Floor jack recommendation
 

Looking for a decent floor jack. I see jeggs has them from $50 to well over 1K. I want a 2 ton jack and don't want to spend more than $200.

I've had good luck with the aluminum Pittsburgh jacks from Harbor Freight.

Agree, I'm surprised how solid they are. I have two of them.

https://www.amazon.com/Powerzone-380.../dp/B003UM7B98

I've had this one for 2 years with no problems. Aluminum jacks are way easier to handle than the steel and I really like how it goes up quickly until it hits what you are lifting.

I use jacks all day every day in my line of work. The only CHEAP jack that is worth a crap is a OTC stinger 3 ton. They are a little over $200 on eBay and we have been using them for probably 10 years with no problems. A harbor freight or craftsman jack last about a year when used everyday. This OTC jack is your best bet for a cheap jack. Jeff wurl

I have 2 of these in my home shop. Really really solid and I've been super happy. Have had them for 5+ years zero problems. Lifted everything from low mustangs to my lifted F350.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5429_200345429

I have a 25 year old steel 3-ton Craftsman jack that is still my main jack. Never touched it and still works flawless and I use a jack quite a bit. I bought an aluminum 2-ton Craftsman jack a few years ago and it only lasted a couple years before the seals gave out. So far the Pittsburgh is holding up better than the Craftsman did as far as aluminum jacks go. Good to know on the OTC.

I have a 3ton Pittsburgh and its been good for 4 years.

Harbor freight Aluminum. they hold up great actually

I bought a steel 3 ton (I think, maybe 3.5 ton?) at HF to keep in the back of my tow vehicle. It was cheap / on sale for about $120 or so. I hope I never have to use it, but it is there if I do need it. The steel ones are very heavy - but again, I didn't want an expensive one that might get stolen or permanently borrowed.

The one I am replacing is a craftsman. I inherited it from my FIL. I bet this thing is 50 yrs. old, weighs a ton. It worked fine until a few months ago. Now it leaks down very quickly.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Another vote for the HF floor jacks. Have both the alum and an older steel. They make many different ones, so go in and actually look over the models to get the beefier models. Also have several of their bottle jacks, and also like them, except for the cheesy handles.

I like to carry a floor jack when towing a boat. My floor jack works great but heavy and a pain to lift into and secure in the Yukon XL. I may need to look into the HF aluminum jack.

How many of you carry a floor jack when Towing?

Padraig

My father and I both own the harbor freight alum jack. It gets my vote for a low price homeowner jack.

I also carry the HF alum jack in my truck at all times with an 18V Dewalt impact. Have used it lots of times on the side of the road on my trailer tires and changing tires for stranded motorists that have no clue. Turns a half hour job into a 3 minute job.

If you do so for the trailer, there are many products that make it real easy if you have more than 1 axle.

Here's one, of again, many:
https://images.etrailer.com/static/i...ck-am3620.webm

And here's another.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krYt7VdLld4

I do. And because of the weight of the steel one I had been loading into the truck for trailing, I bought the alum one. My back thanks me for that. You can carry the alum one with a single hand using the handles on the side. And that's the 3 ton unit!

Also keep a 30" breaker bar and a 13/16 deep socket next to the jack. Oh, and at home, put anti-seize on the lug studs thread. Will make the tire change go a lot easier down the road.

That looks interesting, have you tried It?

Padraig

Works every time. You can also ride up over a curb in an emergency to accomplish the same thing.

I haven't had good luck with the harbor freight steel jacks. Had 2 that would leak down over night right from new. I have an aluminum harbor freight that seems to work ok. I also had one of the big old green steel craftsman jacks that lasted about 30 years. Still have it actually

I had blocks of wood in back of truck I made that did the same. Now I have single axle trailers. So, I have a jack.

I love my vintage American Made "Auto Specialties" jack. Was made in St. Joseph Michigan . Its a beast. Nothing you would wanna haul around with you, but for the garage, its awesome. Love the long handle, the release on the handle, and the monster footprint. I used to cringe using those tiny floor jacks, where you physically have to get most of your body under the truck , to operate it. I've seen cars and trucks slip off jacks. I'd rather not be under the bumper when that happens. This jack is older than me, but still works like a champ.

On long trips I carry a double ram bottle Jack. It takes up less room, is lighter, cheaper and will lift more.

I keep a bottle jack, and small floor jack in the truck for towing. I don't like trying to lift the entire boat with a bottle jack in the event of a flat tire. Much easier to stick a floor jack under the axle, and lift only the axle.

I've had a Harbor Freight jack drop by Corvette Z06 with no warning. Thank god I was being safe and it had jack stands on all corners, as well as nobody was under it.

No Harbor Freight for me. Cheap jacks are not worth the price. They may have other models that are good but I'm not taking chances again.

I've had a Craftsman aluminum for about 10 years and it has been good. Starting to show its age a little now but still good.

:)

http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/upl...rd-Fraught.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...021d1c5a7d.jpg

http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/upl...012/09/HF4.jpg

http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/upl...012/09/HF3.jpg

I have 2 ton low profile harbor freight job that has been awesome. I also have a light weight aluminum job for road trips

Those ads are too good :)

OTC has a lifetime warranty. Had problems with Craftsman and there's no way i'm using a HF jack. The only thing i get from HF cannot hurt me.

You would not believe what my OTC has done. Many, well over a couple of dozen, cars/trucks used to slide down the ramp trucks with the OTC holding the frt or rear of car/truck up and it's wheels letting the vehicle roll down the ramp. Amazing !

When you have a vehicle on a lift and everything you try to remove from it ust breaks, and days to get parts, you need the lift for other vehicles. Creativity and a little craziness get's the job done. LOL.

Sshmmmm haven't used one in years since I bought a few lifts...the one I do have is a old otc and 3 grey air jacks which still work great.