Harbor FrEsco Jackstand

[89MustangGX]

Been wanting the Esco style jackstands for a long time now. Wanted both the flat padded top and the axle tube style posts. But I haven't been able to bring myself to order them because it seems for a while now they just get poor quality control reviews. Not that they are failing and hurting people, just that the paint, welds, etc. do not seem up to par for what their reputation is supposed to be (used to be?). I even saw one review where the legs weren't even and it wobbled. Apparently they changed designs at some point and some have different hole spacing. I just couldn't do it.

Enter Harbor Freight with their version that carries the Daytona name. Now I know that some people are anti-HF and some even more since the prior jackstand recall. Not here to debate that - it is what it is and I don't think anyone is changing their minds. But the fact is, the HF version is NICE. It has a very nice powdercoat finish on top of evenly put together legs with nice looking welds. The post is also powdercoated and the rubber top seems like it is going to be very durable. They came without any scratches or scuffs or damage. The quality of their upper tier brands is getting better. I'm impressed.



But what about the axle tube post that Esco offers that I also wanted. With the help of another member here, I took measurements of both products and the dimensions were identical. So I bit the bullet and ordered the Esco axle tube posts. And the Harbor FrEsco was born.



The fit is perfect, the Esco posts seem very nice, and I am very happy with the setup. Both Esco and HF are made in Taiwan I believe for anyone wondering about COO.

If your brain didn't explode and you are still reading, here is the cost breakdown:

HF Jackstands $85 a pair - but wait until you have a 25% coupon makes them $63.75 a pair or $31.88 each (+ tax if applicable).

Esco Axle Tube Posts $39.25 a piece! Ouch! Plus shipping! The only place I could find to order them was Pelican Parts. I understand they were recently $20 but suffered a price increase and I did not see them go on sale throughout the holidays - so I think that's the best you can do.

Total for the H-FrEsco jackstand setup with both posts is $71.13 each, plus tax and shipping. Call it $85 each. I really don't think you can beat that. The equivalent Esco setup with both posts is more - some places at least 50% more. And you are still getting the questionable quality.

I look forward to trying these and am sure I will enjoy them for many years.

 

[Hakeem]

I have those HF jackstands and too am quite pleased with them. Thanks for sharing your discovery on here but I must ask - What’s the advantage of jacking a vehicle up by the axles?

 

[KSJeff]

I have those HF jackstands and too am quite pleased with them. Thanks for sharing your discovery on here but I must ask - What’s the advantage of jacking a vehicle up by the axles?

Probably just to get the tires off the ground if you have a tall vehicle or a vehicle with a bunch of suspension drop. Seals/brakes/tires.

 

[Wamsutta]

These might be better. The company says they use robots for the welds.

 

[89MustangGX]

These might be better. The company says they use robots for the welds.

I did see those. But not knowing anything about the company or anyone who owns anything by that company - I was a little leery. Plus the different rating made me think the axle posts may not work, and I didn't want to do the return dance with jackstands and Amazon.

 

[Wamsutta]

Plus the different rating made me think the axle posts may not work,

OK, I'm trying to wrap my brain around that and figure out what that means.

 

[89MustangGX]

OK, I'm trying to wrap my brain around that and figure out what that means.

Brain going faster than fingers.

I meant - with it having a different rating (4t vs 3t), it made me think the design may be different enough that the Esco axle posts may not be compatible. I was able to get measurements of the Esco and knew it was exactly the same as the harbor freight, but not able to see the Bestop (?) before buying to verify.

 

[Wamsutta]

I was able to get measurements of the Esco and knew it was exactly the same as the harbor freight, but not able to see the Bestop (?) before buying to verify.

They're saying 13.4" minimum height plus 19.9" max. LINK

 

[89MustangGX]

They're saying 13.4" minimum height plus 19.9" max. LINK

I needed measurements of the diameter of the post, post hole, holes, hole spacing, etc...

 

[89MustangGX]

They're saying 13.4" minimum height plus 19.9" max. LINK

Just checked the link - I hadn't seen the detachable head setup before. I do like that the other head stores onboard, but then again not sure how secure it ends up being when mounted and held on with a screw-in pin it appears. Looks like it might have been slightly cheaper -- really close to the same price. Still no idea on quality in reality, but they do look nice in the pics. Thanks for sending that. If I had seen it before I might have given it a shot, but still happy with my setup.

 

[Aileron]

Not trying to knock the stands but looking at the attached pics then looking also at the amazon link, Do the welds look a little cold on the HF stands? Looks like they may have lacked penatration but I am only looking at pics. The amazon stand weld looks like the puddle layed into the steel a bit more. The weld on the right foot is what caught my eye.

 

[Wamsutta]

Just checked the link - I hadn't seen the detachable head setup before. I do like that the other head stores onboard, but then again not sure how secure it ends up being when mounted and held on with a screw-in pin it appears. Looks like it might have been slightly cheaper -- really close to the same price. Still no idea on quality in reality, but they do look nice in the pics. Thanks for sending that. If I had seen it before I might have given it a shot, but still happy with my setup.

Your set up is better. Forget what I said and erase all the images from your memory. Don't have dreams about Bestool jack stands either.

 

[VolvoRyan]

it seems for a while now they just get poor quality control reviews.

These Esco reviews seem to be from people that look more at tools than use them. I have 4 Escos from 2017-ish.... and 4 from a year or two ago. That's eight total. They are fine. No faults whatsoever. Only difference I see is different decals. I was able to get 4 saddle posts from Pelican Parts right before the prices on them skyrocketed. I paid under $20/each for them.

The HF ones look like they're probably fine.

-Ryan

 

[M635_Guy]

These Esco reviews seem to be from people that look more at tools than use them. I have 4 Escos from 2017-ish.... and 4 from a year or two ago. That's eight total. They are fine. No faults whatsoever. Only difference I see is different decals. I was able to get 4 saddle posts from Pelican Parts right before the prices on them skyrocketed. I paid under $20/each for them.

I have a set of Escos and a set of the Daytonas. My Escos are... OK, but have seen plenty enough slaggy welds and rust that is sometimes out of the box to say they deserve the spotty QC rep they got.

My HF set has much tidier welds, better and more consistent coating and the pads stay on the post.

I wouldn't steer anyone away from Escos, but they should be better-executed for the money they charge.

The HF ones look like they're probably fine.

They are

 

[89MustangGX]

Not trying to knock the stands but looking at the attached pics then looking also at the amazon link, Do the welds look a little cold on the HF stands? Looks like they may have lacked penatration but I am only looking at pics. The amazon stand weld looks like the puddle layed into the steel a bit more. The weld on the right foot is what caught my eye.

Appreciate your expertise. I'm not a welder, so I can't say for sure one way or another. But they look smooth and even to me, which is better than I saw in some pictures of some of the other stands that had gaps and pits and just didn't look good. Anything more than that and I'm at a loss as to good, better, best welds.

 

[cgrutt]

They look very nice to me. Quick question about the pads on bottom of feet. I have the four leg pyramid style jackstands but feet sink into (and damage) asphalt driveway so I put them on a piece of p/t 2x10 which adds another 1-1/2" to height of stand. It's fine for my truck but a bit much for my wife's and son's European vehicles. Do you think those feet would support load on (sometimes hot) asphalt? I have to check them out next time at HF.

 

[Hakeem]

They look very nice to me. Quick question about the pads on bottom of feet. I have the four leg pyramid style jackstands but feet sink into (and damage) asphalt driveway so I put them on a piece of p/t 2x10 which adds another 1-1/2" to height of stand. It's fine for my truck but a bit much for my wife's and son's European vehicles. Do you think those feet would support load on (sometimes hot) asphalt? I have to check them out next time at HF.

They are about 2” in diameter and there are only 3 pads to distribute the load. I think they would still sink in a bit.

Consider using a small square of plywood, 3/8”-1/2” thickness ought to do it. Hell, even 1/4” might work. I use 3/8” with my Jack stands all the time and don’t see any marks left behind.

 

[89MustangGX]

They are about 2” in diameter and there are only 3 pads to distribute the load. I think they would still sink in a bit.

Consider using a small square of plywood, 3/8”-1/2” thickness ought to do it. Hell, even 1/4” might work. I use 3/8” with my Jack stands all the time and don’t see any marks left behind.

Agreed plywood is a safe bet.

Not entirely sure if it's needed, but definitely would do the job.

Typical jackstands are basically non-existent with distributing weight and cut into soft asphalt easily. Consider a typical jack might have a couple wheels that provide say 1" of contact (2 inches total?). Depending on how soft the asphalt is, they might sink. But these jackstands, even with only a 2" pad, each pad is going to be over 3 square inches of contact (Pi x R squared), and the 3 pads will distribute evenly, so over 9 square inches of contact - almost 5x more than a typical jack! Definitely a lot more weight distribution. So I say the plywood may not even be needed with these.

 

[Steve_P]

I have posted this before in a similar thread about the Escos: I have a set of them and while the welds would certainly fail an AWS visual inspection, they probably also only need 10% of the weld length to hold double the rated capacity; and probably >50% of the overall welds are visually acceptable. The welds on mine aren't impressive, but not horrible for what they are - jackstands. This isn't making excuses but is unfortunately just reality with assy line manual welding.

While one set of HF might be better than one set of Esco, the overall weld quality for one brand being superior to the other can't be judged from a sample size that isn't in the dozens. I don't think you're making that assumption, but just pointing it out. And of course when you buy from the HF store you're saving $$ in UPS shipping to your house vs pallet shipping of goods to the HF store. Same like I can buy a 5 lb bag of potatoes shipped 2000 miles for less than it would cost me to ship one single potato 150 miles.

 

[dscheidt]

Probably just to get the tires off the ground if you have a tall vehicle or a vehicle with a bunch of suspension drop. Seals/brakes/tires.

it's also sometimes possible to get it lower to the ground, by removing the wheels, and putting on low stands. That's handy for working on the top of the engine in a truck. More practical on a lift.