Harbor Freight 3 Ton Daytona Jack Versus Snap On FJ300 Jack

codydoss82 · Jan 27, 2017

Hiball said:
Eventually like all lift equipment regardless of components/Brand it will need service. If I can get my hands on one I will spill the beans... As previously mentioned, My gut tells me that the only difference (with the Hydraulic unit only) will be that the Snap on advertises/uses a UCup on the Main Ram, wheris the HF cheaps out. With all that said, it's plausible since nor HF or Snap on Own this hydraulic design that outsides of the seal options available, there are a multitude of Rod finish/Fitment options available from retailers to pick from when designing there specific product.

Time will Tell...

Beyond interested to find out. This thread has been fairly educational for me, and I would really like to thank you for the information that you have given me..... Butttttttttt, now I'm going to end up buying a more expensive jack with quality internals and probably turn into a hydraulic floor nerd. [emoji28]

But really, thanks!

hcoles · Feb 9, 2017

I was just in HF and took a look at the Daytona jack. One thing I noticed is the roller that pushes on the top of the pistons didn't roll easily - I couldn't make it roll with my fingers. I think the roller needs to roll to reduce the side loads on the pistons. Also I wonder if there are rebuild kits for these jacks. One thing is has going for it is the bright color - I think I'd be less likely to trip over it going back and forth for tools/etc. I just got a kit from Lazzar's for my 40 year old Sears floor (trolley) jack - we'll see how that all works out. Maybe Lazzar's has seal kits for these HF jacks.

bigMoose · Feb 22, 2017

Blew out my old orange 40 year jack a few days ago. Glad this thread lead me to the Dayton! Bought it last night, and rotated my tires on my Tahoe with it today, WOW is all I can say! This jack rocks the shop. It was very well made, smooth as silk up and down. The quality and the packaging were top notch. I am very thankful for the expertise on this thread, as it lead to a great value purchase.

The Dayton jack performed so well, I may not even repair old orange.... BTW HF said it is going on sale next weekend for $177. I couldn't wait however.

EOC_Jason · Feb 22, 2017

bigMoose said:
The Dayton jack performed so well, I may not even repair old orange.... BTW HF said it is going on sale next weekend for $177. I couldn't wait however.

Take your receipt back next weekend and have them price-adjust for you.

Strouty · Feb 22, 2017

My Snap On driver still thinks that their jack is made in the USA.

123Go · Feb 23, 2017

Strouty said:
My Snap On driver still thinks that their jack is made in the USA.

Ya' they are like most all other salesmen you meet in life, simply full of **** most times. :lol_hitti

AA/FC · Feb 23, 2017

Strouty said:
My Snap On driver still thinks that their jack is made in the USA.

Lol.... You should show him the SO website page that says COO - CHN

blown94conv · Feb 23, 2017

Says assembled and tested in the US. LOL

Also says country or origin is CHN, which is China. Which means the parts are from overseas. LOL

https://store.snapon.com/LIFTING-2-Ton-Floor-Jack-P823612.aspx

123Go · Feb 24, 2017

Strouty said:
My Snap On driver still thinks that their jack is made in the USA.

Give him the link to this website so he can learn about tools!! :thumbup:

B_Lafayet · Feb 24, 2017

blown94conv said:
Says assembled and tested in the US. LOL

Also says country or origin is CHN, which is China. Which means the parts are from overseas. LOL

https://store.snapon.com/LIFTING-2-Ton-Floor-Jack-P823612.aspx

Snap On trying to put lipstick on a pig.

RH777 · Mar 23, 2017

I bought the Daytona Jack from HF last week. $177 + tax with online coupon code for 20% off. The box label shows a weight of 114 lbs which is the jack, handle and box. The big selling point for me was the 3 year warranty and the 23" lift height. I picked up my 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe with no issues. I read the reviews on some of the Pittsburgh jacks that the handle bends. The Daytona handle did not bend. I've only used it a couple of days so I can't give a long term report on it, but it seems really sturdy and capable of any task. I did not have any reservations on how it would perform. Time will tell.

Stevenn1 · Mar 28, 2017

I don't know... It freaks me out to think about buying something at Harbor Freight (a "discount" tool store) and use it to lift thousands of pounds off the ground. Even though you use jack stands to hold the weight, the vehicle is still suspended only by the jack for a few seconds by itself in the meantime, that few seconds can turn into an ugly life-altering incident very quickly. On the contrary their pro tool chests & roller cabs have been out for many years and still seem to be holding up ok (according to GJ posts). Their stuff does seem to be getting a little better quality through the years. You just got to use discretion on what you buy there.

bubinga · Mar 28, 2017

Stevenn1 said:
I don't know... It freaks me out to think about buying something at Harbor Freight (a "discount" tool store) and use it to lift thousands of pounds off the ground. Even though you use jack stands to hold the weight, the vehicle is still suspended only by the jack for a few seconds by itself in the meantime, that few seconds can turn into an ugly life-altering incident very quickly. On the contrary their pro tool chests & roller cabs have been out for many years and still seem to be holding up ok (according to GJ posts). Their stuff does seem to be getting a little better quality through the years. You just got to use discretion on what you buy there.

No different than the other import jack's we buy at say sears, or say, Auto Zone.

WhiffySpark · Mar 28, 2017

bubinga said:
No different than the other import jack's we buy at say sears, or say, Auto Zone.

It is different. There's a thing called quality control the harbor freight doesn't seem to pay any attention to.

Not all import is the same ****. Just cause it comes from China doesn't automatically put it all in the same group

MikeF2316 · Mar 28, 2017

WhiffySpark said:
It is different. There's a thing called quality control the harbor freight doesn't seem to pay any attention to.

Not all import is the same ****. Just cause it comes from China doesn't automatically put it all in the same group

Well, there's lots of stuff at Harbor Freight from lots of different places. There are quite a few folks in this thread who have these jacks. Why don't we ask them how many have had problems so far?

In fact, owners, consider this a request. Anybody had any problems with this jack yet?

P.S. I have an Alltrade jack that I bought at Costco 20 years ago. I've never had an issue, although I think I topped up the hydraulic oil when it was brand new.

WWheeler · Mar 28, 2017

Still way too new to make a long-term reliability judgement about it but I can say that I've been using the **** out of my Daytona jack and have had zero complaints so far. I've lifted quite a few heavy beasts with it so far. It's been nothing but impressive to me.

I still find it hard to believe how much easier it glides around the garage floor than the 1-1/2 ton aluminum HF jack that weighs 1/3 as much, and the Daytona is actually capable of lifting high enough to get my truck tire off the ground.

zendriver · Mar 28, 2017

B_Lafayet said:
Snap On trying to put lipstick on a pig.

They must have become a very stupid company, risking their great reputation, on a product, that is likely dangerous to use and obviously, will not last.

IowaDon · Mar 28, 2017

I have to echo WWheeler's thoughts on the ease with which the Daytona rolls around on a smooth floor. I haven't owned very many jacks in my life, but it is truly impressive, and a cut above any other jack I've used.

This is also the first jack I've owned with the rapid pump feature. Works great and a real time saver.

I've had no problems with mine to date. Time will tell as far as longevity goes.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

guy48065 · Mar 29, 2017

Very pleased with mine. Rolls easily on my rough driveway, jacks fast and with little effort can lift the side or either end of my truck. My old Sears 1.5 ton or aluminum racing jack could only lift a corner.

I do wish it had a little bigger lift pad.

Trey T · Mar 29, 2017

has the comparison been posted?

WWheeler · Mar 29, 2017

Trey T said:
has the comparison been posted?

Not exactly. There's been some comparative discussion about the fact that both are made in China (or the Snap On may actually be assembled here with parts from China, though your guess is good as any's as to whether that's anything more than, say, put the wheels on it) and the similarities and differences between their appearance and their exploded parts lists (see below), but only the Daytona has actually undergone a teardown and inspection by our resident jack expert Hiball and he wasn't all that impressed with it, at least not in comparison to the decades-old-designed US-made beasts that cost several times more that he's used to working on (Weaver, Walker, etc). He's definitely not comparing it to other China-made jacks these days sold under umpteen brands of which he's had even less flattering things to say, like that they nearly universally utilize all o-rings and no U-cups.

We've yet to see any confirmation that the Snappy is actually a better built unit than the Daytona, though IIRC Hiball did mention that Snap-On's marketing implies that theirs has U-Cups on the pistons and the ram, and the Daytona has U-Cups on the pistons but only has o-rings on the ram, but whether that's true or not hasn't been shown in this thread... yet.

GTA Matt said:
*not my pictures

IMStuner · Mar 29, 2017

If you want a peace of mind than buy Snap-On but my Daytona and Arcan jacks haven't fail me yet.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

123Go · Mar 29, 2017

IowaDon said:
I have to echo WWheeler's thoughts on the ease with which the Daytona rolls around on a smooth floor. I haven't owned very many jacks in my life, but it is truly impressive, and a cut above any other jack I've used.

This is also the first jack I've owned with the rapid pump feature. Works great and a real time saver.

I've had no problems with mine to date. Time will tell as far as longevity goes.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

From many articles/posts I read in the past all the rapid lift feature does is cause bleed off problems later on. With the exception of the original Yasui built Norco Fast Jacks that lasted decades.... Surely' Hiball knows why this is the case and will know if anything changed to prevent the issues they all had in the past idk? I did read this a few yrs ago and things do change?

fwiw: Best Fast Lift I knew of.
Yasui was the first I saw to design a fast lift and Norco marketed them in the USA being the original fast jack in ads but Yasui only makes 4 ton up long frames now.
Norco replied in a 2012 email to them while I was looking for their lifetime warranted Yasui-Norco 71232 like my friend had for several years that it was recently no longer available.
Norco also stated in one of our emails they know the small frame jacks they offer today are not the normal Norco quality jacks from the past but Norco received no warning from Yasui before they abruptly ended production of all small frame jacks in or around 2012 so Norco quickly had to find another supplier just to offer any at all under 4 ton.
But' my hunt to locate one stopped when the last email I sent to Norco asking about the lifetime warranty on the 71232. It's response said If I located & purchased a new 71232 and any hard parts ever needed replacing under it's lifetime warranty I'd simply receive a complete Norco branded lower grade O'ring jack made from another manufacturer (who knows who) but other than a Yasui, so I said thanks but no thanks...C'ya!!

71232 rear view of its dual pumps. http://www.norcoind.com/norco/images/products/large/71232 Detail B.jpg

Front view..
http://www.norcoind.com/norco/images/products/large/71232.jpg

So' fwiw
All Norcos under 4 ton are just O'ring jacks today like this one is now so another good one bit the dust there :sad:

. Norco's lifetime warranty is still offered on some jacks I do believe but who wants to deal with that so often, if it's O'ring is even covered? Better buy an extra as a backup.
R.I.P. little Yasui Norco's... :sad:

Trey T · Mar 29, 2017

So the Daytona costs $200 and the SO costs $600. Can the hydraulic unit be rebuilt on either one?

moneypit_k5 · Mar 30, 2017

I dont know, but this thread has been a great read. Truly top notch witch hunting!
Some real sleuthing in here!

Jamie V · Mar 30, 2017

I finally broke down and bought my first item from HF. The Daytona jack has such good reviews on here I went and checked it out in person. It's by far the nicest thing in the store so I picked one up.

So far so good, it moves around on the racedeck floor very easily and hasn't given meany trouble.

I built a stainless tray for it to park on to keep it from beating up my walls.

48548 · Mar 30, 2017

That looks awesome.

Trey T · Mar 30, 2017

moneypit_k5 said:
I dont know, but this thread has been a great read. Truly top notch witch hunting!
Some real sleuthing in here!

If it can NOT be rebuilt, it's more likely-than-not that the SO is just as good as the Daytona. Statistically speaking, more people on here reported the Daytona to be a good floor jack than the SO.

I'm kidding!!!

123Go · Mar 30, 2017

Most but not all parts lists in floor jack manuals that won't show the cylinder breakdown or offer rebuild "kits" but only offering complete cylinders on the parts list the ram is most always O'ring designed these days. They don't want you to see inside it for a reason.
I have looked at so many breakdowns and wrote asking what's inside cylinders now it's ridiculous, it's became a strange hobby in the last few years just waiting to see a higher grade jack made again, I have several jacks so I don't need any more but have some friends and many people here who want a good one so Im watching for them.

So far I have not found any high grade (U-Cup) designed jacks cheap enough it seems? But then the machine work being done good is another thing??
The HW was made in USA until 2015 now only assembled here but most friends were too cheap to even spend $300 for one on sale. I paid $296 to door for one in 2012 after going through several china jacks in about 7-8yrs then doing the math.
2 of the china jacks where $129+ tax each (Big Reds) so called Pro Series Service jacks (both seized just after warranty) so If I had done math, bought the HW instead it would have ended the bs then because I had read what was going on with jack's online by then.

But oh hell no' my dumb *** spent even more buying a Michelin, then thinking screw it buy them cheap & toss it and bought 2 Harbors then doing my math. I hated f#(&ing math...lol

One friend still has 2 HF jacks behind his shed and is on his 3rd HF now, it leaks. None are Daytona btw but he's done the math and knows now that the $300 USA HW I was screaming out at him to grab back then was a deal...Shame' because now they are much more and just assembled here. They all missed that boat but I told everyone!
I'm still looking and watching craigs too for used USA jacks. Hopefully these HF are much better for people and with decent warranties too, well' as long as it's offered by HF anyway? Who knows huh?

Just say'n it adds up quicker than we ever think it does, I never regretted buying my HW once and the search for my own lifting equipment ended 5 yrs ago. It's lifted everything I wanted even 3/4 ton custom vans and I thank all my friends posts here at GJ especially Hiball & Edgar for helping me to decide to simply say screw all the junk china **** they really don't care what or how they make things for the USA! Thank all of you, ok' now I have to go play with my HW for some reason! Did ever I mention I have one of those? lol
Actually 2, I had 3, gave one to my brother.

48548 · Mar 30, 2017

I wish I would have bought the HW jack back then.... I ended up buying an AC hydraulic's and don't have any complaints, but it is made in demark, but that isn't the USA.

IMStuner · Mar 30, 2017

Jamie V said:
I finally broke down and bought my first item from HF. The Daytona jack has such good reviews on here I went and checked it out in person. It's by far the nicest thing in the store so I picked one up.

So far so good, it moves around on the racedeck floor very easily and hasn't given meany trouble.

I built a stainless tray for it to park on to keep it from beating up my walls.

Would you make another one and how much would you charge for the stainless tray?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fcvapor05 · Mar 30, 2017

123Go:

Ever had your paws inside an AC Hydraulic unit?

I have one that I've been immensely happy with, and while mine is new I know of a few people who have had them for a decade of hard use with no complaints.

I know what I paid for mine (a lot!) and after reading so much about the fine details of jack engineering in this thread, I'm curious how they stack up.

bigredjeepone · Mar 30, 2017

I hear good things about the Daytona but longevity is the key to good tools. I bought my M18 Impact only to discover that it isn't user serviceable like the SO. Looking the same and being the same are not the same. My Duralast Ratchets look like my SOs but in 20 years I can get a repaired or replaced ratchet from SO. Warranty is the other thing. What is the difference with these two? Lastly, it's use. What are you doing with it? Average user will be fine with a cheap jack but in a 6 day a week shop I am buying the best I can afford.

Buy what you need.

WWheeler · Mar 30, 2017

bigredjeepone said:
[...] Warranty is the other thing. What is the difference with these two? [...]

Both the Snap On FJ300 and the Daytona have a 3-yr warranty. At least for the Daytona that's a lot better than the 90 days they warranty their Pittsburgh jacks.

I would suspect that Snap On will stock some replacement parts for their jacks for some time whereas the Daytona I seriously doubt it.

bubinga · Mar 30, 2017

WhiffySpark said:
It is different. There's a thing called quality control the harbor freight doesn't seem to pay any attention to.

Not all import is the same ****. Just cause it comes from China doesn't automatically put it all in the same group

Indeed a possibility.

bubinga · Mar 30, 2017

Damn, That metal storage pan is nicely made!

Jamie V · Mar 30, 2017

48548 said:
That looks awesome.

bubinga said:
Damn, That metal storage pan is nicely made!

Thanks

IMStuner said:
Would you make another one and how much would you charge for the stainless tray?

I have WAYYY to much time in making that thing to be able to put a good price on making another one. The bending just takes too much brake time changing dies. It's 16ga 304 stainless so you need a decent size brake to bend it. I could burn it out pretty easily for someone but I just can't spend the time shaping it up.

The first time I made it the back bottom corner was 90° and it hit my rubber molding against the wall preventing it from going back against the wall.

The second time I made it I tig welded both sides on but the heat slightly warped the bottom causing the front to lift off the floor.

So I decided to make it again with only welding the back corners but the brake work took a long time to get it right.

IMStuner · Mar 30, 2017

Jamie V said:
Thanks

I have WAYYY to much time in making that thing to be able to put a good price on making another one. The bending just takes too much brake time changing dies. It's 16ga 304 stainless so you need a decent size brake to bend it. I could burn it out pretty easily for someone but I just can't spend the time shaping it up.

The first time I made it the back bottom corner was 90° and it hit my rubber molding against the wall preventing it from going back against the wall.

The second time I made it I tig welded both sides on but the heat slightly warped the bottom causing the front to lift off the floor.

So I decided to make it again with only welding the back corners but the brake work took a long time to get it right.

Hey thanks for showing me what you did. The finished tray looks awesome and keep up the good work!

TNBurban · Mar 30, 2017

bigredjeepone said:
I hear good things about the Daytona but longevity is the key to good tools. I bought my M18 Impact only to discover that it isn't user serviceable like the SO. Looking the same and being the same are not the same. My Duralast Ratchets look like my SOs but in 20 years I can get a repaired or replaced ratchet from SO. Warranty is the other thing. What is the difference with these two? Lastly, it's use. What are you doing with it? Average user will be fine with a cheap jack but in a 6 day a week shop I am buying the best I can afford.

Buy what you need.

I'm not picking on you when I quote you, please don't take offense, but for a lot of us looking at the Daytona jack, we are weekend warriors. I have a fleet I maintain - my car, wife's car, and two kids' cars and occasionally a friend or extended family.. I would love to find a craigslist deal on an older, rebuildable jack (like a Walker), but around here that's a once every few years deal.

So for those of us who need a jack once a week at most, is the Daytona the best deal out there? I'm in the market for one now and thought about the jack at NAPA, and looked at the Northern Tool offerings, but the Daytona has me really intrigued...I'm leaning towards the Daytona.

IMStuner · Mar 31, 2017

TNBurban said:
I'm not picking on you when I quote you, please don't take offense, but for a lot of us looking at the Daytona jack, we are weekend warriors. I have a fleet I maintain - my car, wife's car, and two kids' cars and occasionally a friend or extended family.. I would love to find a craigslist deal on an older, rebuildable jack (like a Walker), but around here that's a once every few years deal.

So for those of us who need a jack once a week at most, is the Daytona the best deal out there? I'm in the market for one now and thought about the jack at NAPA, and looked at the Northern Tool offerings, but the Daytona has me really intrigued...I'm leaning towards the Daytona.

I have a Arcan XL 2.5 ton low profile for 3-4 years now without a issue and I use it about 2 times a week. I'm moving and gave that jack to my dad and pick up this Daytona jack. The Arcan jacks comes with a 1 year warranty but they do offer parts. I helped my friend repair his Arcan jack and it was his fault for what happen. I'll give my feed back when I work on my fleet of SUV in my house.

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Harbor Freight 3 Ton Daytona Jack Versus Snap On FJ300 Jack

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