Reliable/Economical Floor Jack

[T1704]

I'm in the market for a new floor jack and I've read all of the posts I can find on floor jacks. I'm looking for something that will be used for oil changes, brakes, changing tires, etc., on an occasional basis. We own a truck and SUV, so I'd like something with a decent lifting range. I'd also like to spend $200 or less.

Based on what I gathered from this site, the following appear to be the most recommended:

Heines Warner (I can't afford this one), OTC, Norco and AC Hydraulics (Which I understand you can't get anymore)

So, here's my question. Based on all of the above, what brand would you recommend and what size? (I was thinking a 3 Ton)

Thanks, Travis

 

[Danglerb]

Find a good jack used.

I've also heard good things about ranger jacks.

Buy a cheap jack, get the extended warranty and use it.

 

[sunshineFC3s]

The US General from HF is a great jack. It may be the best thing they sell there.
-a

 

[krusty the clown]

i have a sunex 3.5 ton i caught on sale for less than $200. works great!

 

[5wndwcpe]

I've had Craftsman floor jacks for years and couldn't kill them. In fact, I had "lent" one to a friend who uses it on his dump trucks. Not mason dumps mind you, I'm talking tri-axles. This poor jack looks like it's been to hell and back but it keeps on working.

 

[milkovich]

Hein-Werner is a shop quality jack made in the U$A

Omega is a good jack that's industrial quality. If I can afford it, I'd like to buy one of their low profile jacks.

 

[Danglerb]

Sears has a number of "problem" jacks recently and not the cheap ones, but the $150 to $200 range.

 

[ImportTuner]

Hein-Werner is a shop quality jack made in the U$A

Omega is a good jack that's industrial quality. If I can afford it, I'd like to buy one of their low profile jacks.

The low profile Omega's come from Taiwan ...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

NAPA runs a sale about once a year. A 3.5 ton floor jack and two jackstands packaged together, Its a very good jack and the stands are quite well made also, heavy steel compared to the cheap ones. Whole package is $199. Look for it in the stores or ask the sales people. My local NAPA had several of them stacked up last time I was in there. Sure they are China made, but they really are good quality, I've had mine for three or four years now and have been impressed.

Jack/stands combo pack is p/n 8996420

Charles

 

[MAD]

I bought a Larin 3 ton model # HNY-6000 in 1995 and it is still going strong. I do not know if these are good jacks or I am just lucky but I have used the heck out of this jack with no problems.

link-
http://www.amazon.com/Larin-HNY-6000-Floor-Jack-Foot/dp/B00062YUXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1197067478&sr=8-1

 

[timgr]

From this page, it seems that the Hein-Warner jacks were out of production for a while, but they are being made now. http://www.hyjacks.com/H2.HTM There's some interesting background info there. I can buy the Norco Jacks locally from a garage supply... it seems like $200 is about the entry price for something that's a cut above what's marketed to the average consumer.

 

[Uncle Buck]

NAPA runs a sale about once a year. A 3.5 ton floor jack and two jackstands packaged together, Its a very good jack and the stands are quite well made also, heavy steel compared to the cheap ones. Whole package is $199. Look for it in the stores or ask the sales people. My local NAPA had several of them stacked up last time I was in there. Sure they are China made, but they really are good quality, I've had mine for three or four years now and have been impressed.

Jack/stands combo pack is p/n 8996420

Charles

From this page, it seems that the Hein-Warner jacks were out of production for a while, but they are being made now. http://www.hyjacks.com/H2.HTM There's some interesting background info there. I can buy the Norco Jacks locally from a garage supply... it seems like $200 is about the entry price for something that's a cut above what's marketed to the average consumer.

A buddy of mine bought the set Charles speaks of, I have seen and had occasion to use this jack; as Charles said it is made in China but it is indeed a quality product.

timgr also brings a very valid point to the table. The Norco jack line is of foreign decent I do believe but it is supposed to be a quality product.

If I were spending my dollars I would likely get the jack Charles mentioned though.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Sears has a number of "problem" jacks recently and not the cheap ones, but the $150 to $200 range.

The one's I have are at least ten years old and quite heavy. Oddly enough, the older they get, the heavier they get too.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The one's I have are at least ten years old and quite heavy. Oddly enough, the older they get, the heavier they get too.

Ain't that the Damned truth; use one of those old long frame Walkers from the 1950's you will get your workout!

 

[Danglerb]

Thats what makes it tough to choose, big old last forever if you rebuild it jack that weighs 145 lbs, or new expensive who knows how long it will last aluminum that weighs 45 lbs.

I'm looking at a used Lincoln 2 ton tomorrow for $100 (Blackhawk sells it now as an import model for about $200 I think) and just getting it in and out of the car ONCE I'm not sure if I want something that heavy.

 

[eschoendorff]

NAPA runs a sale about once a year. A 3.5 ton floor jack and two jackstands packaged together, Its a very good jack and the stands are quite well made also, heavy steel compared to the cheap ones. Whole package is $199. Look for it in the stores or ask the sales people. My local NAPA had several of them stacked up last time I was in there. Sure they are China made, but they really are good quality, I've had mine for three or four years now and have been impressed.

Jack/stands combo pack is p/n 8996420

Charles

They have taht setup in my local NAPA store and I am tempted by it every time I am in there.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Thats what makes it tough to choose, big old last forever if you rebuild it jack that weighs 145 lbs, or new expensive who knows how long it will last aluminum that weighs 45 lbs.

I'm looking at a used Lincoln 2 ton tomorrow for $100 (Blackhawk sells it now as an import model for about $200 I think) and just getting it in and out of the car ONCE I'm not sure if I want something that heavy.

Buy the Lincoln, trust me, if it isn't shot down the road you will be glad you did! Forget about the weight; you should only have to actually lift it once in a blue moon anyway!

 

[GDA]

Get an AC Hydraulic and be done with it. I have two and they are very, very high build quality. You will be glad you did every time you use it.

 

[ImportTuner]

Get an AC Hydraulic and be done with it. I have two and they are very, very high build quality. You will be glad you did every time you use it.

Excellent jack and very high priced; wish I could afford to buy two ...

 

[Danglerb]

Seems odd you can get a decent basic jack for $29 and $299, but not a whole lot in the middle.

 

[T1704]

You guys are great, I appreciate the insight.

Travis

 

[T1704]

I was initially looking at the Torin Big Red 3.5T from Norhterntool.com (Item# 144885) but I was talked out of it after reading some of the other posts on this site. If anyone has contrary comments, let me know.

Also, when deciding on lifting weight, what's the rule of thumb? Is it, 50% of vehicle weight? So, if the truck weighs 3T, you would want 1.5T minimum?

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

I've got a sears craftsman professional 4 ton low profile high lift with lift assist. The first one, I took it out of the box, put in the handle, cranked it up, and boom, it broke. Took it back and exchanged it, the salesman said that they rarely have problems with this jack. Th e new one works extremely well, I lifted our old pontiac transport 20 inches in the air with it.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I was initially looking at the Torin Big Red 3.5T from Norhterntool.com (Item# 144885) but I was talked out of it after reading some of the other posts on this site. If anyone has contrary comments, let me know.

Also, when deciding on lifting weight, what's the rule of thumb? Is it, 50% of vehicle weight? So, if the truck weighs 3T, you would want 1.5T minimum?

I would not buy Torin anything, but that is just me.

 

[spriso]

I've got a sears craftsman professional 4 ton low profile high lift with lift assist. The first one, I took it out of the box, put in the handle, cranked it up, and boom, it broke

I had the exact same thing happen to me!

I bought one, took it home, and I could not get it to jack anything! It was acting like an air bleed problem, and no matter how we tried to bleed the jack, it would not raise with any weight on it.

I took it back (Sears is 20 miles away from me), and got a replacement with no charge-- took this one home and the exact same thing happened!

Now, I was really getting annoyed, and was a little concerned that maybe I was the one who could not figure out how to bleed the air out of the system-- even though I have had several hydraulic jacks over the years.

So I took the jack back AGAIN. The sales person admitted that they have had lots of these jacks returned in the last few months. I told them that I would give them one last chance, and if they could open the box, bleed the hydraulic system for me and prove that the jack worked, I would buy it.

So, out to the parking lot we go, we open the box, we try to bleed the system, but no luck-- the jack won't lift with any weight on it at all!

Then the service rep (who came out to show us how it was done) snapped the U-joint trying to close the valve!!! At that point I decided to opt for my money back and bought a NAPA jack, and have never been happier!

Stay away from the Craftsman Jacks!

Hope that helps,

Michael

 

[Danglerb]

One bad container of jacks doesn't spoil the whole cargo ship.

Sears sells about two dozen different jack models, and you can read the customer reviews or look at the rating right on the Sears web page. Some ****, and some seem fine.

Costco I think sells Larin jacks and I think Costco still has the best return policy, but I don't know for sure how it applies to jacks.

In a couple months when spring cleaning hits, Craigslist and the pennysaver will be full of good old jacks cheap. If I needed one now, I would buy according to the customer satisfaction rating and return policy of the store, if I couldn't find a better used jack cheap.

 

[T1704]

Thanks everyone!