Best Aluminum Floor Jack

[Jamie V]

I've done a bunch of searching but not a lot of recent posts about all the different options of aluminum floor jacks out there.

We all know the different HF options (1.5T, 2T, 2.5T & 3T) but how do they rank with all the other options? I'd really like to buy a really good quality 2T or up jack. I'd prefer stronger, longer, wider, lower, and higher lift. I don't mind paying more for a better one within reason.

http://sunextools.com/product/6603asj-3-ton-aluminum-service-jack/

http://www.powerstationusa.com/brands/Arcan/product.php?mod=ALJ3T

http://www.powerstationusa.com/brands/NOS/product.php?mod=NSJ0302

http://www.nescopros.com/products_single.asp?product_id=NS 2203

http://m.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapidpump-62530.html

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwabe...ofile-2-ton-aluminum-floor-jack/011362sch01a/

Some of these Jacks seem too close in design to all be making their own stuff. Who makes what for who? What other Jacks am I missing. Most guys want the best bang for the buck. I want to know the best bang period in order. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc

 

[Super Sport]

I'm willing to bet that all of those jacks are made by the same Chinese supplier given their similarities. It's going to be hard/nearly impossible to determine if they are all the exact same quality or if they were spec'd to different levels.

Personally, I would look at the specs and determine which one fits your desires best and go with that. Quality differences will likely be minimal. Chinese jacks aren't designed to last a lifetime, so don't trust your life with it and understand you'll probably have to replace it in another 10 years.

 

[Jamie V]

My needs are I need to jack up my couple different vehicles (E-150, F-150, explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee)

All those Jacks can't be equal, there has to be better and worst ones and I'm sure I'm missing some Jacks too.

 

[Roberts210]

Jamie there is no way to tell.

10 years? How about 6 months. I'll never use an aluminum jack again. Had a bad experience with a buddy's aluminum "racing" jack that he'd used 4-5 times. What a P.O.S. My jack guy wouldn't even touch it.

The problem with the Chinese aluminum jacks is somewhat as Super Sport describes, only worse. There is one central supplier of the aluminum jack castings and then each Chinese company uses their own methods and internal parts, and some of the methods are questionable, and some of the internal parts are the very cheapest, lowest quality parts known to mankind. So if you are looking at two similar Chinese aluminum jacks there is no way to determine what is going on inside the jack. Then too the aluminum is much softer than cast iron and the balls will distort the aluminum over time--and it doesn't take very much time. There may be a few Chicom jack companies who use some soft of seat for the balls, but most don't.

 

[Jamie V]

I understand, but someone must know which one uses the better "guts"

This isn't my only jack, I just want to replace my Craftsman and Goodyear aluminum ones that have the single wide center wheel with a stronger more stable one. Sometimes dragging a 100lb steel jack out isn't the best option.

 

[Jamie V]

Even Mac is selling one

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Shop-Equipment/Jacks/JSA300AJ/3-Ton-Aluminum-Service-Jack

 

[Mohawk Dave]

The Brunnhoelzl Jacks are professional quality

 

[duwem]

I had the aluminum and steel jacks sitting side by side at the store for at least 30 minutes before I decided.

HF aluminum ones aren't THAT much lighter than the steel ones.

And the steel ones are welded, the aluminum ones have a ton of bolts in them.

Rarely have problems with welds on stuff, but bolts are ****, come loose, threads get boogered up, then the whole jack could flex like a noodle.

So I went with the steel one and have liked it.

 

[Jamie V]

If I only could have one jack it would be steel. I just want a "good" aluminum one to add to the arsenal.

 

[turtleman321]

Every aluminum jack out there is a turd. I've owned: craftsman, HF, Big Red, Torin, etc. they all **** and last a year at most with any bit of heavy hobby use. All of these turds seem to come out of the same ******** as well. The weight difference is not worth it at all. That is the only benefit, and it isnt a benefit if it just hinders the performance of every other part on it. Like others have mentioned, the casters ****, the bolts come loose, the handles fall off the sides, no grease fittings, the valve is like an On/Off switch with no control, etc. I can go on with the gripes I have with 99% of aluminum jacks out there.



Get the HF Daytona and never look again. Best jack I have used. Fits under my extremely low BMW, and lifts my buddies 05 2500 Cummins with no effort.

 

[Jamie V]

The Brunnhoelzl Jacks are professional quality

http://www.brunnhoelzl.com/pro_jacks.html

That's a little high. I could see $200-$400 but not $1,000-$1,500

 

[Jamie V]

Every aluminum jack out there is a turd. I've owned: craftsman, HF, Big Red, Torin, etc. they all **** and last a year at most with any bit of heavy hobby use.

I've had my aluminum goodyear jack for 10 years and it still works. I just want something a little bigger and more stable (front wheels outside the frame) have you owned any of the Arcan/Sunnex/NOS ones. They appear similar and different then the ones you listed.

Get the HF Daytona and never look again. Best jack I have used. Fits under my extremely low BMW, and lifts my buddies 05 2500 Cummins with no effort.

I have a new Milwaukee jack on order, I don't need another steel jack. I need something that isn't 100lbs plus.

 

[blsnelling]

The Daytona jack is nearly twice a heavy as the HF 3-ton aluminum jack. 55 vs 105

 

[vettex2]

The Brunnhoelzl Jacks are professional quality

but the leak like sieves

 

[skruft]

I am not a fan of HF in general but I had a man come to repair the wheels on my car and he uses two HF aluminum floor jacks all day, lifting one side of a vehicle at a time. He has aluminum so that he can easily lift them in and out of his truck. I thought, if they can handle that, they are probably good. Of course, using two, he is not straining them.

(Personally I use two old, heavy steel jacks. They are both probably 70 years old and look like something from an old movie.)

 

[vettex2]

Every aluminum jack out there is a turd. I've owned: craftsman, HF, Big Red, Torin, etc. they all **** and last a year at most with any bit of heavy hobby use. All of these turds seem to come out of the same ******** as well. The weight difference is not worth it at all. That is the only benefit, and it isnt a benefit if it just hinders the performance of every other part on it. Like others have mentioned, the casters ****, the bolts come loose, the handles fall off the sides, no grease fittings, the valve is like an On/Off switch with no control, etc. I can go on with the gripes I have with 99% of aluminum jacks out there.



Get the HF Daytona and never look again. Best jack I have used. Fits under my extremely low BMW, and lifts my buddies 05 2500 Cummins with no effort.

I have a Powerbuilt one that is 10 years old and still works fine.
Like any other tool , I "tuned" mine up
I loctited every fastener and lubed it when I bought it and it's been fine for over a decade.
I think it was made in New Zealand or Australia.

 

[WWheeler]

The Daytona jack is nearly twice a heavy as the HF 3-ton aluminum jack. 55 vs 105

And yet it rolls across concrete much easier than my 1-1/2 ton HF aluminum jack. Glides around almost like it's on ice. It's so much easier to move around and get into position it isn't even close.

 

[M6erfan]

The issue with "racing Jacks" isn't "rolling them around". It's lifting them on and off a trailer/truck bed, etc. Weight does make a difference for the purposes that they're supposed to be used for.

If your buying a jack that will be only rolling around on your garage floor and not in a mobile application, thats a different story...

 

[shockwave]

The first 3 look the same just different brands and I would go with sunex since they will stand by products more so

And out of your list the one from ecstunning looks the best

I have had the blue point/torin/big red one 3 ton hybrid aluminum jack and it's heavier than my cornwell 3.5 ton all steel jack but after a year seals went bad and slowly drops car so I keep it around until I change the seals needed kit that's on back order

 

[blsnelling]

The issue with "racing Jacks" isn't "rolling them around". It's lifting them on and off a trailer/truck bed, etc. Weight does make a difference for the purposes that they're supposed to be used for.

If your buying a jack that will be only rolling around on your garage floor and not in a mobile application, thats a different story...

This!

 

[WWheeler]

Yeah but real 'Racing Jacks" are intended for light tonnage, making them not all that practical for the typical driveway/garage mechanic. Some of the best, like Brunnhoelzl, are only rated for 1 ton iirc and they go for $1,000 or thereabouts.

I've been through a few of them now. Jegs, HF, Craftsman. All the aluminum jacks seem to last only a short time. They're disposable imho.

 

[vettex2]

Yeah but real 'Racing Jacks" are intended for light tonnage, making them not all that practical for the typical driveway/garage mechanic. Some of the best, like Brunnhoelzl, are only rated for 1 ton iirc and they go for $1,000 or thereabouts.

False
we had one and it was 1.5 ton and cost 1200.00 AND UP depending on options. They are true 2-3 pump jacks.
Having said that, it was ****. Leaked and "repaired" by them a few times
Anyway, race jacks are not dragged around. They are carried or in the war wagon. They are not for shop use.
Just the fake ones get dragged.

 

[Jamie V]

Went and checked the HF 3 ton out and I was not impressed at all. I actually like my old Craftsman one better. I'll have to check out some other options.

 

[vettex2]

This might suit you. 250.00
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047D2FWM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

OR

OTC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XSCEBM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They quit making mine. I'd buy another Powerbuilt if I could

 

[Jamie V]

The arcan was in my initial post, is it better then the others?

 

[vettex2]

They are a good product.
Better? Hard to say. I have not seen all the others

 

[blkSRT]

https://www.costco.com/3-Ton-Profes...And-Steel-Service-Jack.product.100222458.html

 

[Showkey]

https://www.costco.com/3-Ton-Profes...And-Steel-Service-Jack.product.100222458.html

+2

 

[Jamie V]

Looks differently made from the other arcan styles. Wonder if it's the same quality?

 

[vettex2]

Looks differently made from the other arcan styles. Wonder if it's the same quality?

Not for a hundred bucks.
All the 100.00 jacks are pretty much the same. LIGHT duty
If you want quality , you pay for it.

 

[WWheeler]

I'm not a Costco member as there isn't one anywhere near me, but several GJ members have pointed to that Arcan jack and mentioned that even though Arcon has a warranty period of 1yr IIRC, Costco apparently has a lifetime 100% satisfaction full refund guarantee on just about every product they sell that would presumably cover that jack.

 

[vettex2]

that warranty will do you no good if it fails during use

 

[WWheeler]

that warranty will do you no good if it fails during use

Why is that? ALL jacks will fail during use sooner or later. When they do it's of little consequence, and even less consequence for those who can get their money back when it does. A jack is only meant to do the lifting to get the object being lifted onto stands.

 

[KM223]

I think what vettex meant was if it fails during use you may be under the vehicle and you may be dead. At least that's what I gathered from the comment. Which is absolutely, completely correct.

 

[vettex2]

Why is that? ALL jacks will fail during use sooner or later. When they do it's of little consequence, and even less consequence for those who can get their money back when it does. A jack is only meant to do the lifting to get the object being lifted onto stands.

1) My jacks are decades old and have not failed.
2) it ***** to go for any tool and it is broken WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT
3) the warranty won't jack the car up

I think what vettex meant was if it fails during use you may be under the vehicle and you may be dead. At least that's what I gathered from the comment. Which is absolutely, completely correct.

but
you should use stands if you are under the car

 

[Jamie V]

I went to the closest Costco today but they don't stock that jack.....