Need a floor jack... advice needed

Fubaru · 12-09-2001, 11:40 PM

How much should I expect to pay for an automotive floor jack?
Any advice on what to look for, or where I can get a good one.

lgkahn · 12-10-2001, 09:56 AM

any auto parts store.. 40 -70

Ginseng · 12-10-2001, 10:23 AM

I'm partial to the Sears Craftsman service jacks.

1. They're cheap, even in a 3 or 5 ton capacity. $50-$90

2. Warrantied.

3. The non-quick lift jacks are better IMHO. They're easier to snug right up to the jack point using your finger as the lever. The quick start jacks need a hard pump to get them up to the jack point and this is not always easy it you have ground effects or if your car is lowered.

Wilkey

NotoriousWRX · 12-10-2001, 07:46 PM

Sears is the place to go.

Stanley · 12-11-2001, 03:14 PM

I got a 3 ton jack at Sears a few months ago for $30. It was on sale.
My buddy got one at Kragens for $30 (regular price) but it was a brand I never heard of. It seems to be OK...

remarcable · 12-14-2001, 02:39 PM

I would advise against buying the "AutoZone Special".

Go to sears, get a craftsman.

Coati · 12-14-2001, 02:46 PM

You mean I shouldn't have bought the 2-ton floor jack and two jackstands from Kragen for $19.95?

JDM5LugHatch · 12-15-2001, 11:34 PM

I would say buy a good jack the first time around. I searched online forever to find a good jack and what I came up with was a Norco 71230A 2 1/4 ton hydraulic floor jack. It was the only jack that I could find that has a low lift height. Its like it was made for lowered cars. Probally the best investment I have ever made. It works so good that today when I was helping a friend work on his civic ( that is slammed to the damn ground with some Ground Controls ) we didnt even have to lift up on the fender or use his factory jack first to raise it a little so a real jack will fit under it. this jack saves time plain and simple. Cost on it is about $160 and if you need to get it shipped it will be a pretty penny i am sure. I got lucky and called the manufacturer to see if they had any dealers in my area , they did so i called the place they had it in stock and i picked it up the next morning. http://www.norcoind.com/

Chris

elgorey · 12-20-2001, 03:52 PM

I got a craftsman 3 ton jack with jackstands.

I am actually quite dissapointed with it. The release is not a progressive release. As soon as you give the handle a 1/4 turn counter clockwise it releases _all the way_ and hence drops the car on the jackstand or ground all at once.
It is very thick and will not fit under a lowered car either. And forget about jacking up the center of the car. You have to use the jack points on the sideskirts.

fatVdub · 12-25-2001, 06:09 PM

we bought property in mountains, and its on a good hunk of land...so i said screw the jack and stands and got a hydralic auto lift from a shop that was closeing up for $1800!!! can't bet it! my back and knees thank me

Crashton · 12-26-2001, 04:20 PM

I've got two Sears floor jacks & six decent stands. They're good, but man are they ever heavy. A floor jack & jack stands is not a place to be cheap. Are you willing to bet your life on those cheapy floor jacks & stands? Not me. If I was looking to replace one of my jacks with new one I'd get one of these>http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Vaul...ulicjacks.html

Chuck

12-09-2001, 11:40 PM	#1
Fubaru Scooby Specialist Member#: 6046 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: San Francisco Vehicle: '08 Prius	Need a floor jack... advice needed How much should I expect to pay for an automotive floor jack? Any advice on what to look for, or where I can get a good one.

12-20-2001, 03:52 PM	#9
elgorey Scooby Specialist Member#: 4374 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: VIRginia Vehicle: 06 Titan,99,94 SM 06 nasa spec miata champ	craftsman is not all that I got a craftsman 3 ton jack with jackstands. I am actually quite dissapointed with it. The release is not a progressive release. As soon as you give the handle a 1/4 turn counter clockwise it releases _all the way_ and hence drops the car on the jackstand or ground all at once. It is very thick and will not fit under a lowered car either. And forget about jacking up the center of the car. You have to use the jack points on the sideskirts.

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12-10-2001, 09:56 AM	#2
lgkahn Scooby Specialist Member#: 9793 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: londonderry nh Vehicle: 2002 WRX sedan 5 sp red	any auto parts store.. 40 -70

12-10-2001, 10:23 AM	#3
Ginseng Scooby Specialist Member#: 3800 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DE Vehicle: 2002 WRB WRX Sedan Forester S	I'm partial to the Sears Craftsman service jacks. 1. They're cheap, even in a 3 or 5 ton capacity. $50-$90 2. Warrantied. 3. The non-quick lift jacks are better IMHO. They're easier to snug right up to the jack point using your finger as the lever. The quick start jacks need a hard pump to get them up to the jack point and this is not always easy it you have ground effects or if your car is lowered. Wilkey

12-10-2001, 07:46 PM	#4
NotoriousWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 9026 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: If I knew, I wouldn't be lost!	Sears is the place to go.

12-11-2001, 03:14 PM	#5
Stanley Scooby Specialist Member#: 7374 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SF Bay Area Vehicle: 1998 CraptasticCamry A baby poop shade	I got a 3 ton jack at Sears a few months ago for $30. It was on sale. My buddy got one at Kragens for $30 (regular price) but it was a brand I never heard of. It seems to be OK...

12-14-2001, 02:39 PM	#6
remarcable Scooby Specialist Member#: 2362 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: South Carolina, USA Vehicle: 1999 Legacy Outback Blue w/ Paint Chips & Mud	I would advise against buying the "AutoZone Special". Go to sears, get a craftsman.

12-14-2001, 02:46 PM	#7
Coati Scooby Guru Member#: 9106 Join Date: Aug 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: 10 Doors, 2 Scoops! Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon - PSM 2008 STI - Aspen White	You mean I shouldn't have bought the 2-ton floor jack and two jackstands from Kragen for $19.95?

12-15-2001, 11:34 PM	#8
JDM5LugHatch Scooby Specialist Member#: 1312 Join Date: Apr 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: VA Vehicle: '06 Integra Type S Magnesium	I would say buy a good jack the first time around. I searched online forever to find a good jack and what I came up with was a Norco 71230A 2 1/4 ton hydraulic floor jack. It was the only jack that I could find that has a low lift height. Its like it was made for lowered cars. Probally the best investment I have ever made. It works so good that today when I was helping a friend work on his civic ( that is slammed to the damn ground with some Ground Controls ) we didnt even have to lift up on the fender or use his factory jack first to raise it a little so a real jack will fit under it. this jack saves time plain and simple. Cost on it is about $160 and if you need to get it shipped it will be a pretty penny i am sure. I got lucky and called the manufacturer to see if they had any dealers in my area , they did so i called the place they had it in stock and i picked it up the next morning. http://www.norcoind.com/ Chris

12-25-2001, 06:09 PM	#10
fatVdub Scooby Newbie Member#: 5296 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Jose, Ca. USA Vehicle: 01 2.5RS Black	we bought property in mountains, and its on a good hunk of land...so i said screw the jack and stands and got a hydralic auto lift from a shop that was closeing up for $1800!!! can't bet it! my back and knees thank me

12-26-2001, 04:20 PM	#11
Crashton Scooby Newbie Member#: 3808 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Westerville, OH , USA Vehicle: 2005 Forester XT!!! Crystal Gray Metallic	I've got two Sears floor jacks & six decent stands. They're good, but man are they ever heavy. A floor jack & jack stands is not a place to be cheap. Are you willing to bet your life on those cheapy floor jacks & stands? Not me. If I was looking to replace one of my jacks with new one I'd get one of these>http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Vaul...ulicjacks.html Chuck