i just re=read my last post and the responses. i hope you know my comments were with a smiley that i didn't put on there. i'd love to be able to go where someone can really do it right, and i've never been to Oregon.
unfortunately, i don't think it's gonna happen, but i'm sure a lot of western folks will take note of the location.
i'm gonna read up on the description in the manual as well as re-reading the posts from Dan on the Eagle Board about aligning the wheels before i let anyone start on it again. i hope i will be able to determine who knows enough to make it happen before driving even 30 miles. once it's aligned, then we'll start on the tires.
and i'm gonna order that jack you suggested, probably the shorty version 12ton. i can't believe they're that cheap and every truck/bus garage doesn't have them. i had been looking at scales in the $2000 and up that were well beyond what i could spend for one.