Unique issue, best and lightest floor jack??

[elisa7joy]

I've seen and read and posted about floor jacks, before getting to the point where I think I've been going about my search wrong.

I'm a small female, recently learning to do their own repairs. I have a minivan and it's all I work on. I'm mobile 75% of the time for work in and out of the van so I will often find myself needing to do work "on the go". Obviously with only 2 years in on learning anything past an oil change I don't see myself taking on highly complex repairs, but still I've done basic engine some chassis alternator and radiator repairs.

Because I'm in a minivan, I need a jack that can handle some weight, but also travelling often and being small in stature the weight of the actual jack is an issue.

From all of my reading it seems my best bet will to be saving up for a pricey aluminium jack. I was wondering if anyone had any insight/recommendations/etc with my particular issue, and what you might purchase if in my shoes.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[4xdog]

Depending on how often you use it, @elisa7joy, you might be able to get by with a scissors jack or hydraulic bottle jack instead of a full floor jack. They're probably better on rough or uneven ground (with some sort of baseplate like a heavy plywood square), likely lighter, and more manageable. Regarding strength requirements for the lift, you're probably going to have to run some experiments.

For any primary lift, ya gotta have some plan to stabilize the vehicle anyway if you're doing any real work on it. Will you be carrying jackstands in the minivan too?

 

[paulsomlo]

I don't know that you'll find any aluminum jacks that would be considered quality or pricey, for that matter - I think you're pretty much looking at imports. I see AFF makes a 2 ton that weighs 47 lbs., not sure if it's any better than HF's offerings though. One thing to consider - are you in a warm weather climate? Hydraulic jacks can have difficulty in very cold weather - I wouldn't rely on one to be my only onboard vehicle jack.

 

[Pinemarten]

I've got one of these HF lightweight floor jacks.

1.5 Ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP

Amazing deals on this 1.5T Aluminum Racing Jack W/ Rapid Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It weighs 33 lbs and easily lifts my stuff, for tire changes, brake work etc.

 

[BombShelter]

Did the van come with a jack? I'd use that and get some lighter weight stands for security. Bottle jacks are also nice but I use a piece of 2" x 12" wood under mine just to make sure it doesn't accidently sink and to get it up higher.

I don't do a ton of under car work, I use my HF Jack like the one above when I do but it is heavy, even with aluminum. Most car maintance jobs can be done from above except for muffler, springs/shocks and tire changes and those vehicles that don't have oil filters on top.

 

[jonesg]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZX7H56/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wrench97]

I've got one of these HF lightweight floor jacks.

1.5 Ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP

Amazing deals on this 1.5T Aluminum Racing Jack W/ Rapid Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It weighs 33 lbs and easily lifts my stuff, for tire changes, brake work etc.

How hard are they to pump?
Most rapid lift jacks are harder to pump up then standard lift.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have two of the three HF "aluminum" jacks - I post in quotes becuase there's a lot of steel in them. Not a big deal as they work fine and are light. They just don't have much height.

If you just need to get your van up on stands to do things like brakes. etc., either of the two "entry" HF jacks will be fine - the Pittsburgh or the Daytona. For a hundred bucks, the Pittsburgh is pretty decent. The $35 more the Daytona is mainly just a more nicely-built jack - it goes a bit higher and is a little lighter, but small differences in both cases. The big plus is the build is nicer.

The much more expensive ($300) truly all-aluminum Daytona Ultra-low jack is extremely well-built and very low (which, stupidly, has come in very handy for the family's base-model Mazda3). It's actually a couple pounds heavier, but has a couple inches of extra lift height.




If you're going to use it regularly, I'd get the green Daytona.

 

[Pinemarten]

How hard are they to pump?
Most rapid lift jacks are harder to pump up then standard lift.

I honestly never thought about the effort required to pump it. I guess that means it is about the norm for a floor jack.
It has a nice long handle, not one of those small ones, like some super cheap jacks have.

 

[jayemm]

I don't understand why bottle jacks get recommended frequently. I've found them easier to slip off the frame/ support point due to small "pad" and they require a million pumps to get any height. Small base sinks easily into soft surfaces (which we know is a no-no but there's not always a concrete surface available) and require a board underneath. Last f'n jack I'd carry unless I had a motorhome. And that's my opinionated opinion.

 

[elisa7joy]

Depending on how often you use it, @elisa7joy, you might be able to get by with a scissors jack or hydraulic bottle jack instead of a full floor jack. They're probably better on rough or uneven ground (with some sort of baseplate like a heavy plywood square), likely lighter, and more manageable. Regarding strength requirements for the lift, you're probably going to have to run some experiments.

For any primary lift, ya gotta have some plan to stabilize the vehicle anyway if you're doing any real work on it. Will you be carrying jackstands in the minivan too?

Yes I have a set of 4 ton stands at the moment... I had pair of 3 ton I kept with me but one was stolen. I'll replace eventually since that size is more realistic on the go. Since most of my working is done in random parking lots, which are often asphalt, I was worried about a bottle jack slipping....

 

[elisa7joy]

I don't know that you'll find any aluminum jacks that would be considered quality or pricey, for that matter - I think you're pretty much looking at imports. I see AFF makes a 2 ton that weighs 47 lbs., not sure if it's any better than HF's offerings though. One thing to consider - are you in a warm weather climate? Hydraulic jacks can have difficulty in very cold weather - I wouldn't rely on one to be my only onboard vehicle jack.

Well I bought my minivan used... It's scissor jack is Honda but only rated for 1.5 tons... I thought that seemed off, but it's possible someone a previous owner swapped it out... In the past I had small trolley 2.5 torin but it was stolen. Tbh I hated it. Sunk into the asphalt in some of the lots I worked in, one of the levers on the side broke off, lost lifting height and it's not like I used it daily...

I bought a 3 ton light duty trolley jack to replace it, but it's too tall. Silly me I didn't consider that might be a problem and didn't measure before hand. Honda Odysseys are a bit lower than other minivans

What is AFF? Pardon my ignorance....

 

[elisa7joy]

Did the van come with a jack? I'd use that and get some lighter weight stands for security. Bottle jacks are also nice but I use a piece of 2" x 12" wood under mine just to make sure it doesn't accidently sink and to get it up higher.

I don't do a ton of under car work, I use my HF Jack like the one above when I do but it is heavy, even with aluminum. Most car maintance jobs can be done from above except for muffler, springs/shocks and tire changes and those vehicles that don't have oil filters on top.

I dunno most of what I've learned so far has been from the bottom... The axels, the lower ball joints, and a control arm.... Not even the alternator cuz it had to come out from the side the bottom way. Couldn't do that from above That was all done on the Nissan(the minivan I started learning on) I owned just before this, didn't have the van long. After all the work I ran into some expensive transmission issues.... Wasn't worth keeping....

The Odyssey does have easy access to the filter tho thankfully. I did do the oil changes back when I drove an Accord(nothing else though). That filter was center in the bottom....

 

[elisa7joy]

I don't understand why bottle jacks get recommended frequently. I've found them easier to slip off the frame/ support point due to small "pad" and they require a million pumps to get any height. Small base sinks easily into soft surfaces (which we know is a no-no but there's not always a concrete surface available) and require a board underneath. Last f'n jack I'd carry unless I had a motorhome. And that's my opinionated opinion.

Well I tend to agree with you. I've rulled them out based on the jacking locations of the Odyssey anyhow.... They are well pointy... They recommend these pinch welds on the side and the tow hook in the front.... I feel like they could have done better in that area.... I carry a 2x4 that's a good foot and a half long to add stability, but still...

 

[elisa7joy]

I have two of the three HF "aluminum" jacks - I post in quotes becuase there's a lot of steel in them. Not a big deal as they work fine and are light. They just don't have much height.

If you just need to get your van up on stands to do things like brakes. etc., either of the two "entry" HF jacks will be fine - the Pittsburgh or the Daytona. For a hundred bucks, the Pittsburgh is pretty decent. The $35 more the Daytona is mainly just a more nicely-built jack - it goes a bit higher and is a little lighter, but small differences in both cases. The big plus is the build is nicer.

The much more expensive ($300) truly all-aluminum Daytona Ultra-low jack is extremely well-built and very low (which, stupidly, has come in very handy for the family's base-model Mazda3). It's actually a couple pounds heavier, but has a couple inches of extra lift height.




If you're going to use it regularly, I'd get the green Daytona.

Ideally it would go low and extend high.... The Odyssey is a bit lower than other minivans a low profile jack is needed(found that out the hard way), but I am also saddled with some big *** jack stands right now 4 tons they are overkill but were free and well made so bare minimum lifting won't even allow me to slide the stands in...
It's a bad case of trying to work with what I have and what I have is all awkard.

Even the lifting locations on the Odyssey are weird... They have some pinch welds on the sides and the tow hook(an actual hook) they recommend lifting at in front.... I don't get why they couldn't have done a better job with that

 

[elisa7joy]

How hard are they to pump?
Most rapid lift jacks are harder to pump up then standard lift.

I'd just feel safer with a 2.5 ton minimum, especially when lifting the front end... It's what I used before(it was stolen), and wasn't wild about but.... It was one of those black jack Wal-Mart specials with a small handle. I had to sit on my knees to lift it but it worked

I've seen some Vevor brand on Amazon but not sure about their reliability....

 

[elisa7joy]

I've got one of these HF lightweight floor jacks.

1.5 Ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP

Amazing deals on this 1.5T Aluminum Racing Jack W/ Rapid Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It weighs 33 lbs and easily lifts my stuff, for tire changes, brake work etc.

I'm thinking of a similar type but 2.5 tons they only weigh 40-50 lbs which is still doable for me...

The minivan I believe is 5500lbs... I don't think I'd have the arm strength to make a smaller jack work for me

 

[elisa7joy]

I don't know that you'll find any aluminum jacks that would be considered quality or pricey, for that matter - I think you're pretty much looking at imports. I see AFF makes a 2 ton that weighs 47 lbs., not sure if it's any better than HF's offerings though. One thing to consider - are you in a warm weather climate? Hydraulic jacks can have difficulty in very cold weather - I wouldn't rely on one to be my only onboard vehicle jack.

Maybe I am looking at imports not sure... But also with the 1.5 ton scissor jack that was in my minivan by the time I got it.... Well I just don't have the cardio health to be cranking that thing up on my 5500lbs vehicle. I'd be worn out before it's even fully off the ground. It's not even the user friendly kind with a bolt on the end you can just crank with an impact wrench.

 

[Pinemarten]

Any decent floor jack will be a breeze compared to cranking up a scissor jack. (and lowering is super easy )
I wouldn't get too hung up on jack capacity. I'd think you will be lifting one corner of your van at a time.
Jack one corner, set a jack stand. Jack the next corner and the front or rear is in the air.

 

[mepstein]

I've got one of these HF lightweight floor jacks.

1.5 Ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP

Amazing deals on this 1.5T Aluminum Racing Jack W/ Rapid Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It weighs 33 lbs and easily lifts my stuff, for tire changes, brake work etc.

My buddy bought that jack when he needed a lightweight jack to throw in the car hauler. It worked great for his Porsche 962 race car. Lighter than a minivan but should still work fine since you’re not jacking up all the weight at once.

 

[Nutria]

I don't love bottle jacks for all of the good reasons mentioned above, but they don't take up much space and provide one more option when in an off-road fix of some sort. I've picked up a couple at garage sales for a couple of bucks each, one for each of our vehicles. So they are just second or third jack options, and they can sometimes be handy for pushing stuff sideways. I would absolutely not want one as my only lifting device.

 

[mike93lx]

Well I bought my minivan used... It's scissor jack is Honda but only rated for 1.5 tons... I thought that seemed off, but it's possible someone a previous owner swapped it out... In the past I had small trolley 2.5 torin but it was stolen. Tbh I hated it. Sunk into the asphalt in some of the lots I worked in, one of the levers on the side broke off, lost lifting height and it's not like I used it daily...

I bought a 3 ton light duty trolley jack to replace it, but it's too tall. Silly me I didn't consider that might be a problem and didn't measure before hand. Honda Odysseys are a bit lower than other minivans

What is AFF? Pardon my ignorance....

1.5ton is plenty to change a tire on a minivan. That's 3k, for a vehicle that, in total, weighs about 4k. You aren't lifting the whole thing

 

[M635_Guy]

Ideally it would go low and extend high.... The Odyssey is a bit lower than other minivans a low profile jack is needed(found that out the hard way), but I am also saddled with some big *** jack stands right now 4 tons they are overkill but were free and well made so bare minimum lifting won't even allow me to slide the stands in...
It's a bad case of trying to work with what I have and what I have is all awkard.

Even the lifting locations on the Odyssey are weird... They have some pinch welds on the sides and the tow hook(an actual hook) they recommend lifting at in front.... I don't get why they couldn't have done a better job with that

Unfortunately it's kind of a "Light - Tall - Affordable - Pick 2" kind of thing.

My wife's Odyssey is no particular problem for the 1.5-ton jacks. The (pricey) ultra-low Aluminum has decent height, and should be able to get the 3-ton Daytona stands at one of the first couple heights. My wife's Mazda3 is crazy-low, and it gets under there when even my (very-low but really heavy) Super Duty doesn't.




The funny thing about the Ultra-low is it is really quiet (for a floor jack) and non-rattly when you roll it around.

 

[pbon]

A piece of plywood under the jack will help prevent a wheel from sinking into hot asphalt. Just leave a little extra width to spread the weight and length so the jack can roll on its casters as you lift the vehicle,

 

[crasher98]

Another vote for Harbor Freight Pittsburgh aluminum racing jack; the HF jacks have a long handle and it's not a lot of work to get something up in the air. HF has their jacks' specs on their website; you mentioned wanting a 2.5 T above, here are the specs for that one:



You probably could get by with a 2 ton, and that one is only 45 lbs..

 

[crasher98]

Also it sounds like you need a guard dog to stop dirtballs from stealing your sh*t....

 

[whateg01]

I keep the little trolley jacks in the vehicles. It's not a replacement for a "real" floor jack, but it's far more stable than a scissor jack and for a minivan, plenty of capacity. Three only area it struggles is in height, so you won't be dropping the front subframe out of the van with one. But they are inexpensive, decently capable, and small. I do suggest keeping a 2x6 to set it on because the small wheels sink into dirt, and, hot asphalt.

 

[elisa7joy]

Any decent floor jack will be a breeze compared to cranking up a scissor jack. (and lowering is super easy )
I wouldn't get too hung up on jack capacity. I'd think you will be lifting one corner of your van at a time.
Jack one corner, set a jack stand. Jack the next corner and the front or rear is in the air.

I would normally agree except Honda Odyssey... The jack points are weird...I think I'd actually prefer to use the front end jack point vs either of the side pinch welds by the tires, the space is narrow, it pretty much means you can't sit the jack in the middle of the jack point if you want to quickly throw a stand next to it...

 

[elisa7joy]

Also it sounds like you need a guard dog to stop dirtballs from stealing your sh*t....

Oh I have one in the van, pit bull named Mabel we've been a team for over a decade now... My problem was leaving them out at my storage unit even with cameras and a locked building it didn't matter cuz I didn't realize until two days later...

 

[elisa7joy]

Another vote for Harbor Freight Pittsburgh aluminum racing jack; the HF jacks have a long handle and it's not a lot of work to get something up in the air. HF has their jacks' specs on their website; you mentioned wanting a 2.5 T above, here are the specs for that one:



You probably could get by with a 2 ton, and that one is only 45 lbs..

This is the one I was thinking about... Need to try to earn a bit more, maybe if I get any Christmas bonus.... That's pretty much the entirety of my extra cash each month! But it's the right size/weight/lifting height that I'm looking for!

 

[crasher98]

This is the one I was thinking about... Need to try to earn a bit more, maybe if I get any Christmas bonus.... That's pretty much the entirety of my extra cash each month! But it's the right size/weight/lifting height that I'm looking for!

Well, at least you have Mabel and someday you'll get better stuff to replace what the dirtballs stole. The 2.5 T jack is $40 off with an Inside Track Club membership, which is $29.99 for a year and gets you more discounts. One of those times when the ITC membership pays for itself. Good luck with your wrenching!

 

[paulsomlo]

What is AFF? Pardon my ignorance....

American Forge and Foundry - which manufactures nothing in America.

 

[pcmeiners]

Remember to securely chain down what ever jack you get. In an accident the jack could have a force of >1000 lbs with great speed.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I don't understand why bottle jacks get recommended frequently. I've found them easier to slip off the frame/ support point due to small "pad" and they require a million pumps to get any height. Small base sinks easily into soft surfaces (which we know is a no-no but there's not always a concrete surface available) and require a board underneath. Last f'n jack I'd carry unless I had a motorhome. And that's my opinionated opinion.

Same here. I have a bottle jack, because there's room for one in the Bronco, but will never reach for it first.

Aluminum floor jack all the way. Much bigger base, much more stable, much faster. I used to carry a regular cast iron floor jack, but that thing was a bear to lug around. The aluminum, quick acting replacement was a game changer for me. I wouldn't roll a mile down the road without it now, and would buy it again in a heartbeat even at twice the price.

 

[65ranchero]

I used the HF 1.5 aluminum floor jack to jack up each corner of my F150 ( probably 5500lbs) or more with cap.
One day I wasn't paying attention and jacked up the whole back of the truck, the jack protested but did the job.
It's light weight and a long handle easy to maneuver.

 

[richfinn]

We tried Aluminium Jacks (Roadside Assistance Club), eventually they were removed from service after too many "incidents"

We then got issued with a specially designed roadside steel jack (about 23kg) and a hinged loading ramp to prevent injury when taking it in and out of our vans. (this holds up very well and is much easier/safer to deploy)

You don't need to lift the entire weight of the Jack in one go (I will upload some pics).

It would be fairly easy to make one that suits your vehicle.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I carry a 2 and a half ton aluminum/steel floor jack from Advance Auto parts that has served me well. It takes a little more force on the handle than my 3 and a half ton floor jack but it does the job for my half ton pickup and the gooseneck trailer I pull, and its saved me more than a few times. Its probably not the lightest, I think its around 58 pounds, but I always take the handle off which may make it just a bit lighter to drag out of the pickup box and use.

 

[Zewnten]

Get a used ford 2 stage bottle ******** ebay, usually labeled F450 and they're yellow. Drive the van onto a piece of 2x6 if needed, put the jack under it and it'll lift as high as you need. Saying this as someone who owned an odyssey for several years.

 

[elisa7joy]

Get a used ford 2 stage bottle ******** ebay, usually labeled F450 and they're yellow. Drive the van onto a piece of 2x6 if needed, put the jack under it and it'll lift as high as you need. Saying this as someone who owned an odyssey for several years.

Delayed response... Wish I had read this back in December. Such obvious advice and it never occurred to me to get a bit more height with a few planks of wood. I found a jack I liked, but ended up returning it as the initial height was higher than that of the Odyssey.... Oh well have found other solutions since I wrote the post, but this is a good tip to keep in mind. Especially if I'm traveling far and don't wish tote my 65lb floor jack along.