floor jack recommendations

VortecJeep

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Aug 24, 2005
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Concord, NC
Need a floor jack capable of lifting my tow rig, 2005 CCSB Ram 2500 diesel 4x4. Any recommendations or ones to stay away from?
 
I have harbor freights 3 ton and I love it. We have been using it everyday at the shop for 3 years and it still works great. Can't beat it for the price. Keep a look out when they have their sales and you can snag a good deal
 
I had a harbor freight one that was never great... But did the job. When it died, I decided I'd "upgrade" and bought one from northern. The first one of those literally broke in two. I bought a second, beefier one that I still use today. But truth be told, I can't say it's really any better than the one from HF.
 
I've got a NAPA jack that has served me very well for the last 8 years or so. There's actually a lot of good brands out there in the $200-400 range, which is worthwhile for something decent that will last a long time. I like the Bendpak/Ranger stuff quite a lot as well; still made in China (I think), but much higher China quality than cheapie HF or Northern brands.

At a slightly higher cost, supposedly Hein-Warner actually makes theirs in this country :eek: and I'm probably going to pick up one of those in the future as the last heavy duty jack I ever need to buy. I'll spend some extra money to not support China if I can.
 
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Personally I like a bottle jack, they are cheap very small so they don't take up a ton of room. I have a 6x6 block that I put it on works great!!!
 
I have one of the 3-ton generic ones like you get at AutoZone. Got it as a wedding present 16 years ago o_O
One note about the 3-4 ton jacks is, the steel ones are not light. Dragging it around the shop sucks and if you have to pick it up to put in a truck or something - hernia city.
If I had the option of AL for a big jack, I'd spend the money on it.
 
I have an arcan 3 or 3 1/2 ton from northern tool. Had it about 4 years and it has no problem lifting my trucks. Its not a quick rise model. I never liked the old quick rise I had before this one. It took more effort to lift stuff.

And I'm anal about using jack stands. Remeber any time your at risk of that 7k pound truck falling on you to use them.
 
I have the HF 3 ton. Been through hell and back and still operates like new.

I use it on my F350 without issue. Even left overnight it doesn't leak down.
 
I have an arcan 3 or 3 1/2 ton from northern tool. Had it about 4 years and it has no problem lifting my trucks. Its not a quick rise model. I never liked the old quick rise I had before this one. It took more effort to lift stuff.

And I'm anal about using jack stands. Remeber any time your at risk of that 7k pound truck falling on you to use them.
I always use jack stands, and if the wheels are off, I slide them under the frame too in case the jack stands fail.
 
My old pos craftsman gave up last year in the middle of a rear suspension rebuild. I was pissed and bought one from napa. Just a hair over $200. Should be the last jack I ever have to buy.
 
I agree with Harbor Freight! I had a Sears 2 1/4 ton, for 20+ years, until it finally gave out. It was long, narrow, & heavy! My HF 3 ton, now about 2 years old, is shorter, wide base, & Not as heavy as the Sears. Sears Did Have heavier metal. The HF jacks quicker, & the twist lock works easier. Not sure which version I have, but HF has 2 of them; 1 goes about an inch higher. My last HF trip, I was behind a man that was replacing His Sears jack!
 
Hf 3ton for the win. I carry one in my work truck and have one in the shop. I have changed a tire on my 5 ton hudson fully grossed with no problem (10k+ the 3k trailer)
 
Ive got one I bought from SAM's Club in 1996, paid $70 for it, been used on concert a handful of times, usually on gravel or plywood. spent the last year or so outside because I forgot it was out there. still works fine, needs a bit of cleaning, maybe a little lubricating.

I learned a long time ago that the only thing expensive jacks are good for is taking money out of your pocket.
buy a cheap jack use it till it breaks then get another one. if it lasts 10+ years, you're doing well, if it doesn't, don't buy that brand the next time.

Oh, and cheap or expensive NEVER get under a vehicle without a stand, shit happens, doesn't matter how much money you spend.
 
Sears 3.5 ton jack here. I cannot remember how long i have had it. Maybe 10 years or more. It has the quick lift feature which i really like. It can lift the front end of my CTD Ram which weighes 4,000 lbs. It recently started leaking down slowly with a load on it.

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Napa sells a jack that's the same as the matco beast jacks. I'm not sure who actually makes it but I can say we've got 2 in the shop and they take a real beating. We're very very rough on them. No failures yet.
 
Sears 3.5 ton jack here. I cannot remember how long i have had it. Maybe 10 years or more. It has the quick lift feature which i really like. It can lift the front end of my CTD Ram which weighes 4,000 lbs. It recently started leaking down slowly with a load on it.

The cylinders aren't hard to rebuild. The Harbor Freight O-Ring kits will usually have all you need. I've done a couple.
 
The cylinders aren't hard to rebuild. The Harbor Freight O-Ring kits will usually have all you need. I've done a couple.

Cool. Thanks for the tip. I was considering investigating rebuilding it.
 
We have 2 napa ones at the shop and they work good but are starting to leak some. But Ive been working here for 6 years and they were here long before I got here. But they are used everyday and we pick up a lot of things we shouldnt. I just purchased a 3 ton from harbor freight to keep at my house because I got tired of bringing one home from the shop. I also got a coupon in the mail and got it for 90 bucks. You cant beat that.
 
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