I'm looking for some ideas on how people are stabilizing larger suv's or pick-up trucks with large amounts of ground clearance. I've found that the Rescue Jacks don't get small enough, and we can only carry a limited amount of cribbing due to the size of our rescue truck. I've tried building larger step chocks but they still fall short on stock 3/4 and 1 ton american made pick-ups and utility bodies. Any thoughts or ideads would be appreciated.
I've looked into junkyard dogs, they seem to deploy quickly and in a compact design, any experiences with these would be greatly noted thank you

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Take your step chocks and stand them up right instead of using them the traditional flat way.

You still need to be careful with overall stability though.
we've got a local lumber yard that we work very close with and if we hear a call and it seems like we're going to need a ot of cribbing we call for it and our local law will escort them to the seen, we've done this a couple of times now and it works great:)
I may be stating the obvious but deflate the tires. That will drop the vehicle by about 5 inches, place your chocks/cribbing under the vehicle and lower the vehicle onto them.
Michael,
I believe you also need to look at the load bearing capacity of the strut system you are looking at. All manufacturers publish this information and the capacity they publish is for the strut loaded axially (straight and true). Keep in mind that when you use these devices on a vehicle, you will be loading them eccentrically (off center). There load bearing capcity will be reduced from what is published. Also as you extend the srut (make it longer) this also reduces it's load carrying capabilities (Columnar Loading: The longer a post is in relationship to it's diameter, the less weight it can hold).
As you try to stabilize larger vehicles you must consider the increased weight plus you can not ignore the load the vehicle is carrying. Just suppose that after stabilizing the pick up truck, you have to lift it and it's cargo to rescue a person trapped beneath it. As a friend once told me "once you lift a load you own it". Is your system expandable and still strong?
Why stop at pick up trucks. What about larger trucks, buses etc. how do we stabilize these heavy vehicles that are high above the ground. Remember, to really stabilize a heavy load you need to have a very wide foot print (usually impractical) or you need to get a strong post's point of contact above the load's center of gravity. The latter is not as hard as it may seem.
If you have any other questions, or seek additional information I would be happt to talk with you.
hey michael hurst just came out with stabilizing struts that work great for stabilizing all vehicles, also there is a product called the auto crib that is pretty neat, check them out!
Maybe try Farm jacks, maybe air bags.
Try hi-lift jacks. They are used all the time by off-roaders (trail trucks). www.4wheeparts.com.
That's what we do Johnny, it makes for rock solid stabilization!
Hi-lifts are good in the right hands.

Used incorrectly or in an unsafe manner and these are nightmares when it comes to stability
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Step chocks and cripping are the best to use in combination with removal of valve stems to slowly low vehicle on cripping/chocks. We use Kodiak VSS, high pressure air bags & handiman jacks. As lutan1 state handiman jacks or hi-lift jacks need to be used by some that knows what they are doing. I had the opportunity of using a system that comes from Germany this year at a class in Dayton, OH. As everyone knows the systems we use in USA pull bottoms of the VSS together raising higher points to hold into place. This one pulled at the bottom and also pulled top into vehicle. Unlike our systems it could be used in middle of deck lids and smooth surfaces. Combine it with our VSS, it turns into a really good system to use anywhere. I have included links to system we use right now. Small, light & very easy to use: http://www.howellrescue.com/toolpages/stabilization/Kodiak/kodiak.htm

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