The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest What car jack should I buy?

OK,

I bought the standard made-in-who-knows-where rolling car jack from W*l-M*rt a while ago (the $19.95 kind). The thing barely lifts a regular minivan. By now it makes some wild krrrck! noises when I lift anything. Luckily the recycling yard for scrap metal is less than a mile away.

Assuming I wanted to buy a rolling car (and truck) jack that would last for the rest of my life*, but not want to get a second mortgage for it, which one should I buy?

Thanks,

Andy

* Assuming my current car jack won't kill me.

Drop the bucks and buy a Walker. Will cost some bucks but will last a life time in the home shop, leave the China junk for the want'a b's and fools.

As a rule I don't buy anything that my life or livelihood depend on from HF or other cheap chineese suppliers. There are some quality chineese made tools buy not many. Get a brand name jack. Don't bet your life on cheap. I'm not sure who makes it but NAPA sells a good jack too.

I bought a 3 ton jack from Advanced Auto, and have had it about 5 years, so far, so good. In the past, I had a Walker 2 ton, and a Viking 3 ton that were also bought new and both ended up leaking. Some of my friends have had good luck with the Craftsman brand jacks. Now, I try and look them over well to try and judge the quality. If you buy the cheapest one that you can find, you will most likely be disappointed.

BTW: The Walker was made in the USA, and the Viking was a Brazil made unit. It's too cold outside right now to go look, but I would bet that the 3 ton that I got from Advanced Auto is most likely an import and so far has performed well.

Whatever you do, don't buy a jack that is undersized for what you will be mostly using it for. They will usually lift at least a little more than they are rated at, but won't last as long.

John

Some good info about jacks on this site.
www.hyjacks.com/H2.HTM

4 post lift would be nice

Ive had my 3 ton Craftsman floor jack for near 15 yrs an it works great to this date .
it was like 89.99 back then

I have a couple of 3 ton jacks.

I also buy those KaMapART type cheap jacks at Menards for $15. They come in a small plastic case so I can stick them in the back or behind the seat. Great in a pinch, but not good for normal use.

I have had my Craftsman 1 1/2 tonner since 1973,and it still works like new.At that time Craftsman jacks were made by Blackhawk.Although it is rated at only 1 1/2 tons it will pick up any car or light truck.I dont know about the new Craftsmans,but the Walkers have a very good reputation.Most repair shops I go to use Walkers.

I did get the specs off of my jack today (it finally warmed up outside).

MVP Pro-Lift 3 ton
Hydraulic Garage Jack
Model G-593 BW
5 3/4" - 20" Lifting Height
Made in China

Purchased from "Advance Auto"
for about $60-70

All I can say, is I have owned it over 5 years, and it still works great.

John

I've got a Jet, that I've had over 10 years. Paid about $90. It works great and one time when it needed fluid and I couldn't find the manual, I called them up and they talked me through it and sent a manual. Later I found mine. Highly recommended based on performance, durability and customer service.

If you look at Sears.com, the craftsman jacks look to have started a downward slide in quality. The reviews aren't very good. I picked up the 2-1/2 ton with two stand kit for 29.99...just couldn't pass it up for an extra jack. It has worked well so far, but I'm not trusting my life with it just yet. I say spend the extra money and get a proven jack..its one of those tools that's worth the money

I was asking the same thing a few weeks ago. Any of the new sears jacks are garbage. Spending a few extra $ is the way to go. Got a 3 ton jack from NAPA that is built like a beast.

Who builds the jacks that NAPA sells?

My boys bought mine from sLowes,(luv Fathers day) it's Kobalt and it's 3 ton and came with a set of stands for less than $90. It's also 1 touch lift.Works great now for 5 years.

I have a Hein-Werner, it is old (I have had it for over 45 years) and still works great. They are the standard of quality that all jacks look up to. It has lifted everything I have owned or worked on and never let me down unless I turn the valve.

I have always liked Hein-Werner and Walker.One of my 2 1/4 ton
Hein-Werner floor jacks is down with a bad pump seal.A good set of jack stands are a must to be safe.

Amen on the jack stands.No matter how good of a jack you have I would not trust one if I was under the vehicle.Better safe than sorry.

I bought a 3 ton at SAM's club for a little over $50. It's not the light weight competition aluminum but so far it has been working great. Only had it about 3 years however.

Couldn't find a company. Just said it was built for NAPA. The thing I like about that jack is that it has a rebuildable pump.

They rate those cheap throw-away jacks the same way they rate the horsepower on cheap throw-away air compressors.
I have had one of the older Craftsman jacks for more than 25 years. I've used other jacks that other guys had and never thought there was much difference. I managed to get a Walker a couple of years ago and have been able to compare them side by side.
They both will lift a car or truck with the same amount of ease.
There are two features that make the Walker better. They both have roughly the same size lifting pad, but the Walker is square, giving a slightly wider reach. The Walker pad drops down slightly below the level of the wheels whereas the Craftsman is well above them. This can be very useful, getting under something that's very low or pulling a engine or transmission out from under a car.
The other thing is how well the Walker rolls. I don't mean just across the concrete, which is nice too. The jack pad, when you raise it up high, swings in an arc toward you. That means the jack has to roll under the car and the Walker does that with much more ease.

I have a powerbuilt 3 ton. I have had it for about 3 years. It will pick up the front end or rearend off a pickup easy

I buy 3 1/2 ton floor jacks from costco for about $80. They lift one wheel of our 18 wheelers, which of course is more than they were designed for. All floor jacks I have ever seen bypass when you try lifting much more than their rating. When that happens, we roll out a 22,000 air over hydraulic which is OTC but also made in off shore. I have bought some of them new on ebay for $400 where an Ameican made is over $1500. I hate chinese stuff but there are times it is much more cost effective than American made. When the 3 1/2 ton costcos start leaking down, we take them back to costco and get another one. No questions asked, but they want the original receipt. I used to take Hein Werners and Walkers to authorized repair shops in San Antonio and wait a month and pay as much as a cheap jack in repair charges.

I bought a craftsman 4-ton w/stands about 7 yrs ago. The stands are still working great (Still under the same camper...) but the jack crapped out about 5 yrs ago. It did lift my sisters BMW Z3 the other day, but it wont lift an SUV! I still have it thinking that I might replace the seals one of these days, but haven't yet.
About 4 yrs ago I bought a Larin 2.5 ton (from a FLAPS) and it rides in the truck with me currently. It wont pick up any of my truck tires but comes in handy for many other things... I recently played with a 2-ton bottle jack/stand combination that works really REALLY well!!! (Northern tool) I have always had the issue with bottle jacks that they were unstable, NOT THIS ONE!!! I'm now looking for a 5-Ton version to carry in the rig with me!!!
Laterz,
Gator
>|--|~

I bought one of the red- skyscraper looking farm truck jacks- Never had a problem, and I always use jack stands if it is going to be jacked up more than 5 minutes, or I am going anywhere under- even if just for a quick peak- My life is worth the extra few minutes to set up correctly.(yours probably is too . . . . )

I bought a $100 dollar jack from farm&fleet about 16 years ago and it still goin strong

MOST IMPORTANT

2 (TWO) jack stands

Use a Craftsman 3 ton and have had no problems for 6+ years now.

Hank

I have cheapies from menards to use in case I have a flat. They came in a plastic case and I throw them behind the seat. I wouldn't use them for every day use though. They are just easier than the factory jacks in an emergency.
For my shop I have larger (3-5 ton) jacks for every day use. My favorite has a single pump quick rise (until you get it to the frame), and a second hand lever quick pump near the jack so you can get it situated quickly without using the long handle. I also have a Craftsman 3 1/2 ton I have at another building that I bought used from a firend who was moving. It works fine but it has a shorter height. I like to get my vehicles up high to work on them. I use "good" heavy duty jack stands too.

I have an original GM for my 49 but would not consider using it on the road. I bought a bottle jack which works well but could be unstable. I am looking for something else that I can carry in the tool box in the bed of the truck. I noticed the jack from my 81 Malibu might do the job.

Jack stands are a must you say?? This is a picture that I've
seen posted here and around the net several times.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/130293613
He orta be the poster boy for the Safety Councils Calendar.
DG

Well............at least he chocked the wheel.