Why a floor jack vs bottle jack?
- Thread starter Danglerb
- Start date
bry@n
Well-known member
Floor jacks don't tip as easy.
VegasBruce
Well-known member
floorjacks are easier to use.
Bottle jacks are harder to move in and out under a vehicle and they require more space between the floor and the bottom of the vehicle for clearance. You can't even begin to fit a bottle jack under most average size vehicles as there isn't enough room under the frame.
Also, as you raise a vehicle up there is movement since the vehicle raises in an arc motion. A bottle jack is stationary and therefore it could result in the vehicle slipping off of the lift point or the jack tipping. Floor jacks often have wheels and can slide to prevent any movement.
Add to this that floor jacks have longer handles allowing for faster jacking action and that they generally have a larger range of motion (a 5" tall floor jack might have 15" or more of lifting height for example)... it just seems they are better for working on vehicles.
Bottle jacks have their purposes - but it is generally on heavier equipment or stationary uses such as raising a building or acting as temporary support for a structure. Floor jacks are just better and more efficient for working on the average vehicle, so that is likely why you tend to see more of them in garages.
Also, as you raise a vehicle up there is movement since the vehicle raises in an arc motion. A bottle jack is stationary and therefore it could result in the vehicle slipping off of the lift point or the jack tipping. Floor jacks often have wheels and can slide to prevent any movement.
Add to this that floor jacks have longer handles allowing for faster jacking action and that they generally have a larger range of motion (a 5" tall floor jack might have 15" or more of lifting height for example)... it just seems they are better for working on vehicles.
Bottle jacks have their purposes - but it is generally on heavier equipment or stationary uses such as raising a building or acting as temporary support for a structure. Floor jacks are just better and more efficient for working on the average vehicle, so that is likely why you tend to see more of them in garages.
Sokoloff
Well-known member
And floor jacks are much faster/easier to use, IME. I have both (two of each, actually), and I almost never use the bottle jacks. (Last time I did was to compress the suspension on my Jeep by jacking the spindle while the axle was already lifted and on jack stands.)
BeansBaxter
Active member
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- Jun 3, 2008
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Bottle jacks are nice to have around in a pinch but unless you have a truck, SUV or minivan they probably won't fit under your frame.
Eds_tls
Well-known member
I never understood why anyone would buy a bottle jack, mainly for the reasons above.
Floor jacks aren't even that expensive. I have a 10 year old steel floor jack that was probally $120 new at Sears. I've used it a million times with no issues
Floor jacks aren't even that expensive. I have a 10 year old steel floor jack that was probally $120 new at Sears. I've used it a million times with no issues
Bottle jacks have there places but for shop use its always gonna be Floor jack, For the many reasons already discussed. Where bottle jacks come into play are for Large machinery anything over 5 ton its more economical to use considering a "Quality" 10 ton floor jack runs $2500 where you can get the same "Quality" 20 ton bottle jack for around $200 or less. Next reason of thought is, if you have a flat tire on a grain truck your not gonna pack a 500lb floor jack around with you. They have there uses and people who use them every day would argue that they are more handy than floor jacks.
wreckercologist
Well-known member
For automotive use, I would agree that floor jacks are quicker, better, and more safe.
For heavy trucks, I like the hell out of the shops 22 ton bottle jack. It's similar to a floor jack. It has two 6" rubber wheels and a three position handle that can be locked. It can be raised like a floor jack by pumping the handle or with compressed air. It's quite a bit more stable than a regular bottle jack because it's base is about a foot square. The only way to fly in a truck shop.
The only other type of jack I'd like to have at work would be a frame jack.
For heavy trucks, I like the hell out of the shops 22 ton bottle jack. It's similar to a floor jack. It has two 6" rubber wheels and a three position handle that can be locked. It can be raised like a floor jack by pumping the handle or with compressed air. It's quite a bit more stable than a regular bottle jack because it's base is about a foot square. The only way to fly in a truck shop.
The only other type of jack I'd like to have at work would be a frame jack.
They are nice but ive never seen one that you could pump the handle??
Ive worked on many of the Air only and they are sweet for big truck work and pretty much the norm in heavy service shops.JohnFreeman
Well-known member
Safer for you, safer for your car, easier to use, greater lift.
wreckercologist
Well-known member
They are nice but ive never seen one that you could pump the handle??
You're right. My bad. I was thinking of something else, the shops press is set up like that I think.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Have you ever tried to lift a small car with a bottle jack? My two jacks are 3" entry height, and sometimes that's pretty close to the jacking point's ground clearance.
peter_x
Well-known member
I'd say another problem with bottle jacks is that the location of the handle. If you have the jack deep under a car... say you're lifting an engine or something... then the handle is limited in the amount that it can swing. A floor jack has the handle mounted away from the part which does the lifting.
RLRRLRLL
Well-known member
becouse floor jacks are BA! haha...they are just simpler to use, dont have to try and fit them under like everyone else said..