I have my new 2012 Ecoboost. I also have a 14 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. That means I have two car seats in the back semi-permanently installed. I dread the day I have to change a tire on the side of the road and have to take the car seats out that have kids in them to fold the seat up to get to the jack. What other kind of jack would you consider carrying as an alternative? My Peragon cover will be coming soon, so I will probably put in the bed and lock it up back there.

 

I carry a bottle jack because it is faster to pump rather than twist the scissor jack. But if you go with a bottle jack bake sure the head of the jack is large enough to cover the entire width of the frame rail and that the base is wide enough to support the weight of the truck on soft ground. I also carry a 12 inch piece of treated 2x8 to put under the jack to keep it from sinking into the ground. Also, keep in mind that this is only for changing a tire, i would never use the scissor jack or bottle jack to do maintenance on my truck. Jack stands are a must, as a jack could come unseated and drop your truck on you.

Keep in mind, that if you do go with a bottle jack, make sure is has a long enough range to actually lift you truck high enough to change the tire. ask me how i know!

Hope this helps,

Q.

Hope this helps,

Q.

 

Just store your OEM jack under the cover.

 

I too have a peragon cover. The cover will provide the security you need for a road side bag or self made kit. Even if you use a bottle jack vs. OEM, you still need to store the rod that lowers the spare tire.

When I travel I throw a home made kit in the bed with a bottle jack and other essentials.

 

Dang kids... why can't they just be able to move freely about like I did when I was little.

Is it necessary to lift both rear seats to get to the jack? I haven't played with it at all. I moved the car seats from my Expedition to the new truck in the dealer parking lot. So I havent had an opportunity to look under there.

 

The jack assembly and funnel are under the passenger side of the rear seat on the Scab models. Not sure of the Screw trucks.

I liked it better on the 80's and 90's models when the jack assembly was under the hood. No room for that now.

Jeff, if you notice the 2x4 barrier that I made for the back of truck in the bed. That turned into a handy device to keep groceries and smaller items from sliding forward in the bed. There's plenty of room on the front side of that to mount the jack and handle. Then you have instant access all the time.

 

I did the same thing only using 2.8 treated lumber. I usually have a cooler in the back and got some bungie cords to keep it from sliding side to side. When I go on a job site, the cooler is right there. Also when I go to the big box store for groceries, I have the cooler to put the chilled items in with a little ice for the trip home.

 

Great minds think alike.

 

I think I will wait till my cover comes and I get it installed... then pull the car seats out and get what I need out from under the seats and then build something appropriate in the back.

 

I never even thought about adding hooks to my divider like you did, that's way more handy than the single tie down spots at the back of the bed!