Garage and driveway jack alternative .....

Lizooki

Lizooki

Samurai Frogger
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Stokes Co. NC
I'm getting to the point that I'm close to giving up working on my own stuff ..... knees, legs, ankles, etc, just can't take it much more.
I've had a Samurai since 1987, A floor jack has been fine.
Now I have a GMC Envoy ( mid-size SUV ) and may soon have a Chevy TrailBlazer (same thing , different name).
Any suggestions on a user friendly way to get these two beasts off the ground that doesn't cost a lot?

Thanks,

Matt
 
Shop around for lifts, they will surprise you how inexpensive they have become over the last couple of years.
 
The 2 post lifts, have come down, & if space allows, would be the most usable. Also I recall a former neighbor, that had a "scissor" type lift. Don't recall if it picked up by the frame, or wheels, but you drive or push the car over it. It only lifts about 2 feet. Compact, & portable, but didn't seem very useful.
 
Wasn't thinking along the lines of a post lift ..... the quick jacks are cool .... expensive for no more than they do.
I was thinking more along the lines of an air bumper or frame jack ..... similar to the Northern Tool Strongbilt.


Matt
 
What's your actual requirement here? You've been using a floor jack and jackstands, but what are you trying to change? Are you trying to get the vehicle higher, or just lift it easier to the same height as a floor jack before putting jack stands under it, etc...?

There seems to be a discrepancy here between what (I infer) you're trying to do versus a small budget...

"Northern Tool Strongbilt" doesn't come up with anything on Google, is there a different name/spelling for that?
 
Fabrik8 said:
What's your actual requirement here? You've been using a floor jack and jackstands, but what are you trying to change? Are you trying to get the vehicle higher, or just lift it easier to the same height as a floor jack before putting jack stands under it, etc...?

There seems to be a discrepancy here between what (I infer) you're trying to do versus a small budget...

"Northern Tool Strongbilt" doesn't come up with anything on Google, is there a different name/spelling for that?
Click to expand...

I think this is what the OP meant. I could be wrong.
 
4E2954B8-19A6-4330-A57E-1660A658000E.jpeg
Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
 
Lizooki said:
View attachment 273727 Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
Click to expand...
Link? Can't find this.
I don't understand how it would work, unless you have a matched one on the other side like the MaxJax
 
Lizooki said:
View attachment 273727 Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
Click to expand...

My grandpa has something like this in his shop (probably older than I am). He used it primarily for doing tire rotations from side to side and would put a jack stand under the bar between the two pads.
 
Lizooki said:
View attachment 273727 Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
Click to expand...
When my brother worked in a local shop, That type air jack, was what they used, mostly for tranny work. They didn't have post jacks, & this was back 50-60 years ago! Their jacks may have been wider, & they did have safety locks, like the post jacks. Not sure if they backed them up with jack stands. I remember 1 other lone mechanic in his home shop. He was found dead, after the same, or similar jack came down on him. Ouch!
 
BTW- I always used jack stands.

I would set it up to lift one end by frame ..... todays bumpers are :poop:.
place jack stands, lather rinse repeat.

I remembered a mechanic friend of my Dad using one in his diesel shop.
I'm looking for something more like this than a post lift or quick jack.

Heck, Im even considering a "very old school" timber ramp to work under!
 
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Lizooki said:
View attachment 273727 Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
Click to expand...
We have use those a lot it a truck shop, they also make a long frame version that will lift from the axle. Both are kind of tall in the down position to get under a bumper.
 
Lizooki said:
View attachment 273727 Strongway ...... I typed the name wrong or it got autocorrected.

This ..... Anyone ever use one?

I do want to be a bit higher , but also easier to get it there.
Click to expand...
i had one it was super old but worked great until the piston gasket ripped and couldn't get a replacement.

i used it to lift the front or rear i wanted to get two and link them together to lift from the sides.
 
Loganwayne said:
i had one it was super old but worked great until the piston gasket ripped and couldn't get a replacement.

i used it to lift the front or rear i wanted to get two and link them together to lift from the sides.
Click to expand...
That thing is only rated at 1.25 ton.
You're pushing the limits to try and use two to totally lift anything other than a small car.

Besides, at that point, spend the same money and get MaxJax which are designed for it.
 
RatLabGuy said:
That thing is only rated at 1.25 ton.
You're pushing the limits to try and use two to totally lift anything other than a small car.

Besides, at that point, spend the same money and get MaxJax which are designed for it.
Click to expand...

The one I had was rated at 3.5 or 4 I cant remember but it was from the 60/70s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Even if I had 2 I would not work under a vehicle without stands.
Don't know that I would try to lift both ends at the same time even with bigger units.
One end at a time is fine with me.


DOC ......
Southmont ...... High Rock Lake?

I found specs on that unit ..... let me check to see of the reach will work and I'll get back to you on it.
 
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