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Help me pick a floor jack.

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kiatech

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Super Sport

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thesilverone said:
the craftsmans are junk
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+1! I own both a 3 ton and 2 1/4 ton from Craftsman, and while they work, it's nearly impossible to release the 3 ton slowly and they're slow to pump up.

The Arcan from Costco has great reviews here, but it's been discontinued AFAIK and you probably won't be able to find one at Costco.

I haven't heard bad things about the HF jacks, and that is the route I'm looking to go when I decide I've finally had it with my Craftsman.
 
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MonoxieChild

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Feb 15, 2014
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Rockford, IL
I agree that the Craftsman ones are garbage. I blew like $150 on a 4 ton Craftsman jack a few years ago. It lasted about 4 months of heavy daily use before it stopped holding pressure. Brought it to Sears to be told its not covered under there normal warranty.

That was really my breaking point with spending the cash for Craftsmans name/warranty which is just BS, and cut my losses and spend $60 on a 4 ton HF jack. Had it for 3 years now with heavy abuse, and havent had a single issue.
 
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TMcCay

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SW. Oklahoma
Spend a little more and buy the NAPA 3.5 ton jack. It is on sale currently at my dealer now so I don't know if it is everywhere for $199. I bought one 3 years ago and have not dreaded it. Some of the best money I've spent in the shop!
 
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zkling

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TMcCay said:
Spend a little more and buy the NAPA 3.5 ton jack. It is on sale currently at my dealer now so I don't know if it is everywhere for $199. I bought one 3 years ago and have not dreaded it. Some of the best money I've spent in the shop!
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:+1: It goes on sale ~2x a year. A very solid unit. I don't personally own, but use one on a very regular basis. Only thing I wish is that is was a longer, lower body.
 
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K

kiatech

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Here is what I ended up getting.
arcan 3.5T with a set of 3T jackstands that were $11 after SYWR points.
 

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rkflitcraft

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Sep 6, 2008
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Cincinnati, Ohio
I ordered a Milwaukee Model 40 last year but they told me they were having production problems...and the jacks you find @ auto parts stores and big box stores are junk, so I had enough and ordered a CompaC floor jack which cost major $$$, but it will be the absolute last floor jack I will ever buy...they are made in Denmark, it's a 2-ton lift capacity beast with "bogie" wheels up front, made to last forever, very heavy, and very stable under load, the quality is top drawer...and here's the kicker: it's a low profile jack that can lift up to 29" - perfect for my 2007 Ford Mustang GT/CS.. it's exactly what I was looking for!
 
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exmaxima

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Dec 10, 2009
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rkflitcraft said:
a CompaC floor jack which cost major $$$, but it will be the absolute last floor jack I will ever buy...they are made in Denmark, it's a 2-ton lift capacity beast with "bogie" wheels up front, made to last forever, very heavy, and very stable under load, the quality is top drawer...and here's the kicker: it's a low profile jack that can lift up to 29"
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I think that's the Model 90533, and it is GORGEOUS! Those bogie wheels look awesome.

I did the same thing a few years ago and bought "my last jack" from Griot's Garage. No longer sold by them but same as OTC 5200:

http://www.mile-x.com/otc-5200-floor-jack.aspx?gclid=CJGtz8qk9LwCFYZAMgodXxwAeQ

I needed something than would go really low to fit under my BMW, and while it only goes 20" high, it drops down to under 2"-----truly low profile. The Compac only drops to 4.3 inches and won't fit under many import cars, especially with sport suspensions---but 29" lift has no peer!
 
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rkflitcraft

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Yep, the lift height of 29" is really quite amazing, the drop is no problem on the Mustang, she slips right under and grabs right on to the K-member which is fairly far back - no way would any other jack that you would find locally do the same thing from the front of the car - the bogie wheels do look awesome and are quiet - the rubber saddle cover protects metal from metal contact and the square saddle itself is curved up on every corner, not flat like on some designs - all in all the whole jack is unique from any angle...best piece of equipment I've ever purchased for the garage!
 
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JVB

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rkflitcraft

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Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
When I purchased my Sears jack back in the 80's, Sears was still a good place to get a good solid jack that would last for decades...it's no longer the case. I wanted the quality, features, and long lasting dependability that my old jack had and found it w/CompaC. Just make sure you use high quality jack stands (I use four HW 6-tons on all corners, which gives me the safety aspect I'm looking for.) Never, ever go cheap on jack stands - your life may depend on it.
 
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bigsexy1985

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Jun 15, 2013
Messages
25
Location
East tx
You went the right rough with the arcane I've had the same one for bought two years no problems at all and it replaced bought seven floor jacks that all **** the bed through out the years turns out working on diesel trucks and or 4x4 trucks an suv kills them and they would all leak down as fast as you could jack em off lol .I picked my favorite two and one that was loaned to me buy a friend to get fixed at a local hydraulic shop they said ide tye more money in fixing them than buying new so if a buddy brings his diesel to my shop to work on it I tell them to bring there own jack but mine still surviving the rather of my z7-1 lol
 
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bigsexy1985

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Jun 15, 2013
Messages
25
Location
East tx
As far as a thing aluminum ya not for this white boy buddy gave me a set off aluminum jack stands that i thought were so cool cause you guess d it they were light long story short I'm changing the hub on a 4x4 dodge when I heard some posing and looked it was the stand base breaking and the pickup was coming down with both my legs under it luckily the tire was beside me and I slid it under the frame just in time lost a good tire but still have my little pecker attached so you guys using them through em in the scrap pile .
 
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MJD1

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Dec 28, 2014
Messages
605
TMcCay said:
Spend a little more and buy the NAPA 3.5 ton jack. It is on sale currently at my dealer now so I don't know if it is everywhere for $199. I bought one 3 years ago and have not dreaded it. Some of the best money I've spent in the shop!
Click to expand...

I have one as well, very good jack for the money. Lifts fast and very controllable when lowering.
 
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Shredwagon

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Jul 9, 2010
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Location
ALBERTA
HF yellow 3 ton. The Snap-on clone. I use it daily on lifted 4x4's and it hasn't let me down in 10 months. It's the perfect size and lift range for general work on cars and trucks. If it broke I would buy another one. Unless the Snap-on came down in price.
 
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