Floor jack size concerns

[shedfullatools]

I currently have no floor jack or jack stands and have gotten along fine with OEM scissor jacks, wood blocks and ramps up to this point. Right now we have two small cars that never need much work but by the end of the summer I plan to have a truck, likely nothing bigger than and f-150. So finally a good 2 ton floor jack and 3 ton stands comes on sale but now Im thinking on leaving the little jack where it is and just buying the stands. Whats the smallest jack you would trust a truck too?? Im thinking on buying two sets of the stands and waiting till a three ton jack comes on sale. So anyways would you trust a 2 ton jack with a truck, and if not is a 3 ton acceptable??

 

[MarineScott]

I use and like a 3 ton. It covers all my bases

 

[crewchief888]

i'd forget about the 3 ton jackstands, and get 6ton stands because they are taller collapsed.

3 ton stands wont extend high enough for either one of my trucks....

i have an old 2 1/4T steel floor jack, and have to use a 4x4 on the pad to get enough lift..

 

[CJM8515]

6 ton stands would be to high for anything but a truck. I have 3 ton stands and they have worked everytime.

Id suggest a 2.5-3 ton jack.

 

[crewchief888]

6 ton stands would be to high for anything but a truck. I have 3 ton stands and they have worked everytime.

Id suggest a 2.5-3 ton jack.

i'd rather have the taller/wider (footprint) 6ton jacks fully collapsed under the car than shorter/smaller (footprint) extended up all the way....

the higher the car is, the more room i have to get underneath, and the less i have to bend over if i'm sitting down

but to each his own.

 

[Wamsutta]

The first thing I look at when shopping for floor jacks is the size of the jack saddle. I need a 5 inch diameter saddle minimum; preferably a 6 inch.

 

[zkling]

That crewchief, he is a wise fellow.

The bigger issue with trucks is not so much the weight but the max lifting height of the jack, not being enough to get the truck off the ground. Look at 20" minimum lift height, 24"+ even better.

Just remember you are not (or should not) be lifting the entire vehicle weight with the jack at once.

 

[shedfullatools]

I use and like a 3 ton. It covers all my bases

Likely where Im headed Thanks for the input!!

 

[shedfullatools]

i'd forget about the 3 ton jackstands, and get 6ton stands because they are taller collapsed.

3 ton stands wont extend high enough for either one of my trucks....

i have an old 2 1/4T steel floor jack, and have to use a 4x4 on the pad to get enough lift..

I will likely be buying the 3 ton stands for now and will use them with blocks if I have to, I would like to be able to use anything I buy with the cars or the truck I hope to have although that may be wishful thinking. I can always upgrade later but hope not too. Thanks for the help!!

 

[shedfullatools]

6 ton stands would be to high for anything but a truck. I have 3 ton stands and they have worked everytime.

Id suggest a 2.5-3 ton jack.

The height was my concern as well For now I am passing on the jack and buying the stands while they are on sale, I will buy a nice 3 ton jack and maybe a set of 6 ton stands when the need arises

 

[shedfullatools]

i'd rather have the taller/wider (footprint) 6ton jacks fully collapsed under the car than shorter/smaller (footprint) extended up all the way....

the higher the car is, the more room i have to get underneath, and the less i have to bend over if i'm sitting down

but to each his own.

I agree completely on the wider bases For now I have decided to pass on the little jack and just buy the 3 ton stands while they are on sale, when a nice 3 ton jack comes on sale I will buy it. I now plan on picking up a set of 6 ton stands next time they are on sale Thanks again for the help!!

 

[shedfullatools]

The first thing I look at when shopping for floor jacks is the size of the jack saddle. I need a 5 inch diameter saddle minimum; preferably a 6 inch.

When I buy a jack I plan on it having a wide base and a long handle, kind of service station style. Never thought of the size of the saddle, thank you for pointing that out I will definitely take it into consideration

 

[shedfullatools]

That crewchief, he is a wise fellow.

The bigger issue with trucks is not so much the weight but the max lifting height of the jack, not being enough to get the truck off the ground. Look at 20" minimum lift height, 24"+ even better.

Just remember you are not (or should not) be lifting the entire vehicle weight with the jack at once.

Ive decided to wait on a jack till one that suits what I need comes on sale for a decent price. I just looked and the little 2 ton I was considering lifts to a grand total of 13" and is pretty light duty so Ill just forget about that

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I've used a 1.5 ton for moms Tahoe. Put it on two by fours to increase height


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[shedfullatools]

I've used a 1.5 ton for moms Tahoe. Put it on two by fours to increase height


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A Tahoe is a pretty big rig, I betcha I could make that 2 ton work nicely for what I need with a custom 8x8 block with little sides to lock it in That's how my neighbor does it and it always works nicely, I think I will wait for a nice 3 ton though Thanks for the input