Aluminum Floor Jack.

[ottocycle]

I need a new floor jack and would like to get a lighter aluminum one,rated around 6,000 lbs.

I have seen them on E Bay from unknown makers from about $150.00 to race team quality for $800.00. I do not want rubbish and I will keep it a long time but I do not need a Snap On priced jack. Any advice on what to look for and feedback on a deal that you got on one? It will be used for LSIS to lifting a regular car or minivan.

I would appreciate the benifit of your experience.

 

Cheers-

 

Dermot.

[slomove]

I have been using this one for several years now, no problem, works fine. That said I also have the smaller model that broke after only a few months. I think the problem with some of the cheap ones is just inconsistent quality. Some are good, some are junk.

[Boxologist]

a 3 ton jack isn't going to be light. even if aluminium, it will be heavy. my last few jacks have been Arcan units from Costco, and my local one has the heavy duty unit(lift an Escalade w/ a newborn's pinky). I beleive its all steel, but tons of mechanical advantage and high lift height. not a very low profile unit compared to their aluminium 1.5 ton jack.

 

u can always drive a se7en on to bricks or wood planks before jacking.

[slomove]

Yes, at 35 lbs the 3-ton aluminum jack is indeed not exactly light. But acceptable. Normally I don't carry the thing, just drag it on the casters.

 

The 1.5 ton is much more convenient but the lift height is insufficient for most jobs.

[Ian7]

I've been using the "US General" (which is made in china...) for light shop duty use for years. Reliable so far.

 

I might suggest that if you truly need to lift 6000 pounds regularly, a steel unit might be a better choice anyway.

[powderbrake]

I have the Harbour Freight aluminum "racing" jack, and it has served me well for 5 years.

The only problem is that "racing" jacks have large pistons to make them rise quickly. I would prefer an smaller piston to get more control over the lift. They also drop like a rock if you open the valve too far. The drop is more critical than the rise, and the other smaller jack that I have seems to drop slower and more controllable.

[11Budlite]

I picked up a Craftsman aluminum model on sale for $179 several years back. I like the way it works, but about 4 months past the wty it started leaking. So I tried to get a seal kit, but they would only sell you the whole cylinder assy for almost what the jack cost. I was not happy! So I took the cylinder apart and was able to match up the o-rings pretty close, put it back together with new jack oil, and it's been working fine for over 3 years now! I think the biggest thing is to not extend or release it too quickly and it should hold up better. It looks like this:

[BruceBowker]

I don't have a picture but I have a very small and very light, I mean really light, aluminum jack. I think the heaviest thing I have lifted is the front of my Mini. Works great. It might be Craftsman

 

Bruce

[manik]

Have a look at the PBS Quickjack. Perhaps more race car-oriented, but neat nonetheless.

 

http://www.quickjacks.com

 

 

 

tm

[southwind25]

We have the harbor freight one.. yeah i wish it had a diffrent cylinder size..a few more pumps wouldnt hurt me for more control. yet it has held up rather nicely even jacking up the breadtruck.

[MHKflyer52]

I have the HF Aluminum Jack in my shop and it works ok for what I need it for. It is the silver one not the fancy Blue or Red one and was only $140 US dollars I think.

Rated for 3000lbs. Only complaint that I have is the handle is a two section setup and if the nut and bolt are not kept tight they tend to fall out. Weight is still about 30lbs I think.

[jimrankin]

I have the same aluminum jack as harbor freight sells, don't remember the "Brand Name" but identical, only bought through Kragen. My big old Heim-Warner steel jack (30 years and still working fine) wouldn't roll under the S2K so had to get something quick without checking it out. Only problem I have with it is that the handle is on a spring that won't let you leave it "down" so if you want to move it while in use you have to "pump up". With the handle "up" it's hard to control the release valve so you are apt to drop really fast. Also, short lift, if your doing anything other than changing tires you can't even get it high enough to put in full sized jack stands if they are past the first riser notch. "Roller" front is also a little less conveinent than having caster front wheels. Shop around because the "same" jack does sell for a big pricing spead.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Whichever aluminum jack Mazda(slngsht) has doesn't work very well on heavier vehicles. I literally have to stand on the handle to get it to lift either mine or my dad's Land Cruisers. My Duramax laughed at it

[Richard Hoffman]

Anyone using Quickjack or similar who would like to express an opinion or make a recommendation? I would be using it with my wide body Birkin.