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Floor Jack ?'s

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srosa707

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Apr 6, 2006
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Orcutt, CA.
Im in the market for a garage floor jack. Nothing spectacular. It would be used for normal oil change uses and whatnot. I have a 1/2 ton Chevy 4x4 i would use it on, so it cant be light duty. Ive heard horror storys and dont want to chance it with a crappy jack. Any suggestions? Sites?
 
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bmwpower

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I love my AC Hydraulics jack, but sadly they are "no longer" available in mass quantities in the US.
 
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bjo

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Jun 23, 2005
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Houston
I also love my AC hydraulics jack. I wouldn't use an aluminum jack for everyday use. I also have one and use it for the track.
 
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kartracer55

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Jun 21, 2005
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5,317
The one I use at home is my dads sears aluminum jack that is made in japan, I think they are made in china now.


The jack quality doesnt really matter in terms of safety because your using jackstands... RIGHT!?!?!?!?! Hahahah.

I use an older snap on low profile kidna often too and its a good jack. It wouldnt surprise me if you told me it was twice my age, but its still going strong. I have heard alot of horror stories of HF jacks just notworking after a year or two of heavy use and people just using them for scrap steel.


Jim
 
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bmwpower

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kartracer55 said:
The jack quality doesnt really matter in terms of safety because your using jackstands... RIGHT!?!?!?!?! Hahahah.

Jim
Click to expand...

Well, you still have to lift the car up somehow. And it's being supported by the jack while you're UNDER THE CAR placing the jack stands.
 
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fireman

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bmwpower said:
Cool. Are those things safe?
Click to expand...

They actually lock in place and you can disconnect the air but I ain't no dummy, I always use jack stands or blocks. In 27 years of firefighting, I've seen too many squished bodies to trust any kind of jack.
 
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bmwpower

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When I was in the hospital recovering from a broken back, I met this guy in a wheel chair. Apparently, years ago he was helping his friend work on his car and either the jack or the jack stand gave way...he was under the car. At least he made it out alive.

Spend the extra bucks to get something reliable and strong.
 
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fireman

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Dec 7, 2005
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129
l_bilyk said:
eeek

now i'm going to be all paranoid about crawling in under the car
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No need to be paranoid.
1. Lift car
2. Put jack stands or blocks under car
3. Lower car
4. Shake car to make sure it's stable

OR, disregard the above steps and risk becoming a pancake.

A few years ago, I saw a guy that had used a bumper jack to lift his car and then went under to work on it. The jack collapsed and he was found a day later. He's still dead today.
I don't mean to gross anyone out, but it only takes a few seconds to use blocks or stands vs. being dead forever.
 
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Rickster

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This may more than you're willing to spend, but look at a Hein-Warner jack. Its what they use in the business. Heavy duty, has a nice T handle top and a large lift plate. We bought one for my Dad 30 years ago and it works like it's new. I have an older Sears floor jack with a large lift plate and I like it a lot. But if I see a hein-warner in good shape at a garage or estate sale I'm taking it with me. Also, get some good jack stands, not the cheapo split pipe ones but a set of heavy duty angle iron ones.
 
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srosa707

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Orcutt, CA.
great thanks guys. SHould i steer clear of the aluminum ones even though i will probly just be using it on the weekends and not every day? Probly just use it to lift my Model A project mostly.
 
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Elroy

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kentucky
Rickster said:
This may more than you're willing to spend, but look at a Hein-Warner jack.
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In Elroy's opinion that is some good advice! "Hein-Werner" is Top quality stuff. Will last a life time and every part for every model ever built is still available. Try to beat that with an aluminum junk jack. Now they're heavy no doubt but that's why they're called "floor jacks".
 
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ThreeBay

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Oct 25, 2005
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I had a car fall on me many years ago. I was lucky and got out with minimal damage. To this day I remember it every time I get under a car. It makes me even more nervous when my son gets under a car and he's a mechanic. At least he knows to always use jackstands.
 
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