where exactly are you supposed to place the jack underneath the truck?

kind of a stupid question to ask because I know it illustrates where to do it in the owners manual but I wasn't too sure based on the picture and wanted to ask just to be certain...

I am just trying to lift the truck up enough just to replace a tire/wheel.

 

frame
crossmember

 

Rear diff if all you are looking to do is raise the rear tires... Frame and transmission crossmember as bennett707 mentioned.
With taller tires, I need to use a 4x lumber block to give me more range.

Never get under your truck if solely supported by the jack - use jackstands

 

Make sure to chock the front tires if you jack off the diff

 

Or anytime you are lifting the truck, chock the tires at the opposite end - good catch

 

typically dinner would come before you start jacking off the diff, but everyone has their methods

 

Or engage 4x4

 

When I work on the front wheels I place my floor jack beneath the frame rail right at the point where it begins to curve up and over the front. I jack up the truck so the bottom of the front tire is about an inch above the ground. Then I place a jack stand behind the jack such that I can remove the jack.

 

I only chock when lifting the rear wheels. You can call me mr dangerous.

 

I jack under the diff or under the control arms. It gets the wheel off the ground asap. Jack stands under the frame.

 

Same here. Diff for real, Lower control arms for front. It's a little trickier getting a good spot on the LCAs then crossmember or frame but, as you said, it gets the wheels off the ground much sooner. Plus, it seems it allowed you jack it higher that way as well, since your starting point is lower.

 

This can't be emphasized enough.

My cousin went under a jacked vehicle to do a quick two minute job. Something he had probably done hundreds of times. His wife watched from the house as the jack failed. He did not survive.

Don't short change your safety. Jackstands/solid blocking and wheel chocks every time.

 

#12 What he said !!!

 

I make it a habit to put the wheel i take off under the truck so if juck were to fail the wheel will keep truck from completely going to ground.

Seen a guy break 4 fingers when one of those scissors jacks failed and the rotor crushed his hand. Vehicle comes down alot faster than you think.

 

This is typically how i do it aswell...especially if its just a tire change or rotation.