Help me Choose my Floor Jacks?

[mgold]

Hey Everyone,

Currently I have a 2-Ton Torin trolley jack. I am considering getting 2 Floor Jacks for my garage, the HF 1.5-Ton Aluminum and the Arcan 3.5-Ton.

I think the Aluminum jack will be useful since it is easily to move around. However it only goes up to 14 inches, and while you can use blocks of woods it would be useful to have something that goes higher. I can use the Arcan on a wide variety of vehicles and it will last for years to come.

Thoughts, suggestions, or opinions?

 

[AdamsAutoAdvice]

If you have a Costco membership I would not hesitate to get the Arcan. From all the positive comments on here and other forums it seems like you can't go wrong with it.

 

[JLee1469]

I have both. The HF is very light so its nice to take to a friends house to wrench. Arcan is significantly heavier but also takes less effort to jack up. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either. Only issues I have is the HF is beginning to squeak and the wheels easily rust on both jacks.

 

[mgold]

I would prefer a 2-Ton or 3-Ton aluminum jack, but that is not in the budget right now. I will settle for the 1.5-Ton HF. The Arcan is too hard to resist!

 

[SARG]

I once bought a HF jack for the garage. It was the larger one for trucks and I recall I used it once & it leaked all over. I bought a rebuild kit but never installed it ...... preferring to get rid of it at a barn sale we had.

I lost money but learned a lesson. I went to Napa when they had a sale and got a reliable unit I'm still using today.

 

[1983Camperspecial]

I have one of the new grey HF 2 ton quick rise jacks, Its a stout piece and if you play your cars right you can get em for under 60 bucks. It does sqeek alot when raising my 3/4 ton chevy so If you can find em in stock get the 3 ton model. Damn sure beats the crappy craftsman aluminum jack I have had for the past 6 years,that thing leaked before I even got it out of the box.

 

[Mmfh]

If you want a jack you will use for ever and not think about, get the Arcan from Costco.

I have a couple of the HF jacks and they are basically junk. Heavy as hell as they are the 3 ton models. But still junk.

I bought the 3.5 Arcan from Costco, I don't even think about what its going to do, squeak, leak or anything else. I know its going to work.

Besides, it goes lower and also higher than the HF jacks and with little effort compared to most jacks.

Best money I've ever spent on anything tool related.

Mm

 

[PsRumors]

I would find an older Ausco, Walker or something along those lines. They can be had realitively inexpensively and even if they need rebuilt are excellent jacks.

 

[JCQuick]

I don't see these arcans on costco web site. is there a trick? or should I just stop by and see if they have any

 

[mgold]

I don't see these arcans on costco web site. is there a trick? or should I just stop by and see if they have any

Like a lot of products at Costco, its not listed on the website, but they do sell it. I would call and ask first before going over.

 

[JCQuick]

well just so happened that yesterday i needed another floor jack so up to costco i went 3.5 ton arcan $99.00 I like it so far.
I love the board you guys are the best

 

[HotRod68Camaro]

Omega makes a good low profile floorjack

 

[mgold]

I think the Omega jack you are talking about is $300, which is a bit out of my price range.

 

[ket-tek]

I had the 3 ton HF jack for many years and it never leaked, but it was impossible to control letting a car down slow and smooth. I picked up the 3 ton Big Red from Northern Tool which was identical in size and shape, but it is very smooth and easy to control when letting down, and is easy to pump. I gave the HF one to a friend to get it out the way.

Omega makes a good low profile floorjack

I think the Omega jack you are talking about is $300, which is a bit out of my price range.

I have the super low profile Omega. I bought it specifically for lowered cars as most of what I work on it on airbags or coilovers, and it's awesome. Yeah it was a little pricey but it was the longest/lowest jack I could find. No regrets.

But if you don't work on extremely lowered vehicles then you shouldn't need to something like this.

Here it is compared to the typical 3 ton:

 

[Zeke]

Like a lot of products at Costco, its not listed on the website, but they do sell it. I would call and ask first before going over.

Never seen a jack at my local costco.

AFA AL HF jacks, if you have a less than 2000 lb car, the 1.5 T is fine. But on my almost 3000 lb sports car, I use it to raise it only enough to get a real jack under the jacking point.

 

[kgorman]

Get this and never look back
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/Tools/AC-Hydraulic1.htm

 

[Joeydabomb]

I had the 3 ton HF jack for many years and it never leaked, but it was impossible to control letting a car down slow and smooth. I picked up the 3 ton Big Red from Northern Tool which was identical in size and shape, but it is very smooth and easy to control when letting down, and is easy to pump. I gave the HF one to a friend to get it out the way.





I have the super low profile Omega. I bought it specifically for lowered cars as most of what I work on it on airbags or coilovers, and it's awesome. Yeah it was a little pricey but it was the longest/lowest jack I could find. No regrets.

But if you don't work on extremely lowered vehicles then you shouldn't need to something like this.

Here it is compared to the typical 3 ton:

Now that is a low profile jack, never seen that one that short.

 

[mgold]

I Would!

Get this and never look back
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/Tools/AC-Hydraulic1.htm

I would if I could!

 

[jamesemery728]

Picked up an Arcan XL325R at Costco last week. The 3.5 ton is now rated 3.25 tons now. I called Arcan to see why the change was made and they told me that they have not changed anything on the jack but the jack rating police made them change it from 3.5 to 3-1/4 tons. You can read my post on here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125604

 

[j-guenth]

Walker or Napa 2 ton Jack

Had both and also 4 at work.

 

[JCQuick]

Picked up an Arcan XL325R at Costco last week. The 3.5 ton is now rated 3.25 tons now. I called Arcan to see why the change was made and they told me that they have not changed anything on the jack but the jack rating police made them change it from 3.5 to 3-1/4 tons. You can read my post on here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125604

I just bought an Xl35 from coctco last week

 

[jamesemery728]

I just bought an Xl35 from coctco last week

There are probably a lot of Costco's that have inventory that was in the stores before the change was made to the XL325. Like I said, the 350 is the same jack as the 325, one is just rated 3-1/2 tons and the other is rated 3-1/4 tons.

 

[manioso]

My preference runs toward old iron, which I've found at flea markets and on Craigslist.

My big jack is a Walker 4ton 93657. Heavy and not at all portable, I use it on my F350 diesel. Original condition.

I also have a Hein-Werner 1.5 ton WS and a Hein-Werner 1.25 ton OS. Handles are removable and they are easily transported. The WS is from the 1960's and is original; the OS is same vintage but has been rebuilt with new seals.

I haven't used him, but there is a guy on Garage Journal, "Hiball" who can provide seals and other parts should you decide to go the route of older American iron.

Finally, the one jack I hope to find on CL is the Milwaukee 40 (4 ton). It's heavy, but still lighter than the Walker, and handle is removable. Love to get one but at $950 new, I've got to keep looking.

 

[AdamsAutoAdvice]

Arcan Jack!

http://www.adamsautoadvice.com/best-floor-jack-ever-arcan-xl35r-from-costco/

 

[billriewe]

I recently bought the 1.5 ton aluminum floor jack from HF. Works great, no squeaking or stability issues. My only complaint is it doesnt lift high enough. Changing out the front wheels ought to take care of that if I could only find some. I am thinking about going with something about 2 1/2"-3 1/2" in diameter with an inner bearing allowing the wheel to speen a little easier.

 

[PeterT]

I've called around to three Costcos in the NW Ohio area and none of them have this jack. They say a new shipment next mth.

 

[Ascinder]

Not a trolley jack, but pure awesome for those who own trucks:
http://http://www.alltradetools.com/catalog/549-640912-3-ton-all-in-one-bottle-jack-jack-stand.html I have two and love them.