Jersey Drew
Well-known member
Are they worth it? How easy/difficult are they to move around? Do you use them as much as you thought?
Thoughts on quickjack?
- Thread starter Jersey Drew
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hoffman912
Well-known member
timely question. Not to hi-jack, but I too am debating the quickjack, but also considering a bendpack or atlas scissor lift - primarily because of the height (my engine comes out from underneath).
i would like to know how high the quickjack goes, how maneuverable they are, and if one is doing a project (lets say suspension), how comfortably can you work on the car at the height it is at? Would love to hear from anyone who has had both..
i would like to know how high the quickjack goes, how maneuverable they are, and if one is doing a project (lets say suspension), how comfortably can you work on the car at the height it is at? Would love to hear from anyone who has had both..
JP Chestnut
Well-known member
Quick Jack is going to lift much lower than even a medium rise scissor lift. If you can leave it in place, I think a scissor is a no brainer over the quick jack.
I have quickjack and wished I had gotten a mid-rise lift instead. A Quickjack will not get you much extra lift over a regular set of jackstands. You can double stack the blocks to get extra lift, however on a vehicle that is lower to the ground you will not be able to this.
In fact I just did a transmission removal/installation on a rwd 80's bmw 3 series, slightly lowered. I did not have enough clearance to even roll the transmission under the car with it sitting on the transmission jack. I wish was wishing for a few more inches of lift the entire time.
The racks are long and heavy and awkward to move around due to the huge turning circles they make. I just leave mine on the floor now and just drive the car over them (not on top of them!) when they are not in use and then slide them out when I want to use them. I used to neatly store them against the wall but it was too much of a pain in the **** to move those racks.
With all that said, if you occasionally rotate tires, do oil changes, detail your car, you may very much like the quickjack. For people that work on cars regularly and are tired of rolling around the ground I would not recommend them.
In fact I just did a transmission removal/installation on a rwd 80's bmw 3 series, slightly lowered. I did not have enough clearance to even roll the transmission under the car with it sitting on the transmission jack. I wish was wishing for a few more inches of lift the entire time.
The racks are long and heavy and awkward to move around due to the huge turning circles they make. I just leave mine on the floor now and just drive the car over them (not on top of them!) when they are not in use and then slide them out when I want to use them. I used to neatly store them against the wall but it was too much of a pain in the **** to move those racks.
With all that said, if you occasionally rotate tires, do oil changes, detail your car, you may very much like the quickjack. For people that work on cars regularly and are tired of rolling around the ground I would not recommend them.
I have one (BL-5000SLX). The platforms are heavy but manageable. I fret a bit about placement and being parallel. The car does move from front to back by the design of the lifting mechanism which means my garage-door has to be open to use it (which is partially my fault - I put storage shelves in front on the car well before I knew what a QJ was). I did have a faulty mechanism that produced uneven drops - that was exciting.
But since they replaced it the setup has been great. I like it far better than jackstands and the space underneath is somewhat higher than the max reach of what I was using (and I hated the process of putting the car up that high). It feels very secure and stable - I'm a chicken and am very comfortable under the car. I'd love another 6" of height (or more) but it's fine for what I do. I don't think I'd want to pull a transmission/do a clutch/whatever, but I'm sure it's possible.
Overall I've been very happy. It's getting ready to get a lot of use between my Mini (suspension and some other stuff) and my wife's Odyssey (absurdly expensive motor mounts)
But since they replaced it the setup has been great. I like it far better than jackstands and the space underneath is somewhat higher than the max reach of what I was using (and I hated the process of putting the car up that high). It feels very secure and stable - I'm a chicken and am very comfortable under the car. I'd love another 6" of height (or more) but it's fine for what I do. I don't think I'd want to pull a transmission/do a clutch/whatever, but I'm sure it's possible.
Overall I've been very happy. It's getting ready to get a lot of use between my Mini (suspension and some other stuff) and my wife's Odyssey (absurdly expensive motor mounts)
BonzoHansen
Well-known member
I got a 7000 recently. It's a little heavy to move around. Haven't used it a lot yet so my review is incomplete. My friend has one and loves it so I went on that recommendation. He even gave me a set of the suv adapters because he got sent 2 sets. I don't have enough height for a lift and never liked scissor lifts.
So far it picks up my camaros fine, although my 77 is too low so I need to drive on some low ramps for that. I need to order pinch weld blocks to pick up my kids challenger, that kinda pissed me off. I haven't picked up my trucks yet (thus the 7000).
So the jury is still out, but every time I see a maxjack I get a little buyer's remorse
So far it picks up my camaros fine, although my 77 is too low so I need to drive on some low ramps for that. I need to order pinch weld blocks to pick up my kids challenger, that kinda pissed me off. I haven't picked up my trucks yet (thus the 7000).
So the jury is still out, but every time I see a maxjack I get a little buyer's remorse
Dandy1008
Well-known member
I went through the same questioning recently. I ended up going with a Twin Busch scissor lift:
https://www.twinbusch.com/product_info.php?products_id=8
I have not done a bunch for difficult work, but I needed the additional height for my Jeep, the frame is about 18" off the ground. I also like the additional height for when I wash/detail, I can lift the car up and get to the rockers and wheels much easier.
I added the mobile kit and was expecting it to be difficult to move around, it actually rolls and turns quite nice. I would highly recommend.
https://www.twinbusch.com/product_info.php?products_id=8
I have not done a bunch for difficult work, but I needed the additional height for my Jeep, the frame is about 18" off the ground. I also like the additional height for when I wash/detail, I can lift the car up and get to the rockers and wheels much easier.
I added the mobile kit and was expecting it to be difficult to move around, it actually rolls and turns quite nice. I would highly recommend.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
When I was shopping for a lift I very seriously considered the quick jack but ultimately I decided to go with a 4 post lift for one very simple reason. A quick jack only offers convenience. You're not going to drop an engine or a transmission, and you're still going to be working on your back. Its no different than your regular jack and jack stands, it just saved you 10 minutes getting set up. That's all. It doesn't make anything possible that wasn't already possible. Its hard to justify $1500 for saving 10 minutes.
A 2 post lift can be had for pretty similar money and it has all the benefits of the quick jack plus making a ton of stuff possible that you couldn't do before. Also gets you off your back.
A 2 post lift can be had for pretty similar money and it has all the benefits of the quick jack plus making a ton of stuff possible that you couldn't do before. Also gets you off your back.
I'd say it gives you a bit more height than most jack stands with less risk, and in my tight garage it is more than 10 minutes saved to get a car up to full height with less fuss and stress. So I guess I'll call all that fairly meaningful convenience. The number of transmissions I'll ever do is zero or one. I'm praying for zero
.I'd love to have a two-post, but my garage isn't set up well for that - I guess I could flip what each bay is for, but I'm not sure I have the concrete depth/density to support a two-post, and a four-post probably wouldn't work for several reasons (space, the rear posts would probably interfere with my garage door, etc.).
Price was also a factor - I picked my 5000SLX for $1050 at Costco a couple years ago - don't think I could come close to that for a two post (though I would pay more for the variety of things a two-post offers).
ollie76
Well-known member
What about those tilt style lifts I see people using these days? They look pretty interesting.
MarlynOC
Well-known member
I have had the 3500 for about 4 yrs now. Garage ceiling is low so I am limited on height to raise car. Car only weighs 2450 so not a problem. As said before car moves from front to rear as raised but I have a 20 ft deep garage. I can sit on creeper to work under car. Each side of jack is light enough to lift one end and pull around. I have chalk lines on garage floor to make where the "ramps" are to be placed and another set of chalk marks to mark where car wheels are to be when using it. There are 2 locking points as you raise the car. ONE DANGER POINT You cannot lower the car onto jack stands from up to down as the car moves lengthwise and the jack stands will not move with it. They will twist and fall over before the car will settle on them. Also if you put pressure upward on one corner another corner will drop and the car will be off level.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
Ryanbabz71
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2016
- Messages
- 492
They are handy makes it easier than using multiple jacks/Stands on the car. I still use my race ramps when doing oil changes though. Work great for rear differential and brake jobs
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ehsan
Member
Another happy scissor lift owner here. I won’t repeat what a bunch of other people said for details.
But I’ll mention my summary: Quickjacks are a replacement/upgrade over a floor jack and jack stands. A scissor lift is a lift, just sized smaller, for those with limited ceiling height or a concrete slab that can’t handle a bolt down two post.
For about double the money of a QJ, the scissor lift is way more than twice as useful.
But I’ll mention my summary: Quickjacks are a replacement/upgrade over a floor jack and jack stands. A scissor lift is a lift, just sized smaller, for those with limited ceiling height or a concrete slab that can’t handle a bolt down two post.
For about double the money of a QJ, the scissor lift is way more than twice as useful.
DC73
Well-known member
I picked up the 7000 series QuickJack along with the SUV adapters. I'm able to use it on both my '73 Vette and my Suburban. I would have gone with a more traditional lift but I was height constrained in my shop.
If I'm doing a fairly quick task, I leave the vehicle on the QuickJack. But, if it's a longer project and I'm not working on the wheels, I use the QuickJack to get the vehicle in the air, then set it down on some wheel cribs I made. That allows me to move the QuickJack out of the way so I can access the bottom of the vehicle from the sides.
I replaced the TH400 transmission in my Vette with a 4L60E using the QuickJack. It was a bit tight but only because my transmission jack was too tall in the fully lowered position.
DC
If I'm doing a fairly quick task, I leave the vehicle on the QuickJack. But, if it's a longer project and I'm not working on the wheels, I use the QuickJack to get the vehicle in the air, then set it down on some wheel cribs I made. That allows me to move the QuickJack out of the way so I can access the bottom of the vehicle from the sides.
I replaced the TH400 transmission in my Vette with a 4L60E using the QuickJack. It was a bit tight but only because my transmission jack was too tall in the fully lowered position.
DC
I have the 7000 QuickJack. I wanted the 7000 so I could use it with my C5 Corvette, as well as my GMC 2500HD truck. I've used it on the truck once, and on the vette 5 or 6 times now. I also have a cousin that has a C6 Z06 that is actually on my QuickJack for an oil change and dry sump line replacement as we speak. After owning it for over a year now I'll echo the other comments that it's definitely a hassle to maneuver the racks, get them in place, and to connect the hydraulic lines. It's much easier to use jacks and jack stands on my truck, especially with the limitations on how high the QuickJack goes. On the Vettes, though, it's a bit more difficult to get floor jacks underneath them, so the QuickJack works great once it's set up and in place. I would prefer extra height, but I think they've come out with another series that goes a bit higher. The biggest advantage for me is that I didn't want a scissor lift in the middle of the shop floor since I do other types of work there. Although it's a hassle, at least with the QuickJack I can use it for its intended purpose, and then place them up against the wall when I'm done.
Would I buy the 7000 again? Because of my situation and what I work on I would, but your situation may be different.
Would I buy the 7000 again? Because of my situation and what I work on I would, but your situation may be different.
I don’t have one, but I seriously considered it and for now haven’t found a suitable justification. I’m less interested in the cost and more interested in convenience, particularly avoiding crawling around on the ground when I don’t need to. And a lift is out of the question. My concrete pad wouldn’t support a 2 post (not thrilled about fixing that). So at the end of the day, it was two jacks and 4 jack stands vs the QJ. I already bought an extended reach jack to deal with the low cars or the cars with a recessed center lift point, so getting the cars up in the air is usually no more than a 10 minute exercise. 15 if I need all 4 corners up in the air, but usually that’s not the case unless it involves a diff or trans fluid change. The storage of all the QJ bits was an issue for me as well. Just more clutter without that much more functionality. And I wouldn’t be getting rid of the jacks (well maybe one) or the jack stands, they would remain.
At the end of the day what wears me out is repeatedly getting on the ground and getting back up to get a different tool, supplies, parts or rags. As much as I try to plan to avoid down/up/down/up nonsense (get your minds out of the gutter), it still happens, even with something as simple as an oil change. If the QJ didn’t allow me to sit on a normal height chair or stand, it wasn’t going to solve that issue for me.
It’s a compromise solution (not meant in a bad way) and it has its place at an attractive price point, but for me I think I would be more inclined to make a lift work (again, cost not being a factor) if I was trying to improve upon the current lifting solution (jacks and jack stands).
I was also a little put off by the reports of the quality control problems they have had (granted, this was a secondary concern I would have dealt with if it met my primary objectives). There are a large numbers of these types of complaints, but given the price point and the numerous retail channels they peddle this, it’s also likely they sell quite a lot as well. It seems they do stand behind their product and will get you parts to get things working, and once people get it working correctly, there do not appear to be recurring issues. But it would bug me a bit to take something fresh off the truck and find out it doesn’t work, then go through the process of fixing it and spend the time going back and forth with the manufacturer. Some people don’t mind as long as it works in the end.
At the end of the day what wears me out is repeatedly getting on the ground and getting back up to get a different tool, supplies, parts or rags. As much as I try to plan to avoid down/up/down/up nonsense (get your minds out of the gutter), it still happens, even with something as simple as an oil change. If the QJ didn’t allow me to sit on a normal height chair or stand, it wasn’t going to solve that issue for me.
It’s a compromise solution (not meant in a bad way) and it has its place at an attractive price point, but for me I think I would be more inclined to make a lift work (again, cost not being a factor) if I was trying to improve upon the current lifting solution (jacks and jack stands).
I was also a little put off by the reports of the quality control problems they have had (granted, this was a secondary concern I would have dealt with if it met my primary objectives). There are a large numbers of these types of complaints, but given the price point and the numerous retail channels they peddle this, it’s also likely they sell quite a lot as well. It seems they do stand behind their product and will get you parts to get things working, and once people get it working correctly, there do not appear to be recurring issues. But it would bug me a bit to take something fresh off the truck and find out it doesn’t work, then go through the process of fixing it and spend the time going back and forth with the manufacturer. Some people don’t mind as long as it works in the end.
ollie76
Well-known member
How about one of these? They look quite useful: maxjax tilt lift