Stubby/short bottle jack?

[AJHD]

Does anyone actually own and have used a stubby/short bottle jack? Do you have a recommendation for brand/model?

I'm looking for something to lift a car, so weight should not be an issue, however fully collapsed height definitely is. If I remember correctly, I only have about 6-to-6.5" maximum of space to slip a jack under the pinch weld with the vehicle on solid even ground.

This will be something left in the vehicle and only used to lift one tire off the ground in case of a flat tire. Maybe the occasional "one wheel at a time" brake job. The point is I don't need to get under the vehicle or lift it more than a few inches, nor am I lifting a truck.


Yes, I have a small Daytona 2-ton "racing jack" that weighs about 40lbs. It's a great jack, especially since I live in an apartment and don't have a garage or shop to work in or store equipment. I sold my full sized floor jack when I moved a year ago.

I would also rather use a bottle jack over a scissor jack. And I'd rather store a bottle jack in the trunk over a floor jack.

 

[gizardlizard]

I have two super mini bottle jacks at work. Fully retracted, they are 3 or 4 inches high. When I get to work on Wednesday, I can snap a pic of the model with specs.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Remember the car with a flat tire will be sitting lower. Also you need to lift enough for the suspension to extend.

 

[WWheeler]

I'm a fan of Toyota oem jacks. They are geared bottle jacks (no hydraulic fluid) that go from 8" min to more than 20" max (I think 23" but I've never maxed one out and measured it). I have several of the things I keep around from past 4WDs and 4Runners that did their >300K miles before they went but the jacks remain.

I'm not a fan of trying to carry any sort of hydraulic jack in a vehicle, as they often won't work right after any sort of bouncing around. More than once I've broken mine out to use on friend's Ford super dutys that come oem with a small hydraulic bottle jack that wouldn't work at all when they needed it. If not a Toyota jack then I'd be looking at a 3 ton Scissors jack.

 

[Steve_P]

I'm a fan of Toyota oem jacks. They are geared bottle jacks (no hydraulic fluid) that go from 8" min to more than 20" max (I think 23" but I've never maxed one out and measured it). I have several of the things I keep around from past 4WDs and 4Runners that did their >300K miles before they went but the jacks remain.

I'm not a fan of trying to carry any sort of hydraulic jack in a vehicle, as they often won't work right after any sort of bouncing around. More than once I've broken mine out to use on friend's Ford super dutys that come oem with a small hydraulic bottle jack that wouldn't work at all when they needed it. If not a Toyota jack then I'd be looking at a 3 ton Scissors jack.

Yes, the Toyota truck jacks are good! Unfortunately, I know

 

[AJHD]

Remember the car with a flat tire will be sitting lower. Also you need to lift enough for the suspension to extend.

Indeed. As I said, fully collapsed height is the issue. If there are no low profile options that will do the job or are cost prohibitive, I will look elsewhere for solutions.

 

[mrjaw14]

Something like a Porta power? You can go nuts and get a set, or you can get just the hand pump and whatever size hydraulic ram you want. Some of those rams are tiny! The hand pump might make it a bit too large to permanently fit in a trunk though, but I think you can get them in cases to sit nicely.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I always liked the Honda 1980-1990s Civic low profile scissor jacks with the speed handle. I no longer own a Civic, I still have a jack and use it on occasion.

 

[danielbuck]

I'm a fan of Toyota oem jacks. They are geared bottle jacks (no hydraulic fluid) that go from 8" min to more than 20" max (I think 23" but I've never maxed one out and measured it). I have several of the things I keep around from past 4WDs and 4Runners that did their >300K miles before they went but the jacks remain.

I'm not a fan of trying to carry any sort of hydraulic jack in a vehicle, as they often won't work right after any sort of bouncing around. More than once I've broken mine out to use on friend's Ford super dutys that come oem with a small hydraulic bottle jack that wouldn't work at all when they needed it. If not a Toyota jack then I'd be looking at a 3 ton Scissors jack.

I believe Jeep jacks are like this as well, at least the one that came in my TJ is.

 

[Zewnten]

How high do you need to go though? I’ve seen lots of jacks that tall but the stroke is also very short because of it. Means you’ll want a two stage if you need to go very high. I’ve had very good luck with the Ford OEM super duty jacks but I think they’re too tall so you’d have to drive onto a 2x6 or something. I have a double stage jack that sits at 6 inches fully collapsed lifts to 16-18” but it also cost around $1000. If the weight is very low I’d go for a scissor jack with a solid base.

 

[BrandonV]

I always liked the Honda 1980-1990s Civic low profile scissor jacks with the speed handle. I no longer own a Civic, I still have a jack and use it on occasion.

I keep a whole boatload of those and the Toyota equivalent on hand.

Bottle jacks are nice for the speed but I usually just use the drill on the scissor jack to whip them up.

I've had enough hydraulic jacks leak in the truck to be wary. I'm not confident that a cheaper hydraulic jack is great bouncing around in a vehicle.

 

[paulsomlo]

This topic comes up on a regular basis - personally, I wouldn't rely on hydraulics for emergency use; seals go bad, cold weather performance can be compromised. A mechanical jack will pretty much always be there for you.