Whe sells a good floor jack ?

[JohnW63]

I have an old floor jack that I got at Chief Auto Parts, years ago. But the handle has always creeped back up and pushed on the bumper, and the front wheels are held on my thin C clips that fly off, if you sling the jack around a corner of the car. I want something better. Doing a web search isn't as helpful as I would hope. I did learn that most of the Sears Pro jacks blow a seal in short order, so I won't be going there. Getting stuff online ends up costing a bunch in shipping.

What's good ? What do you use ?

 

[Rubix]

My trusty ol' Torin Big Red jack has served me well for years. Just 2 months ago it started leaking though. I'd buy another.

I've never owned a Craftsman jack, but everything else Craftsman I have I love. I'd buy a Craftsman jack too, especially if it had a lifetime warranty like most of their tools; good company.

 

[pitaSHO]

I just bought one from Costco. I don't know the model, but it's a 3.5 ton low profile jack. Steel. Weighs 109 lbs. Yeah. Not easy to get in and out of the trunk, but I love the design. And it only cost $100. I will try to find the model number tomorrow. It's still in the box in my trunk. All the other jacks I looked at that were like this one were $150 or more. I actuall found one on craigslist in Colorado Springs for $225 used.

Chris K.

 

[ctwrench]

I bought a Craftsman Pro 3-1/2 ton floor jack w/ creeper and stands in 1999. I've lifted cars, trucks, Jeeps, and who knows what else with no problems. I just bought a 2-1/2 ton Craftsman in a blow mold case for my trunk and so far, no problems. I've heard good things about the Torin jacks. I know that the Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or any "Chinese" jacks are junk.

 

[platoribs]

If your looking for a stationary tool (one that will stay in your garage) you can't do better than Harbor Freight's Long Arm Floor Jack, 30+" of lift and you can easily get to the front of the subframe to lift the whole front end WAY up! Only set me back ~$125.00 or so.:sun:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42820

$175.00 now.

 

[SHOtime2511]

i bought a PRO LIFT from advance that sucks balls.
after about two months of light use it just slowly lets the car lower on its own.

 

[Jedi]

Been using my craftsman 2 ton for about five years without complaint. Doesnt really have enough lift for me but it works.

 

[Jonny Cash]

Dont buy a Craftsman jack. My first two failed within months, now Im on my 3rd. And thats only because they wont give me a full refund.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I've had good luck with US General jacks (Harbor Frieght). I have two aluminum ones now. The movers lost my handle on the first and HF had the really nice one on sell for the same price, so they bought me the new one and the handles are interchangeable.

My first one is pretty beat up from track and other uses, but it still works very well.

 

[mustangracer91]

I've got two, one is a harbor freight crappy 2 1/2 ton jack that was like 40 bucks, and I've had that one since junior high ('89) and has lifted everything including jeeps, mustangs, big body 70's thunderbirds, and even aircraft...and I'm still using it. The other is a craftsman 3 ton and that thing is in the shop and works great.

 

[Shoaz]

I've got something like five floorjacks now, for some unknown reason. Two or three Craftsman (they're fine, but heavy and not necessarily the greatest), an aluminum US General (HF) that is now my track buddy, and a larger aluminum unit from Costco.

I have an older 2 1/2 ton from Craftsman that was my track jack for years, and a high-lift SUV jack that I use for my truck (but sucks because the lift effort is awful).

The smaller US G from HF doesn't have enough lift to get the Pumpkin on jackstands, so the Costco unit does that.

 

[97SHOgt]

I've got the 2.5 ton Craftsman as well. They're the only tools I buy.

 

[gmorrell]

I've had good luck with US General jacks (Harbor Frieght). I have two aluminum ones now. The movers lost my handle on the first and HF had the really nice one on sell for the same price, so they bought me the new one and the handles are interchangeable.

My first one is pretty beat up from track and other uses, but it still works very well.

I also have two of the 3000# HF US General Aluminum frame jacks, they've been in fairly constant use for about 5 years now. No problems with them at all.

I will make this suggestion to prolong the life of these jacks. The hydraulic fluid they're shipped with is little better then urine, and about as corrosive, especially the units that come from China. Drain and flush it immediately with good hydraulic fluid. If you really want to be good to them, drain and flush annually. I have a 5-gallon bucket of Valvoline AW-32 hydraulic fluid, my 4-post lift only used 3 gallons, so I have enough to flush and refill my rolling jacks for some years to come.

 

[Grantorinslo]

I have 2 things to say: First, I could not be any more pleased with the $40 jack I got from Harbor freight that has given me NO problems. It's a 2.5 tonner and it's either Central Hydraulics or Chicago whatever brand.

Second, Torin Big Red jacks are horrible, I purchased the BEST jack that pep boys sells for around $100 (3.5T Torin "big red). Except the grease fitting wasn't threaded. Returned it and got another, this one didn't lift, but at least the grease fitting was threaded. Had air in it, added fluid and bled, got it to work ONCE before spewing hydraulic fluid all over my workspace. Called up Torin's warranty line, they told me since I'd had it under 30 days to take it back for a replacement. Got another one from pep boys, opened it at the counter, the greasse fitting was not threaded (I thought it was the first one I got except the box was sealed and I had cut my box), so I left that one there, went to the shelf and got another one, came back, opened it and made sure there was no air, then convinced the manager to let me try to lift his Explorer with the 'working' 3.5T jack. Got it up about 4-6" and the lifting slowed, then stopped, then it dropped the car. They refused to refund my money, I told the manager he had to give me cash or store credit, so I got a nice ****** air compressor. Now that pep boys only sells the light duty aluminum jacks.

 

[mustangracer91]

the shop I worked at had (FIVE!!) broken torins stuffed in the corner, I took one home repainted it, got the rebuild kit, rebuilt the pump, and voila! it worked like a champ...sold it right after that too...

 

[Storm-Chaser]

In instances like that, call your credit card issuer right there on-the-spot. Tell them the problem, and that the merchant is refusing to allow the return for a defective product that you have found is also unsafe. They will likely tell you to leave the merchandise, and file a dispute for the charge before you even leave the store . . . .

 

[JohnW63]

Dang. I guess it'***** and miss all over the place. Not what I was hoping to find out.

 

[IM Buddy8]

my grandfather has a craftsman jack he got way back when that I now have that has been used so much in my family and still works perfectly. I also have one of those random harbor freight I believe brands and it works ok it's about 10 years old and it will very slowly creep down (over night) so it's sill useable just put a jackstand for long jobs

BTW very good thread to start

 

[luigisho]

I guess it depends on what you really need or want. I got a heavy hydrolic cheap one from Harbor Freight that has done what I need it to do. It's not fancy, light, or good for tight fits, but does the job for me the past 3 years. I wouldn't put it in my trunk for on the go or track use. Good for projects at home.

Mine doesn't even have the foot pump pedal that the new design does
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42820

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I have a Harbor Freight Jack that is heavy as all get out. But does it work? Yes, and it was on sale for about $60 I think.