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I need some decent jackstands.

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evintho

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Apr 6, 2006
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Santa Rosa, CA.
They don't need to be 1/2" steel, I just need something that'll work. I just bought some 3-ton Pittsburg HF stands.............OMG! Looks like they're made with 14ga sheetmetal and they won't even sit flat on the concrete! They wobble from side to side! I don't think so!
I looked at these. That's about as much coin as I want to throw at stands right now. They have to be better than the HF junk!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Ton-Jack-...y-Garage-Floor-Automotive-Set-2-/151851063721
 
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atthebeach

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You should go to a bricks and mortar store so you can see if they sit flat, are constructed with flimsy materials, or have shoddy looking welds. I have 4 ton Powerbuilt jack stands from O'Reilly to support my F-150 and Mustang....... no problems.
 
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PoorOwner

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Feb 10, 2007
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CA
Good sale price but my truck sit at 12" and the craftsman at 17" doesn't work for me.

Are there higher ones but without deep v notch so it sits more flat on truck tube body?
Esco comes to mind but it is too expensive
 
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AmishFury

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Jan 22, 2015
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exchange the HF pair you got it's quite likely you just got a bad set... i've been using mine with no problems... those torin jacks are quite possibly made in the same factory on the same lines... just that day they were painting them red

or spend an extra $10 for the craftsman stands someone else linked
 
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lightning02

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Jul 29, 2013
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I have a set of the HF 6 or 12tons (can't remember what they say. Bought them like 3 years ago) they are the gray colored ones. Not orange. And they are nice and heavy. Look like other Iv used and seen that where in that price range.
 
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ovrrdrive

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Sep 13, 2015
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Central Florida
I also have the HF 6 ton stands. I'd put anything you can drive without a special license on them with no worries... They're really beefy.
 
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kcaz507

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Jul 6, 2011
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160
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Southern Indiana
I have the US Jack 6-ton stands and they are much nicer than any of the store brands I have used in the past. I dont know the current pricing but I got mine from jack-x-change and it was a bit cheaper than directly from US Jack at the time.
 
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GettinJunkDone

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Oct 23, 2015
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South Jersey
I've been using the 3 ton jack stands from Harbor Freight too without any worries. I liked them so much that I grabbed a second set when I had a coupon.

For me, they were a good investment.
 
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seagullplayer

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Sep 4, 2013
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Southern Indiana
I have two sets of the HF stands. They are gray and solid as a rock, not sure what tonnage they where rated at.

I am not working on dump trucks, but I trust them for anything I can get in my garage.

As someone mentioned, they are kind of "high profile".
 
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Spudland_Dave

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evintho said:
They don't need to be 1/2" steel
Click to expand...


That's where you and I differ.. If my life depends on it, I'd be shopping for a set fabricated from 5/8" or 3/4" Steel...:lol_hitti

In all seriousness though, I've got a set of the CMan Pro 4 ton stands...they are OK, I feel fine using them with our Accord, but the next set I get I'd like to get some super duty ones good enough for a Class 8 truck for everyday use...that's just me. Its one of those cases where Overkill in a jackstand is better then the opposite.
I think my next set will be something like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610843_200610843
 
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evintho

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Santa Rosa, CA.
I went with some of the recommendations here and ordered 4 of the Craftsman 4-ton stands. I like the feet, that and lots of good reviews sold me. $65 and free shipping to my door. Only problem is I have to wait a week to get 'em! I think they'll be fine.
Thanks GJ brethren for the recommendations!
 
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mjoekingz28

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Jun 20, 2011
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Mississippi
Spudland_Dave said:
That's where you and I differ.. If my life depends on it, I'd be shopping for a set fabricated from 5/8" or 3/4" Steel...:lol_hitti

In all seriousness though, I've got a set of the CMan Pro 4 ton stands...they are OK, I feel fine using them with our Accord, but the next set I get I'd like to get some super duty ones good enough for a Class 8 truck for everyday use...that's just me. Its one of those cases where Overkill in a jackstand is better then the opposite.
I think my next set will be something like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610843_200610843
Click to expand...

True SD, like in 110V electricity. Your twenty amp receptacle should probably last better with a 2A load versus running a 15A air compressor on it day in day out. So, maybe a 4 ton set holding one ton is better. But lets not forget under utilizing something. Like taking a racecar and lugging it and never running it out. Or like I think it was here on GJ that someone finally used a 9mm socket after 20 years and it snapped because it was under utilized.


Maybe it is difficult to gauge whether you would be better driving a slow car fast or driving a fast car slow....
 
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78C-10

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Has anyone read the reviews of the Hein Warner stands? Some are saying the stand is made overseas and the yellow support is made in the USA. They are not 100% made in the USA. Does anyone know where there are any 100% made in the USA stands?
 
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mjoekingz28

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Mississippi
I believe ShinFu owns HW, so that is one thing.

I read on the six ton stands I think they were assembled here in the USA, so that kind of implies they were made overseas. But some of China seems to be our friends/allies and it appears most of Taiwan is, or at least it seems they are providing quality materials and goods.
 
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stonesfan68

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Apr 19, 2012
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Houston, TX
78C-10 said:
Has anyone read the reviews of the Hein Warner stands? Some are saying the stand is made overseas and the yellow support is made in the USA. They are not 100% made in the USA. Does anyone know where there are any 100% made in the USA stands?
Click to expand...


US Jack

usjack.com


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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Boston
mjoekingz28 said:
Also, Spudland Dave you have to ask yourself do you trust a pin or a pawl more!
Click to expand...

Few problems with pins.

Can be knocked out with a load on them, extremely rare but its a possibility.
Depending on the brand they don't have as many height adjustments.
They have to be set with both hands under the vehicle. Less body parts under there the better while the jack is taking the load.
All the weight is on two small areas of that pin.

Pawls basically solve all of this. The arm cant move while a load is on them. Its literally impossible. More height adjustments. You can place the stand and lift the arm with only 1 hand. Load is spread over a wider area, especially on dual pawl versions.


As far as advocating HF stands, they're one of the only brands that have numerous failures and extreme QC issues across the web. Easy to find. Out of how many they've sold im sure its a miniscule amount but ask yourself, is your life worth it? Quality costs money, simple as that and HF cuts corners left right and center to bring products to the US at rock bottom prices. I know my life is worth it. I cheaped out a bit on my floor jack, I did not cheap out on the stands.
 
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pi_guy

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Daves69 said:
Northern Tool has Hein Warner Made in USA stands for $64.99
Click to expand...

Good stands have had a pair for years. Just loaned them to a fellow GJ who had a HF stand fail under use.
The only thing the HF stands are good for is holding string to make a square to perform an alignment.
 
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jrobb316

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May 18, 2014
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Location
WI
No reason not to buy domestic here. I have a set of the HW 3 and 6 tons. Very good stands. I also plan on getting a 3 and 6 Ton US jack set, I've heard they usually have a sale around thanksgiving. Surf CL. I picked up a nice set of OTC USA 10 ton stands for like $75. Those are some big boys and you won't feel unsafe under those!
 
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winlinmac

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Aug 17, 2015
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Don't want to make it sound controversial, but the Harbor Freight Low Profile Jack 3-Ton is a good choice, also make sure to purchase a hockey puck from Amazon while you're at it.

The Craftsman 4-Ton is also on sale, another option to consider.
 
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cgv69

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Jan 11, 2012
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Boone Co., KY
From what I've seen, the HW stands aren't what they use to be. They are only "assembled" in the US now and the weld work is pretty sloppy but maybe if you have a local source to buy them and can check them out in person before buying then they may be worth it?

All of the other US made options that I am aware of are much more expensive and harder to justify for the occasional weekend warrior.

I really like stands with welded on "feet". The Craftsman Pro 4-ton model that is on sale it a very good deal for the money. For something bigger I'm been satisfied with the ACDelco 6ton stands that OReilly's sells but again, check them out in person (or be close enough to exchange them if there are issues) because the craftsmanship is not consistent.
 
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Spudland_Dave

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Maine
mjoekingz28 said:
Also, Spudland Dave you have to ask yourself do you trust a pin or a pawl more!
Click to expand...

I guess I trust pins more...for a simple reasoning... If you look at virtually ever stand MFG...at some point in the tonnage range, they ALL switch to pins. So my quick n dirty thought process is, if Pins are the mode of choice on the HD ones, must be a reason...


Skin said:
Pawls basically solve all of this. The arm cant move while a load is on them. Its literally impossible. More height adjustments. You can place the stand and lift the arm with only 1 hand. Load is spread over a wider area, especially on dual pawl versions.
Click to expand...

Your analysis makes sense.. MY opinion of the pawl style would think that the fail point would be the side of the pawl "housing" tearing out, which I would think would be much easier to do then shearing whatever size pin is used on a given pin type. On the Pawl style, your really at the mercy of the fabrication size & style of the stand housing.
 
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LB-1911

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Northwestern Il.
christopher7390 said:
so what did you end up getttinnngggggg =p
Click to expand...

:see:
10-31-2015
evintho said:
I went with some of the recommendations here and ordered 4 of the Craftsman 4-ton stands.

I like the feet, that and lots of good reviews sold me. $65 and free shipping to my door.

Only problem is I have to wait a week to get 'em! I think they'll be fine.
Thanks GJ brethren for the recommendations!
Click to expand...
 
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