Axle stand types, any preferences?

[Gingerbread Man]

Right, I need to buy some new axle stands due to leaving mine behind in the UK. I've always had the pin type stands and they seems to work just fine, but you obviously have to slightly compromise on height if it doesn't line up with a pin. No big issue.

I've never used the ratchet type stands. Are these worth a consideration? I'm assuming the ratchet aspect is to help level the car better?

I've got a nice jack coming. Just need the stands to rest the car on.

Preferences please.

[BritishRacinGrin]

I like the ratchet type but they're noticably heavier which is a bit of a bummer if you're slinging them in the boot of your car every other weekend and generally chucking them about a lot.

[wildoliver]

I suggest against ratchet stands. With a pin type stand it's either safe or not and is obvious which it is, with a ratchet stand while they are quicker and easier to operate the ratchets can stick and worse still they can come loose of the little lever that works them, leaving you with the ratchet not totally engaged.

We have a big workshop we share with the owner of the buildings, I've got circa 20 stands kicking around and he has a pair of ratchet stands, my stands are a mix of cheap/expensive/old/new and none have failed ever, his ratchet stands have dropped a couple of times. It's complication of a simple device for no real reason, the complication brings in a risk that doesn't exist on the simple design.

I wish he'd throw the bloody things away but he won't.

[Gingerbread Man]

I can see that. Moving parts as such. Being held up on a ratchet. The pin is quite final.

[kambites]

I've got a set of simple pin-in-hole type stands which were only a few quid new 15 years ago and are still going strong. If it aint broke...

[blueST]

I've got both, some Aldi pin type and some Costco ratchet ones. The ratchet ones are too tall, I'm never certain if the ratchet has engaged properly and the top is too deep a vee to be useful supporting anything other than a solid axle. Pin type are more useful because the top is flatter meaning you can put a block on top and support where you choose.