Floor Jack Recommendations

[Mike1647]

I need a floor jack for occasional home use, not a professional shop. It might get used a couple of times a month. I have tried the WM junk and was not impressed. Does anyone have experience with the Harbor Freight jacks? They have several models priced in the $99 to $199 range. I'd like to spend as little as possible but I would pay $200 or less for a good one. This is the one I am considering:

3 ton Rapid Pump(R) Floor Jack

Anyone have this model? Thanks.

 

[MRB1]

If there is ever justification for spending too much for a tool, a floor jack would be a good example. Cut corners someplace else, but not on safety.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

If there is ever justification for spending too much for a tool, a floor jack would be a good example. Cut corners someplace else, but not on safety.

But always keep in mind floor jacks are for lifting and not supporting. Once to the desired height use Jack stands

 

[riverrat38]

I have rented floor jacks when I needed them for occasional use.
The one I bought from Sears in 1970 was poor quality. The screw had enough friction that there was very little mechanical advantage left.

73,
Rick

 

[wood714]

I have rented floor jacks when I needed them for occasional use.
The one I bought from Sears in 1970 was poor quality. The screw had enough friction that there was very little mechanical advantage left.

73,
Rick

I still have a little Sears jack I bought around 1977. Actually still works great on cars. I had to sit it on a couple 4x4's to jack my Jeep up enough to get jack stands under it. Probably be the same with my truck.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I got a three ton from Harbor Freight for less than $100.00. No more than I use one it serves my needs.

 

[ace22]

i'm not a pro but i spent time a couple years ago researching floor jacks and wanted a decent quality jack but to stay under $300.
i wanted usa made but the cheapest one was around $500 and they go up from there so unfortunately everything lower priced is chinese made.

i considered the harbor freight jacks and would have bought a daytona over a pittsburgh but i was able to get low profile high lift 3 ton husky jack on sale and am happy with it.
last spring even though i didn't need it i picked up a barely used 3.5 ton high lift arcan jack.

both are heavy, good quality, honestly more jack than i need for my suv and car but i'd rather have more than not enough and i could end up buying a bigger heavier truck or van some day .

anyway the pittsburgh jacks are ok and might suit your needs today but consider if you might need to lift higher or heavier than it's capable of in the future.

also jack stands, don't skimp on jack stands if you're going to get under or up against a jacked up vehicle. a year or 2 ago harbor freight had a recall on their jack stands because of some them failing and collapsing.
i imagine they solved the problem but i would never trust them, even the current made stands.

 

[schutz5]

Costco floor jack is not bad. 11 years and going strong. My 1973 Sears floor jack still good after replacing O rings.
Yes jack stands!!!

 

[Rodan]

I have several of the HF jacks, which I use a LOT. All of mine pre-date the current Daytona/Pittsburg branding, and I've never had any trouble with any of them.

I have a 3 ton, long reach low profile, a 2.5 ton aluminum rapid pump, and a 1.5 ton aluminum rapid pump.

The 3 ton steel jack does the majority of the lifting in our garage. I use the 2.5 ton as a secondary jack at home, and it goes in the trailer when we go to the race track. The 1.5 ton rides around in my work Tahoe, because the stock bottle jacks are ****, and it also gets used to assist citizens with flat tires. The aluminum jacks are obviously much easier to move around. I do also have a 30 year old Costco jack that mostly sits in the corner of the garage. Still works great, just harder to move around.

As noted, jacks are for lifting. Use a good jack stand for holding something up. I've also been using HF jack stands for years without any issues at all, but mine were not part of the recall.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I remember a family run frame and alignment shop when I was a kid that used only floor jacks. Even back then it scared me to watch them jack up a vehicle and crawl right under it while it was supported only by the floor jack, but they'd been doing it that way for years. Sometimes they used two to lift both the front and back at the same time. Wife ran the office while her husband and three sons crawled under the vehicles. As far as I know no one ever got hurt, but still . . .

 

[STCM(SW)]

The 1.5 ton low profile from HF is what I had to have for the BMW.
Enough for replacing a flat tire.

 

[ACORN]

I knew a guy that was working on another's *** pick up. I don't know what the problem was but he was working under the truck supported only by a jack with the truck in gear.
The jack failed. The truck lurched forward and killed the guy under the truck.
I guess you could say Darwin got him.

 

[Tom S.]

Unless you go commercial, I would buy whatever you can get within your budget. I had a Sears jack that lasted for 30 years. When it couldn't be rebuilt, I bought another Sears and it lasted only 3 years. It was a complete piece of garbage compared to the first one. The one I'm using now is one of the better ones Harbor Freight sells and it has already out lived the last Sears jack.

Regardless of who made the jack NEVER work underneath one! Use jack stands that are over rated for the weight, and always use wheel chocks when lifting and lowering a vehicle. This advice comes from a guy who spent a week in the hospital after a truck parked itself on his shoulder/chest.

 

[Babysitr]

being a retired truck mechanic 35+ yrs. I have to say, never get even partially under any vehicle on a jack, maybe to slide a good quality jack stand under it, carefully even then! Cornwell makes a real nice one,along with stands...mine is from Sams Club....cant recommend it, ok on the rise,poor on the let off...its all or nothing on the let off ...IMHO

 

[CH4]

I've had good luck with everything I've bought at Harbor Freight

 

[Breakaway500]

Floor jacks! I suppose in a strange twisted way I am a "collector" of them. A tool of the trade..

Bought my first one in 1977 at a Western Auto in Ca. It's a Drenault made in USA, haven't been built for many years. That's the small 1.25 ton red unit with the white handle in photos. I've replaced the wheels but have never had to do much else other than lube it's joints.Weighs about 20lbs and is very durable.Over 40 years of heavy service and still on the job. New it cost $70. Nuff said.

The all red one is a MONSTER sold by Snap-on..made by Hein Werner in the USA. 2.5 ton rated..will lift 4 tons. Weighs 70lbs. Not something I use much but when you need it..it's there. 30 years old..never needed service. New cost about $500.

The yellow one is a Cheapo Depot from one of the box stores.Made in China. Lifts 2.5 tons! Ok..struggles to lift 3000lbs. but big numbers sell things. It's needed new wheels and seals..twice in 20 years, but I use it outdoors a lot...and for moving cars.
Weighs 35lbs. New cost was about $100. Now they are about $150ish.

The little blue ones are aluminum Chinese "racing" units you can buy online or at Harbor Freight. They weigh nothing...OK...10lbs and will lift an honest 2000lbs. Re-sealed a few times...and right out of the box may leak..but do work OK as they are very handy. Cost about $50. I have 4 of those here and there. Very useful tool!

If you are going to use a floor jack just to lift less than 2500lbs the cheap, light "racing" ones work fine. If you plan on "moving" a vehicle while suspended on the jack..buy an all steel, heavy duty one.
Like others have said...support the load with a good jack stand or something solid..concrete block, wood blocks etc.

Work smart. Live long and prosper..

 

[muddocktor]

I bought a 3 ton HF floor jack around 4-5 years ago and I am happy with it. The price sure has gone up since I bought mine though. IIRC, I paid around $80-90 when I bought mine.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

GOt a couple of bottle jacks that I bought from WalMart-both 3 ton rated. Carry one in the suburban for flat tire use on the truck and boat trailers. Has served my requirements admirably and it doesn't take up a lot of space in the back of old Blue

 

[len917]

Had a Sears 3 ton floor jack bought in the 70's always worked. Even jacked up my deck when I had to re-level it when ground shifted a little.
When I moved a couple of years ago I sold it on Craigs List for a reasonble price, the amount of response in such a short period of time should have told me to keep it or double the sell price. These were great jacks for the price. Now I need a jack again and will buy only from NAPA.
Even their lower price jacks are better than most.
Also loot at bottle jacks-the're less expensive

 

[Mike1647]

Thank you all for the replies. I do have and use a good set of jack stands. Never get under the vehicle without them. I have a decent bottle jack I carry in my van for flat tires but I need something better for maintenance on the cars, mowers, etc. I am going today and look at the HF jacks in person. The WM one I bought a few years ago failed out of the box. The replacement lasted about 6 months and started leaking and would no longer lift. Thanks again.