I'm in the market for a new floor jack

vanguard

vanguard

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Location
Apex, NC
I've been using a floor jack that I bought at autozone for a few years now. It was never really great to begin with. I think it was $65 and it came with a pair of jack stands. Now it seems to lift well for about 12" then only the last 1/8 of the stroke seems to do anything until it totally stops well before its old max height. I filled it before with success but lately I haven't have any luck. (Blow seal?)

One of the issues that I've always had with my current jack is that it doesn't lift high enough for my truck and buggy but it doesn't start low enough for my wife's focus. The darn thing was only good for lifting an axle onto jack stands. When I look at the bigger floor jacks they seem to go for nearly $500, which is more than I'm looking to spend.

So, does anybody out there have a cost effective floor jack setup that they like?
 
After the Michelin/Rausch POS from Sam's died... I just couldn't stomach (or afford) $500 on a jack that see's occassional use... I bought a 3ton(?) Kobalt from sLowe's (w/ crappy jackstands... fit for your wife's econobox) for about $75-90...

Works fine lifting low slung cars (my DD Camry & the wifes Sorono), The CTD, and currently goes high enough to pull the tires off the ground on the Moss.... but I'm only running 33"s :D

I'm also in the process of fabbing an extension that replaces the std. "cup" on the jack w/ a tall spring perch (U pointing up) for getting centered & tight to the chunk on my front D30... would work fine on other axles too and get you another few inches of lift for your rig...
 
What rockmafia said.

A guy at work replaced an O Ring or 2 and put some new jack oil in his. Worked like new again for a short period of time, then it took a while to jack something up again. Worst part was finding the right size O Ring, luckily we have a large selection to choose from at work.
 
You won't really find a jack that is up to both task. I really like the aluminum low profile jack at HF. It is heavy for an aluminum jack, but on sale it works great on econo boxes and sports cars. For the larger rigs/ trucks they sell a 5-ton (I think) that works pretty well for the cost. Pull off the stock cup and build a small extension. For less than $200 you have jacks to handle both jobs. Sure they are disposable but I have used my jack for over 8 years now with no probems.
 
We get about 6-8 years out of a HF floor jack at my shop before we get tired of slipping in the oil it's puked out and buy another.
 
You can the 2.5 ton HF special for $35 when on sale and coupon...

Like said it will last a while then get another one. I am on year 6 ith mine (but Im just a homeowner not a shop)
 
I suggest checking out CarQuest. I bought a 2 Ton Floor Jack there about a Year ago and its been a good one. Its a full size floor jack and its the lowest Floor jack I have ever seen! (Yep...at least as low as our race jacks!)




Been a good one and it lifts as high as any normal size floor jack I have seen. It lifts my Jeep regularly! LOL!

Think just over $200
 
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