Lightweight, Portable Floor Jack

[Digital Ranger]

Hi Folks,

I am revamping my roadside tools as much driving on the horizon. Need a jack and trying to gauge alternatives to a scissor style if feasible. 1.5-2 ton is all that it would have to do and the lighter the better. But also if there is a specific aftermarket scissor folks have found solid please chime in.

Curious for any ideas or recommendations from folks. Thank you very much in advance and Happy Memorial Day!

 

[HCRCnow]

Take a look. New item and style.
Sunex 66175FASJ

 

[one9gt]

Can't beat the size and lift capacity of a bottle jack especially if it's just gonna sit in your trunk 95% of its lifetime

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[gdocktor3]

I bought a cheap Husky jack from HD for like $25 because the carrying case was busted. I've used it on lawn mowers, trailers and a diesel f250. I've been very impressed with it. It's this little guy https://www.walmart.com/ip/Husky-Hy...1268&wl11=online&wl12=963965503&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[TURNA]

The $60.00 one with coupon from HF is small and light.

I just bought one about 3 months ago.

Getting tired of dragging out the 3 ton for every little thing.

So far it works great with no issues.

But One9qt is right a bottle jack would be the smallest and lightest probably the strongest too.

 

[Ditch]

Hi Folks,

I am revamping my roadside tools as much driving on the horizon. Need a jack and trying to gauge alternatives to a scissor style if feasible. 1.5-2 ton is all that it would have to do and the lighter the better. But also if there is a specific aftermarket scissor folks have found solid please chime in.

Curious for any ideas or recommendations from folks. Thank you very much in advance and Happy Memorial Day!

go to pick and pull and get an aluminum jack from a mercedes
you will thank me

 

[Cope]

The $60.00 one with coupon from HF is small and light.

I just bought one about 3 months ago.

Getting tired of dragging out the 3 ton for every little thing.

So far it works great with no issues.

But One9qt is right a bottle jack would be the smallest and lightest probably the strongest too.

I agree on the HF jack, but I don't like bottle jacks for automotive work; they're not as stable. This may be a non-issue in the driveway or grocery store parking lot, but if you need it on the side of the road stability can be the difference between fixing a flay or having your jack underneath a car that's now down on the ground.

 

[TURNA]

If you ever used one of these.....a bottle jack is definitely more stable.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ I'm old . . . I remember those !!

Hell some bumpers had notches for those bumper jacks to directly connect. Others had general "hook" at bottom to just lift up on bumper.

Could you imagine using bumper jack like that on today's cars with "bumper cover" . ha, ha !!

I learned back then . . . to ALWAYS . . . repeat ALWAYS . . put in some sort of "Safety Fall" like wood blocks, jack stands, extra wheel, or WhatEver to handle WHEN it would fall . . because yes those bumper jacks were notorious for falling !!

 

[disston]

Another one of those icons of the driving world that they removed without asking anybody. Like the wing window bumper jacks have gone to who knows where and will never return I think. However, unlike the wing window it was probably a good move. They were dangerous. I never got hurt but have had one tip over causing an embarrassing situation at the least. I guess the only advantage over the scissors jack was the BJ was faster (I think it was faster?). To those that do not know the scissors jack is also dangerous if improperly used but it is a lot harder to do this with a SJ than a BJ.

Sounds like the OP is maybe entering the world of roadside service. I have never done that formally however I have done a lot of impromptu roadside service over the years and having a real floor jack would be a must for this kind of work. Let us know what you decide on after your researches. I have an Aluminum HF but it is too heavy in my opinion for constant use on the road/carrying in my truck. I don't have a light weight car but still I don't want that much weight back there.

Back before I was sensitive about this issue, many years ago, I carried my Hein Warner 2.5 ton in the trunk of my 77 Plymouth. I think that contributed to the demise of the rear springs. But all those leaf spring set ups seemed to suffer anyway so maybe it wasn't the jack's fault.

 

[Digital Ranger]

Thanks for the advice all. Much appreciated as I continue the search. To answer a few wondering above, I do most routine maintenance for my two cars and am comfortable around the garage. Will be doing some long distance driving for trips in the near future, but mostly this is about the short term, unexpected challenges that crop up from time to time driving on crummy roads.

To make a long story short, I teach in Cambridge MA and have had it up to HERE with the potholes and roads on the way in and out. A couple flats last year, and a slow leaker I came back to in the garage were brutal for making meetings or just getting back without a headache. Decided to revamp the tools I have in the trunk and this is one of those key elements. SJ is OK but if a lighter floor jack is to be had, as good excuse as any to have something better

 

[Cope]

Thanks for the advice all. Much appreciated as I continue the search. To answer a few wondering above, I do most routine maintenance for my two cars and am comfortable around the garage. Will be doing some long distance driving for trips in the near future, but mostly this is about the short term, unexpected challenges that crop up from time to time driving on crummy roads.

To make a long story short, I teach in Cambridge MA and have had it up to HERE with the potholes and roads on the way in and out. A couple flats last year, and a slow leaker I came back to in the garage were brutal for making meetings or just getting back without a headache. Decided to revamp the tools I have in the trunk and this is one of those key elements. SJ is OK but if a lighter floor jack is to be had, as good excuse as any to have something better

Son-in-law made a wooden tray to store his HF 1 1/2 ton jack. I'll get him to send me a picture of it. Could be modified to make a spot for a torque wrench.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 for idea of Break-over bar with 19mm socket or what ever is appropriate for your vehicle.

I found auction with 1/2" drive SnapOn breakover bars so I bought 3 !! Now each vehicle has dedicated breakover bar with sockets. I absolutely hate those tire tools you get with vehicle.

Also like bottle jacks over scissor jacks so I carry bottle jack with some blocks of wood. I've never had to use scissor jack during road repairs, so the SJ is still bolted in it's OEM position from the factory.

 

[speed bump]

I like those little 2 ton floor jacks that come in cases for smaller vehicles. After picking up my diesel a time or 3 mine is shot though, so buy a bigger one if you have a truck.

 

[Digital Ranger]

Son-in-law made a wooden tray to store his HF 1 1/2 ton jack. I'll get him to send me a picture of it. Could be modified to make a spot for a torque wrench.

This sounds amazing. Please post a picture when you can! Was pondering something similar.

 

[disston]

When I do need to transport my floor jack somewhere I usually put it on the floor in the rear seat area. Easy enough to get in and out but I do have a 4 door and a complete rubber mat covering the floor. If you have carpet this option may depend on how nice you want the carpet to stay.

 

[Cope]

This sounds amazing. Please post a picture when you can! Was pondering something similar.

Daughter is coming over tonight. I'll snap one for you.

 

[Cope]

This sounds amazing. Please post a picture when you can! Was pondering something similar.

This is my daughter's jack. My son-in-law made it out of regular pine, nothing fancy. We're going to make one for me that will also hold a Tekton 150 foot pound torque wrench. It's the same length as the jack.

 

[Finky198]

I keep that Same jack in my Jeep between my spare tire and the rear seat... I've used it quite a few times. It's been Perfect for its intended purpose... and much safer then the other styles...

I keep the handles along with all my long tools ( pry and breaker bars) in a 12" x3' piece of pvc I painted black and so far it seems to keep things in their place...

 

[Digital Ranger]

This is my daughter's jack. My son-in-law made it out of regular pine, nothing fancy. We're going to make one for me that will also hold a Tekton 150 foot pound torque wrench. It's the same length as the jack.

Fantastic. Great idea, nice look, and quite efficient! Thank you to you and your family for sharing.

 

[deberly12]

What kind of vehicle do you drive...that makes a big difference. In my truck I wouldn't trade my $12 hf 4 ton bottle jack for the world. Set it on a board and it is plenty stable for any roadside repair. In my VW Jetta i use the factory. It is one of those single leg ones. It sort of hooks into the unibody and works well. Besides I wouldn't be able to get a bottle under the car. I have the big 4 ton HF floor jack at home and is is far better than any other floor jack I have ever used but it definitely isn't portable lol. Like 115 pounds and ...well huge... I don't know how the aluminum ones are.

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[Todd.Brock]

I just bought the 1.5 ton HF aluminum jack. I like it a lot!! Especially for 58 bucks

 

[deberly12]

I know this thread already had a funeral but I found this and thought it was pretty cool. A little pricey and low capacity but cool idea.

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[Digital Ranger]

I know this thread already had a funeral but I found this and thought it was pretty cool. A little pricey and low capacity but cool idea.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

Very cool. Thanks for the heads up on this and your response. It's a small city car but the potholes are beyond the pale. On the plus side, the seats in the back are down 24/7 and only ever have one passenger - so it's an efficient little machine that holds most stuff I use on a weekly basis but can also park in sports the other ride could not. Then there's the 4Runner for the bigger things