Harbor Freight 3 Ton Daytona Jack Versus Snap On FJ300 Jack

[WhiffySpark]

I notice some differences between the two. Anyone else? The design where the rear casters are mounted. The side plates on the Snap On look thicker in the back near piston. I mean, has anyone ever thought maybe HF is designing their stuff like this on purpose to get people like us thinking they are the same??

Yet everyone here was calling my snap on guy an idiot pretty much.

Every shop I've worked in has a fj200. The 2 ton rating is grossly underrated. Like I said I've picked up 550s before with it. We have torin jacks we're in at now and they get swapped out every 3 months

 

[T45]

Heres a close up. Someone needs to get these units side by side. with maybe a caliper and an 8 oz hammer. do a little testing and see what they spec out at and what they sound like with the old tuning fork test.

 

[GTA Matt]

*not my pictures

 

[M6erfan]

I mean, has anyone ever thought maybe HF is designing their stuff like this on purpose to get people like us thinking they are the same??

Uh, yeah...

 

[T45]

Appears the thickness lifting arm and Frame on SO>HF

what else...

 

[promethean-in-fl]

The orientation of the text on the labels differs by 180 degrees. Clearly, they aren't the same jack.

Seriously, I looked at the Daytona in the HF store before the lawsuit was posted and since (same two boxed ones below the display model not moving so far). It looks like a tank with workmanship better than their other steel jacks, but I've decided I need a much lighter 3 ton jack so the comparison is a matter of curiosity for me at this point. It will be interesting to learn at some point how they compare internally.

If anyone has a magic answer for a 3 ton aluminum jack, I'm listening here.

 

[T45]

One more, the flange reinforcement is stronger at full height location, and by the front wheels by pretty good amounts...

which raises the question if snappy is using so much more metal in the frame how are they the exact same weight?

the plot thickens

Maybe the handles or something???

 

[WhiffySpark]

But but but they look "identical" they must be the same!

 

[90zcar]

The steel is about a 1/4" here


Rear caster mount is built much more stout back here vs the snap on


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[Burgerkong]

Appears the thickness lifting arm and Frame on SO>HF

what else...

So wait, based on a small picture taken on an angle you can tell that it 'appears' the SO metal is thicker? Until both jacks can be analyzed in depth and compared why bother with these allegations?

One more, the flange reinforcement is stronger at full height location, and by the front wheels by pretty good amounts...

which raises the question if snappy is using so much more metal in the frame how are they the exact same weight?

the plot thickens

Maybe the handles or something???

'Pretty good amounts'? Is that more or less than a certain amount, or a smidge? Not to mention the way a jack is loaded, having a more substantial flange on the top of the side panels makes negligible difference. The pivot will oval first and then the bottom of the panel will start to stretch. It's more for rigidity/racking and to ensure the panels stay true. Since both the Daytona and SO have a similar large flange on the bottom the top is merely cosmetic detailing.

 

[T45]

'Pretty good amounts'? Is that more or less than a certain amount, or a smidge?

WOW. you need to read the thread. I already said they need to be measured with a caliper. That being said, the ∆ between 5 and 6 mm is 20% (6 and 7mm is 15%) which is pretty noticeble on would think. So yes, a MM or two in wall thickness should be accurately gauged to determine this.

That being said, from the photographs it seems clear that the two are not the same thickness, in at least 3 visible places and amongst 2 separate load-bearing parts. Thats also not counting the flange design.

Please stop being such a negative nancy about it.

There is 'probable cause' to seek specific tests in these 3 specific places. I highly doubt its an optical illusion, but we can maybe get full res pics posted up and take a closer look.

Lets at least have a sense of humour about the whole situation.

 

[M6erfan]

I think speculation based on these photographs is a waste of time...

 

[T45]

Rear caster mount is built much more stout back here vs the snap on

I would be interesting if HF is beefier in some other places, maybe to compensate. The real puzzle is that they seem to weight about the same based on real users testing them.

So that weight has to be somewhere.

Now, its not impossible to build a decent bridge in more than one way-- just a matter of engineering folks compesating for each change correctly.

 

[gungatim]

food for thought: snap-on is currently #22 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 brand recognition rankings...8 points behind Ace Hardware...next tool brand is matco at 37...everything else in the top is pretty much food related...their category is considered personal and household appliances.

overall, they don't even make it in the top 100 most powerful brands...

I couldn't find anything on HF's brand recognition standings...


it is interesting that a bunch of internet forum posts end up as an exhibit in a lawsuit...

 

[L.Cheapo]

I love how it appears they hollowed out the stylized Snap On "S" in the jack pad...to a stylized "O" with the "corners" at the exact same radii. LOL! How much more would it really have cost to make this in the USA? Or at least, mostly in the USA.

Some MBA must be pulling their hair out.

 

[gdocktor3]

I love how it appears they hollowed out the stylized Snap On "S" in the jack pad...to a stylized "O" with the "corners" at the exact same radii. LOL! How much more would it really have cost to make this in the USA? Or at least, mostly in the USA.

Some MBA must be pulling their hair out.

I'm thinking its a D for Daytona. Just sayin...

 

[jacked_72]

I think its a D too. The jack pad does not appear to be part of the patent claim as a stylized "S" or any other character is not identified in the drawings. I've looked at the patent drawings (from what I can tell, there is a group in South Carolina that patents floor jack design and then assigns the patent to the highest bidder--in this case snapon, at least according to the lawsuit) and the snapon jack doesn't follow what the patent drawing shows for the cover over the power unit. On the patent drawing, it shows the cross bolt open to view like is on the Daytona jack.

 

[stikman56]

But but but they look "identical" they must be the same!

They're nowhere even close to identical. Not sure why anyone thinks they're made by the same company.

 

[Locker537]

Does anyone know if you can replace the jack saddle on the Daytona?

I have a kwiklift and need a saddle with deeper teeth to safely cup the large crossmember tube that you jack against.

 

[90zcar]

Sure can


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[CutterFarms]

So sounds like a few people have bought it now, anybody really worked one yet?

 

[90zcar]

Yes.....this guy. It's a beast


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[oldtools]

Is anybody going to disassemble the daytona and SO to see what kind of seal they use. If they use the same seal, then daytona is just as good as SO for less than half the price.

 

[Hopalong604]

Just bought 1 a few days ago. I have an fj200 and excited to see how it compares.

 

[90zcar]

Is anybody going to disassemble the daytona and SO to see what kind of seal they use. If they use the same seal, then daytona is just as good as SO for less than half the price.

I'll disassemble mine later down the road if it ever fails....until then I'm not touching it!


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[Pipe]

I picked one up this morning. Here's a little break-in

 

[pedrodagr8]

I'm strongly considering getting one of these Daytona Jacks, they look very well built for a hobbyist jack.

 

[MN_Runner]

I picked one up this morning. Here's a little break-in

A very nice floor jack! I know SO jacks are a bit pricey but their specs are right on and not inflated. I also bought SO FJ200 because it was what I needed and the quality I can trust. Daytona looks great at 1/3 of the FJ300 price but not sure if its specs are truly accurate and as good as SO. I saw FJ200 lifting a tow truck without any issues and was convinced that it was right for me.

 

[blown94conv]

Weight on a 320 should be about 6,000 pounds, not to bad for a 2 ton jack.

 

[Hiball]

Weight on a 320 should be about 6,000 pounds, not to bad for a 2 ton jack.

Common misconception of GJ, lifting one side of that loader is no where near the total weight of the machine. Now... If he can somehow figure out how to balance that loader on the lift pad... We would have a show.

 

[d4dawg]

I'd like to know how to estimate the lifting capacity that one will need? In most common usage scenarios, we would be lifting only the front or back or either side of the vehicle with at most 2 wheels off the ground at the same time. The HF Daytona jack seems really nice for the price, but it is also big and heavy. I'm hesitant to buy a jack that's way overkill for my needs.

 

[PoorOwner]

I'd like to know how to estimate the lifting capacity that one will need? In most common usage scenarios, we would be lifting only the front or back or either side of the vehicle with at most 2 wheels off the ground at the same time. The HF Daytona jack seems really nice for the price, but it is also big and heavy. I'm hesitant to buy a jack that's way overkill for my needs.

No one ever said I wish the Jack couldn't go higher.

 

[3TV]

I'd like to know how to estimate the lifting capacity that one will need? In most common usage scenarios, we would be lifting only the front or back or either side of the vehicle with at most 2 wheels off the ground at the same time. The HF Daytona jack seems really nice for the price, but it is also big and heavy. I'm hesitant to buy a jack that's way overkill for my needs.

What I did in my situation was buy the minimum jack capacity that would lift the heaviest load I anticipated lifting. I have a Ram 3500 Mega Cab short bed truck with a Cummins engine. The truck is lifted, has 37" tires, a winch bumper, and a Warn 16.5K winch with 1/2" winch cable on it. The extras on the truck add a fair amount of weight, which brings the trucks weight up to right about 8000 lbs. I figured that most of the weight is on the front end, so say 6000 lbs give or take. That means the minimum jack I can get away with is a 3 ton jack. I probably should have got a 4 ton jack to be on the safe side, but there is less selection in that size, they cost more, and they are a fair amount heavier. Then you're left with either a jack that is big and heavy to move around for the smaller jobs, or buying two jacks and cluttering up the garage more than you need to.

 

[chrisnazzy]

This thread has been an interesting read. After reading it all I still want one of these Daytona jacks though. They look infinitely more beefy than my existing HF low profile jack (which has been trouble free for 3+ years) and I kind of have a thing for Yellow. Plus it is a lot easier to tell my wife about something I found @ HF that I want than on a Snap On Truck.

 

[oldtools]

HF website said the Daytona jack use "premium quality piston seals". So we know the jack does not use o-ring?

 

[Pipe]

I posted the skid loader(which is a 320d weighing at 6600 plus it has 300 pounds of counter weights) side lifting because its slightly off balance and doing that same exact lift has bent a different jack in the past. I've got some other heavy things to mess with next week.

 

[blown94conv]

Common misconception of GJ, lifting one side of that loader is no where near the total weight of the machine. Now... If he can somehow figure out how to balance that loader on the lift pad... We would have a show.

I'm aware of that. If he were lifting from the rear it would change the amount of weight lifted as well. Or if he had a large bucket instead of a smaller bucket. Or maybe a street sweeping attachment.

 

[Pipe]

Hell I'll fill the bucket with soaking wet sand on monday and still lift it. I only had to stop because they are off balance by nature.

 

[Hiball]

I'm aware of that. If he were lifting from the rear it would change the amount of weight lifted as well. Or if he had a large bucket instead of a smaller bucket. Or maybe a street sweeping attachment.

Ok.. That's definitely not how your post read, but it doesn't matter.

@Pipe Add sand, 4 of your biggest friends, the Jacks safety overload will let you know when your getting close to 2 ton.

 

[Pipe]

Ok.. That's definitely not how your post read, but it doesn't matter.

@Pipe Add sand, 4 of your biggest friends, the Jacks safety overload will let you know when your getting close to 2 ton.

Fair enough and I didn't intend to turn this into a **** measuring contest. After following the thread I decided to get the snap on jack over the harbor freight for customer support and service, resale value, and not buying something that's been reverse engineered. Btw it is the fj300 for the same price as harbor freights flyer.

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