Jack Buying Pointers
#1
Jack Buying Pointers
After thinking about it for a while I'm going to get a floor jack. Had been planning on getting at Sears but it isn't handy. What should I look out for? What brands are good? What brands should I avoid? Will probably get it at he Px (post exchange for non-Army types) or at the local o'reilly's.
#3
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Light weight is good.
I bought mine at Sears the lightweight aluminum is nice and you also want to make sure it has a low clearance (to fit under the vehicle) and check the lift height (ie it will raise the vehicle 11 inches).
Mine is similar to the picture.
Speedy-lift™ design: only 2 pumps bring the saddle to the chassis and then engages like a normal jack. Aluminum lightweight construction means jack weighs less than 44 lbs. Lifts from 3-3/4 in. to 18-1/2 in.
I bought mine at Sears the lightweight aluminum is nice and you also want to make sure it has a low clearance (to fit under the vehicle) and check the lift height (ie it will raise the vehicle 11 inches).
Mine is similar to the picture.
Speedy-lift™ design: only 2 pumps bring the saddle to the chassis and then engages like a normal jack. Aluminum lightweight construction means jack weighs less than 44 lbs. Lifts from 3-3/4 in. to 18-1/2 in.
- 3 pc. welded aluminum lifting arm for additional strength and durability
- Low-profile design for low pick-up accessibility
- Handy magnetized tray keeps lug nuts and parts close at hand
- Push button two-piece handle for convenient storage
- Side and rear handle make for easy carrying
#4
The wider the wheels .... the less they dig into asphalt driveways. I actually use a 1/4 inch aluminum plate under the wheels of mine when on asphalt as insurance.
A rubber pad that fits the lifting surface is a nice add-on.
I've owned my Sears jack for a very long time. Buy a quality jack!
ALWAYS use jack stands. NEVER trust the jack alone while working under the vehicle!!!
A rubber pad that fits the lifting surface is a nice add-on.
I've owned my Sears jack for a very long time. Buy a quality jack!
ALWAYS use jack stands. NEVER trust the jack alone while working under the vehicle!!!
Last edited by Speedwing; 04-02-2008 at 11:12 AM.
#5
#7
Light weight is good.
I bought mine at Sears the lightweight aluminum is nice and you also want to make sure it has a low clearance (to fit under the vehicle) and check the lift height (ie it will raise the vehicle 11 inches).
Mine is similar to the picture.
Speedy-lift™ design: only 2 pumps bring the saddle to the chassis and then engages like a normal jack. Aluminum lightweight construction means jack weighs less than 44 lbs. Lifts from 3-3/4 in. to 18-1/2 in.
I bought mine at Sears the lightweight aluminum is nice and you also want to make sure it has a low clearance (to fit under the vehicle) and check the lift height (ie it will raise the vehicle 11 inches).
Mine is similar to the picture.
Speedy-lift™ design: only 2 pumps bring the saddle to the chassis and then engages like a normal jack. Aluminum lightweight construction means jack weighs less than 44 lbs. Lifts from 3-3/4 in. to 18-1/2 in.
- 3 pc. welded aluminum lifting arm for additional strength and durability
- Low-profile design for low pick-up accessibility
- Handy magnetized tray keeps lug nuts and parts close at hand
- Push button two-piece handle for convenient storage
- Side and rear handle make for easy carrying
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#9
#10
i have two harbor freight ones in my garage. i think it's the same one
minifiend posted up. made by US General or something.
the good is that the handle is extendable ...meaning, you can
use it without the extender when you're working in tight space.
very light weight... like 25lbs or so.
very economically priced...and HF has replacement warranty.
no issues on mine, going 2yrs now.
just make sure you WD40 the front roller on occasion as they
will seize if you don't.
minifiend posted up. made by US General or something.
the good is that the handle is extendable ...meaning, you can
use it without the extender when you're working in tight space.
very light weight... like 25lbs or so.
very economically priced...and HF has replacement warranty.
no issues on mine, going 2yrs now.
just make sure you WD40 the front roller on occasion as they
will seize if you don't.
#11
#12
#14
Try bleeding your cylinder, it sounds like you may have air in there. Also check to be sure the fluid is full.
Steve
Steve
#15
I have a really small 2 1/2 ton jack from sears that came with a set of jackstands and a creeper. I like it because it is compact and easy to take to the track, I don't like it because it is pretty heavy and not as low as the nicer jacks, and it takes many more pumps to raise the car. I think in the best of both worlds scenario, I'd have the small sears jack for transporting and a nicer one for garage work. Plus having two jacks can be useful at times.
Get a good set of jackstands with whatever jack you get, though.
Get a good set of jackstands with whatever jack you get, though.
#16
Snap-On. 3.5ton monster. All iron, moderately low profile, wide wheels. Owned now for about 15yrs. Something you won't likely say for many of the alum imports from what I've seen if you truly use them often. You can do the Snap-On from NAPA in their colors (blue and gold) for a few bucks less.
#17
I am on my third Sears 2-ton Alum jack because of problems (leaking) with the previous two. Sears replaced them under their one year warranty. I also had a 1.5-ton HF Alum jack that started leaking after about two years. I would stay away from Sears or HF Alum jacks. The alum is handy for the Mini and transporting. I also have a 3-ton iron jack for bigger jobs.
I suggest getting a Alum jack but spend more money and get a good quality jack. Try to find a made in USA jack. The Sears Alum jack is not cheap but quality is not adequate.
I suggest getting a Alum jack but spend more money and get a good quality jack. Try to find a made in USA jack. The Sears Alum jack is not cheap but quality is not adequate.
#18
This is basically what I use.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...Lift+Equipment
I use it maybe once a month and for that it is just fine. It's small so it is easy to store, and when I bought mine it came with a plastic hard case to store the jack itself in. The stands that you get with it are pretty nice, certainly enough for a MINI. The one thing to know about this one is that it is fairly small, by that I mean it has a fairly short handle giving you a bit less leverage, but more maneuverability. The stroke seems to be plently long for the MINI so nothing to worry about there.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...Lift+Equipment
I use it maybe once a month and for that it is just fine. It's small so it is easy to store, and when I bought mine it came with a plastic hard case to store the jack itself in. The stands that you get with it are pretty nice, certainly enough for a MINI. The one thing to know about this one is that it is fairly small, by that I mean it has a fairly short handle giving you a bit less leverage, but more maneuverability. The stroke seems to be plently long for the MINI so nothing to worry about there.
#19
#20
The wider the wheels .... the less they dig into asphalt driveways. I actually use a 1/4 inch aluminum plate under the wheels of mine when on asphalt as insurance.
A rubber pad that fits the lifting surface is a nice add-on.
I've owned my Sears jack for a very long time. Buy a quality jack!
ALWAYS use jack stands. NEVER trust the jack alone while working under the vehicle!!!
A rubber pad that fits the lifting surface is a nice add-on.
I've owned my Sears jack for a very long time. Buy a quality jack!
ALWAYS use jack stands. NEVER trust the jack alone while working under the vehicle!!!
#22
#24
why is everyone so excited about these large aluminum "racing" jacks? i have a large, low profile floor jack i use, works great. made of steel, its realllly heavy, but its a floor jack.... it stays on the floor, and has wheels. i would recommend a high quality steel jack for the garage, stay away from the attractivly priced aluminum ones.
i would also like to add, if you do have a garage and do a good amount of work on your car, a set of low profile ramps is highly recommended. when changing oil, working on exhaust, etc, it saves a lot of time and guesswork, and its safer to just drive the car onto ramps for added clearance.
i would also like to add, if you do have a garage and do a good amount of work on your car, a set of low profile ramps is highly recommended. when changing oil, working on exhaust, etc, it saves a lot of time and guesswork, and its safer to just drive the car onto ramps for added clearance.
#25
Ever tried using that really heavy steel floor jack at the track? That's why many of us use the lighter aluminum racing jacks--which can do duel duty at home and on the track. In an ideal world, you'd have both--which is what I'm going to do.