Floor Jack

[JMorris271]

Thanks to a few threads I have seen here, I am thinking about floor support under the 48" 125 tank I am trying to put up
I want to use a 18,000 lb. floor jack , set it on solid concrete block and run the jack up under a joist with a 4x4 set perpendicular under the joist . I have crawl space under the house.
Question. Would you do this before or after the tank set up? I just am not sure.
Thanks for your help.

[schatzi]

Do it before the tank is setup. this will prevent the weight of the tank from causing any deflection of the beams before you get them supported.

[thegrun]

+1, before

[JMorris271]

the tank is 48 ". Would you suppose that 1 such support down the middle would do.

[schatzi]

If the tank is perpendicular with the joists I would be comfortable with just one. Some may even say it wouldn't be needed then depending on length of the joist span and where along them the tank will sit, such as up against a wall. If the joists are parallel to the tank then two supports might be a wise choice and cheap insurance. In either case you want the tank straddling as many joist beams as possible.

[ca1ore]

Unless you have joist issues, a 125 simply isn't that heavy. However, as a charter member of overbuilders anonymous I appreciate the desire to be safe. I'd dig full footings and put in three jack posts ...... Hee Hee, just kidding. One, installed before should suffice, though I'd use sistered 2x6/8 instead of 4x4.

[JMorris271]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Unless you have joist issues, a 125 simply isn't that heavy. However, as a charter member of overbuilders anonymous I appreciate the desire to be safe. I'd dig full footings and put in three jack posts ...... Hee Hee, just kidding. One, installed before should suffice, though I'd use sistered 2x6/8 instead of 4x4.

1607 lbs. for every thing except the snails. Ordered the cement truck for the footing

[James77]

Originally Posted by JMorris271

set it on solid concrete block and run the jack up under a joist with a 4x4 set perpendicular under the joist .

You would do it before. But if that concrete block is sitting on dirt, it will do little, if anything.

[Jrhunter0000]

Yes do it before. I used 2 pole jacks and a 4x4

[Jrhunter0000]

Then again floor jacks are pricey you can just make a 4x4 wooden support will do same good.

[JMorris271]

$46 at Lowe's.cheaper than a collapsed floor and peace of mind. I first thought the wooden route but vetoed it
Concrete block with an annul checkup.

[JMorris271]

I went under the house today which is 16yrs old(time flies) and there is an I beam on the left third of the tank stand. I tried to set up the floor jack today that I picked up at Lowes yesterday. Dang! It was about 12 inches too tall. I guess I will just use some 4x4's given the proximity of the I beam.
Aways something. My bad. I remembered wrong. Chalk it up to age.

[SGT_York]

Anyway you go you'll need to check it after a few months. The dirt in a crawlspace is not compacted. Likely if it is bearing weight it will settle a bit. Consider using a footer. A simple concrete paver will help just by cracking if it begins to settle. that is a cheap solution that helps and easily lets you know when something is wrong.

[JMorris271]

Originally Posted by SGT_York

Anyway you go you'll need to check it after a few months. The dirt in a crawlspace is not compacted. Likely if it is bearing weight it will settle a bit. Consider using a footer. A simple concrete paver will help just by cracking if it begins to settle. that is a cheap solution that helps and easily lets you know when something is wrong.

Thank Sgt Some have mentioned footing. I cant haul buckets of concrete through duct work, wires , cables . I'll use pavers.