KCHOTBOAT
Well-known member
Anyone have a low profile floor jack they would recomend? The new car sits to low for my old jack. Heard nothing about bad things about the HF ones. Does anyone own the one sams club sells?
floor jack
- Thread starter KCHOTBOAT
- Start date
Uncle Buck
Banned
I am not generally a HF fan. However, I have never had a problem with any of their jacks. I have recently seen their 3 1/2 T jack on sale for $59.00 and would like to get one. I look at the castor size, size of the carriage and most important, the dia of the lift saddle. I do not like floor jacks having small dia lift saddles. I know it's just me but I have yet to see or use a decent quality jack that has a small diameter lift saddle (sears jacks, all small saddles). Although I am talking about HF (ANYTHING) jacks, I still want the larger lift saddle even on a chi-com jack. I saw a new Lincoln jack at my friends house a week ago and the damn thing was made in Chiney! Of the standard frame jacks available from HF the 3 1/2 T job looks like the best of the lot. Going by appearance, it also most closely replicates better quality jacks. A few things to keep in mind about a HF quality jack (or any brand of jack). 1) If you use the jack strictly for raising the vehicle,then resting it on jack stands (as you should) instead of relying on the jack alone and working under a vehicle with no jack stands, you should have no problems with even a cheap HF jack. 2) It has been my experience that when a jack starts going south, they will generally leak, or not raise, nor hold for very long the intended load. Anyway, at some point all of them shoot craps and you are left with rebuilding/replacing them. I have never had a new jack, every single one of mine was not functioning when I got it. Better quality jacks like the old Walkers (now Lincoln chi-com) and the old Blackhawks or Hein Warners have been a true pleasure to rebuild, I would simply get the proper rebuild kit (usually 20-40 bucks) install, and walla, no leaks and the jack will lift and hold the load for years to come. Most recently I rebuilt what I believe is an old HF 3 1/2 T since I had no numbers or original info to go by I went to the plumbing dept of the local true value and got a handfull of o rings, packings etc.. and rebuilt the jack. The jack now lifts and holds the load and does not leak, so I will get more use out of it ( keep in mind, I never crawl under any vehicle without jack stands in place). Anyway, if HF and Lincoln both get their jacks from china I do not see where a better paint job and a cost difference in excess of $100.00 makes the Lincoln more worthy of my consideration for purchase. I like the Lincoln jack better, I just cannot afford the difference when the HF will do the job just as well at considerably less cost. 
Tim240Z
Well-known member
I bought one of those aluminum 'race' jacks from HF a couple of years ago on sale for about 60 bucks. I needed it to get my car high enough for the 'real' jack. I use the aluminum one very often, esp. when going to help a buddy or neighbor and don't feel like lugging the big one around. The cheapo HF jack has worked flawlessly and I have had zero issues with it (apart from the initial oil fill and bleed...took a bit of time to get it bled properly). For the price, it works great. I wouldn't use it as a primary jack, only because I don't trust something that cheap, but it does get the job done.
Tim
Tim
eschoendorff
Well-known member
I have and use the HF aluminum jack and have not had any problems with it. It's actully a rather nice jack.
I bought a blue low profile Arco (?) jack from costco for $60. I got it because its heavy duty and will fit under my Integra which has been lowered. I think the jack range is from 3 1/2" to 21" . So far no complaints except that it was really heavy putting it in the trunk to go home!
ultgar
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
Great jack........unfortunately as I found out today, Stertil-Koni will no longer be importing AC Hydraulic products to the US. Not sure if this is another victim of Chinese competition or just apathy on the part of the current importer. SD
awdirtdrifter
Well-known member
eschoendorff said:
Ditto.
krooser
Well-known member
How about Canada? I was thinking about buying one...ultgar said:
REFLEXX
Well-known member
Just saw at costco, a nice all alum "lo-profile" jack. Like 4" to 20" range, but don't quote me.
Probably made in China, but you gotta love Costco's lifetime return policy!
Probably made in China, but you gotta love Costco's lifetime return policy!
ultgar
Well-known member
homer said:
And if you do find one, what will you do for service and parts?
krooser
Well-known member
DHL...FedEx...UPS ship worldwide....ultgar said:
ultgar
Well-known member
krooser said:
You're right but the cost of the parts and the freight from Denmark would be a bit of a deterrent . SD
REFLEXX
Well-known member
HF doesn't use suppliers, they just switch "re-education camps"
Oh, wait. That's North Korea.
Oh, wait. That's North Korea.
mikeyr
Well-known member
He would then be in the same boat as those of us who already have one of these incredible worth every penny they cost jacks when it comes time to service them.ultgar said:
I used to be one of those buy cheap and throw it away when it breaks kind of guy, after buying my AC jack more on impulse then anything else, I have thrown away the other jack and only use my AC jack. Sometimes a quality tool is a pleasure to use, even if it does the exact same work as a cheap tool.
ok, I didn't really throw away the cheap jack, I threw it in the back of the truck for when I get a flat or like that, that was 2 years ago and no one has stolen the jack yet, they must think it does not work
On to more serious things....I have to find 2 AC jack stands to match my other 2 now that I know they are going away.
tomroblee
Well-known member
I have two Sam's club jacks. The first is about ten years old with no problems. Bought the second one this past summer for farm.
The handle in the new one doesn't seem to want to stay attached while pulling the jack (moving around the garage). It also seem so require more effort to lift heavy items.
I was really impressed with the medium priced jacks I later saw at an Indianapolis IN "chinese" equipment dealer --but don't need another one at this time.
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com
The handle in the new one doesn't seem to want to stay attached while pulling the jack (moving around the garage). It also seem so require more effort to lift heavy items.
I was really impressed with the medium priced jacks I later saw at an Indianapolis IN "chinese" equipment dealer --but don't need another one at this time.
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com
the ac jacks can still be purchased in europe if i understand correctly. . all the rally teams i see when my freinds and i race use them and i have been saving to get one for myself. if the parts are available overseas or in canada i can have someone get them for me with little hassle, plus for the quality and usefulness of the jack i would be willing to pay for high shipping.
ultgar
Well-known member
bmwpower said:
I'd like the names of people on this list who purchased jacks from me .....please email me directly at [email protected] . I need your full names.
Stertil-Koni faxed me a list of new spare parts they have in stock. I'll probably take a trip down to MD to see if they have a bunch of scatch and dent jacks I can buy for spares.
Also, if anyone on this list has a DK20/DK20Q or DK13HLQ jack they bought from me in the last 6 months (thats not all beat up....I don't care about the wheels), I'll buy it back. This offer expires 2/15/06. SD
i have the lo jack from matco. 2.5"
it's perfect for me since my car sits super low to the ground. http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2261&select=&page=2
it's perfect for me since my car sits super low to the ground. http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2261&select=&page=2