Upset or Relieved?

[Fatguy]

So, 15 minutes ago I’m driving out of a gas station and it had just snowed so the ground was covered. I started to drive out of the place and bam! The car bottomed out on this pot hole/sink hole. I actually was surprised at how jarring that was right on the sidewalk part. So I got out and pulled over. The heavy duty J&M jacking rails were not dented but probably scratched up. Without them I might of hit the pinch welds; but those rails were unused and perfectly painted. I knew they would get bashed about sooner or later - but still...


So I didn’t know whether to be relieved or pissed off. I actually found that conundrum rather interesting and still don’t know. How would you guys feel? And I didn’t post this in the suspension forum as this really is a general opinion thing.

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[HN401A]

I guess relieved? I'll occasionally scrape mine if I'm not paying attention and enter/exit a parking lot with a steep ramp.

As long as they still function correctly I guess that's all that matters. After all they are mounted UNDER the car.

 

[Fatguy]

I guess relieved? I'll occasionally scrape mine if I'm not paying attention and enter/exit a parking lot with a steep ramp.

As long as they still function correctly I guess that's all that matters. After all they are mounted UNDER the car.

But that’s the funny party especially since I’m now this pragmatic businessman. Those rails were beautifully finished! But I couldn’t help but feel pissed off that now they are used beat up equipment. Plus there was no guarantee that the pinch rails would have hit as these are not the low profile ones. I know this whole thing sounds ridiculous but I can’t stop thinking about it!

 

[Blue Moon]

Yes.

 

[Fatguy]

Yes.

Ok I’ve calmed down. Still no decision and the whole thing is ridiculous. But it is funny how something like that can bug you!

 

[jasonstang]

Oh well, if your car is low you gonna run into issues like this.

 

[Fatguy]

Oh well, if your car is low you gonna run into issues like this.

Yup, we are talking inches and I can’t even get the toe of my boot under those rails. To use my floor jack I have to drive one wheel over some wood to get it under there which would seem to defeat the purpose of the rails in the first place- though I’m sure you can get some that go lower.


I’m starting to get a bit paranoid about some of the steeper underground parking lots I used to frequent. Man, low cars can be a bitch! I was looking at some Vettes with another guy who was going to buy one that day and we were measuring clearance around the car for this very reason. Then we measured the area behind the seats to see if his real estate sign could still fit there, but I digress... Then you have to drive the car constantly watching the road for pot holes and other irregularities. What a lot of bother - Oh well...

 

[Fatguy]

Please buy that battery car and leave us alone. This is just bollocks.

Right ON!

 

[Fatguy]

I’m bumping this thread that at the time I thought was rather embarrassing – to give you guys a postmortem on this incident because it was worse than I imagined.


So I’m exiting this gas station with snow on the ground. I can’t see this sink hole at the exit and as the front wheels dropped into the sink hole the driver’s side jacking rail hits the cement sidewalk. Now this was very jarring inside but I only thought it hit and rose up. Turned out it rode on top of the side walk for several inches before the rear wheels raised the body up off the concrete. What this means is that if the jacking rails were not installed the car would have bottomed out anyway wrecking the side skirts, the pinch welds and the floor pan!


So the rails more than paid for themselves with that one incident alone! I am now sold on these jacking rails and recommend all Mustang owners get them as I thought they were just for raising the car for repairs, but they can save the day in the most unexpected ways. Camaro owners have nothing like this as they have to use rubber pucks with a slit in it to raise their cars – but we have jacking rails… If you don’t have a lowered car I suggest you get the old fashioned full length heavy steel rails that extend well down from the pinch rails. That is my advice for you guys.


So I side with having the rails take the damage as they were designed to - I’m relieved!

 

[69mach1-395]

I guess it's time for an exoskeleton? lol

 

[Endokendal]

Love my new Steeda jacking rails. Also had to bury a low profile floor jack less than 4” tall to get under there. Now That I spent all this money I’m looking for reasons to jack up my car.

 

[Fatguy]

Love my new Steeda jacking rails. Also had to bury a low profile floor jack less than 4” tall to get under there. Now That I spent all this money I’m looking for reasons to jack up my car.

Well I do the drive onto a 2x4 to get a regular jack under there, but just having a low profile jack is best.

You don’t need a reason to jack up your car - just having some jacking rails sets you apart from other drivers, from other men. When you are at a party and women find out you have jacking rails on your car, they gather together staring at you and taking about you in hushed tones. You are the jacking rail guy! A man of intrigue, an adventurer, a man among men!

Before this incident my jacking rails were perfect. If one of the girls at the part felt herself worthy, I would take her to my car, get her on her back right on the asphalt, and have her pass her delicate hands on the cool, smooth metal of a virgin set of jacking rails... I don’t have to tell you what happens after that - the jacking rail guy gets the girl!


But my jacking rails have been christened, they are now used, and I have become the grizzled old man, forging his own destiny - because I bought some jacking rails...


Goodnight...

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