Need a jack

[fbrdphreak]

Must: <4-inch minimum height, >17-18 inch maximum height, <$300
Prefer: lightweight, <$200

I'm wary of the Harbor Freight stuff, but honestly it looks exactly the same as the stuff from Sears. Lots of reviews on Sears website for the lower profile jacks say they all fail within a couple years too. Only upside there is I can get a jack from either of those two tomorrow, which would be nice but not necessary.

Then I came across this:

http://www.autobarn.net/2-ton-low-rider-floor-jack.html

Looked into the company, did a little searching, it sounds like this American Forge & Foundry stuff is better quality than Sears/HF. Then again, I read a review on Amazon of another model that said the instructions were obviously translated from another language, so that's not inspiring.

Anywho - the above jack has an amazing <3-inch min height and 20-inch max height. Unfortunately it weighs 100lb, but for a QUALITY jack with those min/max heights I'd probly deal with it. It ends up being $260 shipped and unfortunately it wouldn't get here until Thursday earliest.

Suggestions/opinions?

 

[fbrdphreak]

50 views and no input?

 

[Fenixgoon]

no idea, but definitely get a hydraulic floorjack, which you appear to be looking at :thumbsup:

 

[fbrdphreak]

As opposed to...?

 

[helpme]

If whatever you get works out good for you, update the thread... I have a normal 3 ton Sears jack, but it barely gets under the pinch weld of one of my cars without some wiggling.

I ran into the same problem as you when I bought it 2 years ago, all the local low profile jacks looked pretty shady.

 

[LordMorpheus]

If you buy a craftsman jack make sure you read the reviews on their website. Their 3-ton (what I have) seems to hold up pretty well, but it looks like some of their other jacks are trash.

I have no problem getting it under the frame of my car, but the town car hadly has ground clearence issues.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I like the aluminum one they sell at Costco (plus it has a Costco guarantee).

 

[alkemyst]

a low profile jack is going to limit you unless you have to have it. I'd go for more than 17-18" if possible. HF has decent jacks for the most part.

 

[kevman]

I bought this one http://www.amazon.com/Blackhaw...qid=1243827620&sr=1-42

its a heavy sonfabitch but its awesome. gets under the c6 no problem.

 

[mztykal]

I have a Craftsman low pro aluminum jack. Had it for around 3 years. Just make sure to check the fluid in it when you first get it and tighten all the allen bolts and you'll be fine. I love mine!

 

[thedarkwolf]

I've had one of the big HF jacks for about 5 years now without any problems. Its a little touchy when you go to drop the car, not lowering not lowering HOLY SHIT and its on the ground. Thats the bit of an exaggeration and once you get the feel for it it is fine. A low profile one would be nice now that I have a miata. Have to drive it up on the some planks of wood to get my current jack under it but its not worth buying a new jack over.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
I like the aluminum one they sell at Costco (plus it has a Costco guarantee).

I own that jack. The one they sell in the store, not the one online. I bought it to replace an ancient Hein-Werner (which I wish I'd kept).

The quick take up feature of the jack is very nice, but once a load is on it, I find it takes waaay to many pumps to raise the car. This may be a personal issue and might not be something that bothers you. I'm comparing it to the jack I had, and as I said, I wish I'd kept it. It was old, heavy and getting really, really rusty though.

 

[angry hampster]

Seconding harbor freight.

 

[nwfsnake]

I got mine at Sam's Club. Costco probably has one also. Around $60 and has lasted for 2+ years no problem.

 

[Homer Simpson]

i have the sears 3ton low profile aluminum jack (the red and silver one). bought it last fall but its been used many times. still have to drive the g8 up on some wood for it to fit since the front lift location is so far back. the "low profile" part of the jack fits but i have to shove the whole thing under the car and the back half doesnt fit. same problem on my s10 xtreme, except the whole thing fits but then i cant lift the handle. doh. for that one, i left behind the drivers wheel with my older small jack until i can get the clearance to move the handle up and down. its a hassle, but it the price i pay for vehicles that sit low. biggest plus is its lightweight for its size. its about 60lbs i think. i can carry it around as needed, something i wouldnt even consider with a steel 3ton. i bought fluid at the same time per recommendations but i didnt need it. i also made sure to follow the initial bleeding procedure to get any air out. i wonder if some ppl dont do that and that is why they have problems with their jacks....

 

[Doggiedog]

I got a low profile jack from Harbor Freight. Seems to work well. No issues so far. It was much cheaper than anyplace else I looked.

 

[njmodi]

I've used this HF one at my buddy's place many times without any issues...

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=91039

Edit: the first one linked doesn't meet your minimum height requirement.. here is the next one up:

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=47246

 

[Homer Simpson]

Originally posted by: njmodi
I've used this HF one at my buddy's place many times without any issues...

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=91039

Edit: the first one linked doesn't meet your minimum height requirement.. here is the next one up:

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...m.taf?Itemnumber=47246

i have that second one too. its my "old jack". i actually bought it at pepboys though and was way less; $79 on sale i think. its a nice jack, mine doesnt go down on its own without weight on it now so once the car's weight is off the saddle, it stops going down. thats why i got the new one. this jack is rebranded and sold all over. regarding its ability, i liked it a lot. only downside was its smallish. reaching under the front wouldnt work on my gto after it was lowered because the whole jack has to slide under the front to reach the engine cradle to lift. it fit but because the handle was now under the car, i couldnt pump it. again, had to use wood.

OP, im assuming you will be using this on an f-body. ive never owned one but they sit low and have a long front nose. i think you will run into issues with any jack you get and have to use wood under the front tires to jack the front up. this is assuming you will need to jack the front up (both wheels at the same time) and you lift under the engine cradle. not sure if there is front lift point on those cars. if there is, you probably wont run into issues then since the whole thing wont have to slide under the car.

EDIT: OP, i just looked at your pics in your sig. i assumed by your name u had a firebird. looks like you went from a gto to a subaru? :shocked: doh!

 

[Atrail]

I just bought the low profile one they have at Costco, peace of mind purchase, under $100

 

[Audiotherapy]

^ did you get the arcan XL35R ?

i bought one, it was very heavy but works pretty well so far.