete, and these aren't difficult to build. Scott

[@pakkelly]

Did you consider another layer or two of cribbing? Also, did you consider mini cribbing for that long reach jack? Finally, Christmas is coming. Will there be a car lift under the tree?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I actually considered taking a layer of cribbing off; they're pretty high already. Mini cribbing would have been a good idea for the jack, but I managed. No car lift under the tree; I had one and sold it! Thanks, Scott

[@JB-cy7ey]

I used a pair of cribs very similar to this to pull a motor/trans out from under a ‘95 Camaro. Very handy when you don’t have a lift.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Yep. Wish I had built these years ago; I suspect I'll get a lot of use out of them. Thanks, Scott

[@pavil58yt]

Needs to be a way to tie all four corners together. Nice jack though. I'm going to see if they are available here.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Tying all four corners together is possible, but at the expense of added weight. The jack is good piece of gear. Thanks, Scott

[@123thef]

I’m thinking about building some of these. Do you think it would work or be safe if I only used two in the front to remove and replace a transmission? Thanks

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

It should work fine.

[@theaussienurseflipper.8113]

You're not going to attract the crack addicts covering it up. Lol. Cheers Graham

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Crack kills!!!

[@telposh]

Love the deal with Scottie's Crack!!🤣🤣🤣

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Crack kills!

[@PTucker0864]

Would it be more structurally rigid to use full-length blocking in the center instead of just around the edges? I love the concept....Good job! No way I'm getting under 2 or 3 tons on jacks and jackstands...too old get stupider now! 😆

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Sure, it would be more rigid, but you get to the point of diminishing returns and it adds weight, too. I think these are plenty sturdy for what I will use them for. Thanks, Scott

[@PTucker0864]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE , What worries me....without a solid layer of wood from top to bottom directly under the tires, those screws around the perimeter boards will just blowout and have a collapse like on 9/11?

[@PTucker0864]

I just built mine....but with all 2x6" wood. 24" L x 18" W x 12" H, but made into 2 sections....a 6" H bottom and a perfectly fitting 6" section for the top. They are SOLID! I used interior grade non- predrill #10 3" long torx-head fasteners screwed in at a slight angle, from different directions per layer. I'd sleep under that car now if not for the spider larvae.....😬

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@PTucker0864 - that sounds quite sturdy! Scott

[@MichaelJordan-jv6ic]

Interesting approach when you don't have a lift.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Yep, it's like a poor man's 4 post lift.

[@HeyPap1967]

Good Work !!!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks! Scott

[@SergioDickerson-hw3ox]

What's the weight limit on that cribbing solution Scott? What's the chance it will hold up my F350? Probably not I'm guessing. Any other solutions for heavier SD trucks?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Serg - I really don't have any idea on the weight limit, but you could always screw some 3/4" plywood to the outside the strengthen it even more. Thanks, Scott

[@wbreese9903]

Nicely done.......I especially liked the John Deere gloves! 👍

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I like 'em too! Durable and high quality. Thanks! Scott

[@tp274]

I am curious if the transmission and jack would fit under the car if you went from the front or back instead of the side. Can you measure the lowest point from the front and back to check if either way will work?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

The car is no longer on the wheel stands, so it may be a while before I can get some measurements. Thanks, Scott

[@randysrestoration]

Cool Vid! What is brand of the Orange toolbox up front in shop? I feel very fortunate to have both 2 post and 4 post hoists to work on. The 4 post is inside the shop as I also use it for parking that extra vehicle. Still waiting on update on the little red car . . One just brought big $ on BaT

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Hey Randy - The orange toolbox is a Homak RS Pro; I have three of the 72" bottom boxes. Pretty good thread on these on GJ; they're a good box for the price. Little red car is coming; I have to get the '68 Lemans convt. done and sold and then it's up next! Thanks, Scott

[@olivialoupe1156]

This is some great info!!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Olivia! I knew you'd appreciate this one!

[@Decsrepts]

Ahhhhh

[@bbbbbb-bu9xg]

Hi. Where to buy your jack? Or at least could you leave the model name please

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

It's the Harbor Freight Daytona long reach low profile 3 ton jack - www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-long-reach-low-profile-professional-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-blue-56641.html

[@bobbuilder-wo9tv]

I gotta sawzall that’ll do

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Yep!

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

Inexpensive Torx head screws and brand new lumber aNd... a 200$ brand new floor jack . . . ❓❓😗

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I'm not sure I understand your comment.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE * You spent like, a lot more than I would have spent. I'd use scavenged wood, nails and the crap floor jack I already have with a big block made from nailing something together. All that money and work and you still wound up a tad too short to roll the transmission under on its jack. Still a valuable video, and I like it, but it's mistitled. raathaa.. lol