floor jack or bottle type jack

SocialButterfly · 11-20-2003, 07:55 PM

i'm thinking about getting a floor jack and 4 stands to change my tires(two jack are probably enough, but since 3 ton jacks at sears are $20, why not). i noticed there are the scissor type floor jacks that i'm used to pluss some bottle type piston raised ones. what's the pro and con to each? the bottle ones are alot cheaper.

thanks!

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cnk · 11-20-2003, 08:02 PM

The bottle jacks are cheaper, but they most likely are too high to fit under your car. I've always used standard floor jacks so I can't tell you what the benefits of the bottle jack would be. Could be personal preference, size concerns, or space concerns.

Calvin

Crashton · 11-20-2003, 08:07 PM

I'd advise against using a bottle or scissors jack for working on your car. IMHO they just aren't stable enough. Get a good floor jack & a good set of jack stands. Be sure to use the jack stands whenever you work under your car. Sears has a nice aluminum race style jack for something like $150.

DrD · 11-20-2003, 09:27 PM

Another vote against the bottle or scissors jack - the scissor jack (like the one which came with the car) is really just for use in emergencies (i.e., changeing a flat) - I would get a real floor jack. Sears has a nice 3.5 ton floor jack (with 2 stands and a creeper) on sale now (was in the Sunday paper) for $120 or so - it has a nice big cradle and everything.

ParagonWRX · 11-20-2003, 10:44 PM

Ditto on the bottle jack being no good. I considered it, my dad advised against. Great advice. I bought the biggest honking floor jack/garage jack i could find, and its a joy too use. Easy, quick, and stable especially when used with jack stands for added safety.

Para

armand1 · 11-21-2003, 06:05 PM

Yep, the Sears 3 1/2 ton jack/stand combo on sale until tomorrow is a good deal ($120? $110? something like that).

LogicLackey · 11-21-2003, 06:15 PM

I have a 2 ton sears floor jack and it is one of my best investments ever. blazing fast compared to a scissor jack. MUCH more stable. I actually bought a bottle jack at first and had to return it because it would not fit under my car.

get the floor jack w/ the stands. you will be happy w/ it.

ImprezaVA · 11-23-2003, 08:30 AM

I have two Craftsman Floor Jacks (3 1/2 & 2 1/4 Ton) with four 3 1/2 Jack stands, but if I had it to do all over again I would have gotten the speedy jack. I was playing with one last night and with only two pumps she's at full height. I think this one was a Larin in Sam's Club for $79. As if it matters, but here's another vote against scissor or bottle jacks.

-Charles-

kidatari · 11-23-2003, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ImprezaVA
I have two Craftsman Floor Jacks (3 1/2 & 2 1/4 Ton) with four 3 1/2 Jack stands, but if I had it to do all over again I would have gotten the speedy jack. I was playing with one last night and with only two pumps she's at full height. I think this one was a Larin in Sam's Club for $79. As if it matters, but here's another vote against scissor or bottle jacks.

-Charles-

Larin Jacks = crap. I just threw away my 6 month old Larin jack because the internal releif valve crapped out so it would no longer lift anything. Their jackstands aren't too impressive either, but at least they're the non-ratcheting type. Just my .02

-Josh

Captain Ned · 11-24-2003, 03:55 PM

The Sears 3.5 ton is a great floor jack. Plus, its handle makes a real good cheater bar for those really tight nuts, like lower strut/knuckle mounts.

SocialButterfly · 11-26-2003, 02:41 PM

thanks for the replies!

i think i'm going with a 3 1/2 ton michelin jack from sams club and 4 6 ton stands. i know, 6 ton stands?

but its gotta work with my parents' suv.

also, plywood square for the base to prevent them digging into the driveway right?

ImprezaVA · 11-27-2003, 09:52 AM

Quote:

also, plywood square for the base to prevent them digging into the driveway right?

If you have an asphalt driveway, yes, this is a good idea because the wheels will leave indentions. It won't hurt concrete, but would still keep it from scarring off the broom finish or chipping the exposed aggregate.

-Charles-

11-20-2003, 07:55 PM	#1
SocialButterfly Scooby Newbie Member#: 36253 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bahston	floor jack or bottle type jack i'm thinking about getting a floor jack and 4 stands to change my tires(two jack are probably enough, but since 3 ton jacks at sears are $20, why not). i noticed there are the scissor type floor jacks that i'm used to pluss some bottle type piston raised ones. what's the pro and con to each? the bottle ones are alot cheaper. thanks! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-20-2003, 08:02 PM	#2
cnk Scooby Guru Member#: 10757 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: 2013 BRZ Limited 6MT DGM	The bottle jacks are cheaper, but they most likely are too high to fit under your car. I've always used standard floor jacks so I can't tell you what the benefits of the bottle jack would be. Could be personal preference, size concerns, or space concerns. Calvin

11-20-2003, 08:07 PM	#3
Crashton Scooby Newbie Member#: 3808 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Westerville, OH , USA Vehicle: 2005 Forester XT!!! Crystal Gray Metallic	I'd advise against using a bottle or scissors jack for working on your car. IMHO they just aren't stable enough. Get a good floor jack & a good set of jack stands. Be sure to use the jack stands whenever you work under your car. Sears has a nice aluminum race style jack for something like $150.

11-20-2003, 09:27 PM	#4
DrD Scooby Guru Member#: 22412 Join Date: Aug 2002 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Albuquerque, NM Vehicle: 2012 Legacy 2.5GT Ice Silver Metallic	Another vote against the bottle or scissors jack - the scissor jack (like the one which came with the car) is really just for use in emergencies (i.e., changeing a flat) - I would get a real floor jack. Sears has a nice 3.5 ton floor jack (with 2 stands and a creeper) on sale now (was in the Sunday paper) for $120 or so - it has a nice big cradle and everything.

11-20-2003, 10:44 PM	#5
ParagonWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 45109 Join Date: Oct 2003	Ditto on the bottle jack being no good. I considered it, my dad advised against. Great advice. I bought the biggest honking floor jack/garage jack i could find, and its a joy too use. Easy, quick, and stable especially when used with jack stands for added safety. Para

11-21-2003, 06:05 PM	#6
armand1 Scooby Guru Member#: 10309 Join Date: Sep 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: '02 OBS 2-tone! '95 Montego Miata	Yep, the Sears 3 1/2 ton jack/stand combo on sale until tomorrow is a good deal ($120? $110? something like that).

11-21-2003, 06:15 PM	#7
LogicLackey Scooby Newbie Member#: 48965 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY Vehicle: 1997 Brighton Blue	I have a 2 ton sears floor jack and it is one of my best investments ever. blazing fast compared to a scissor jack. MUCH more stable. I actually bought a bottle jack at first and had to return it because it would not fit under my car. get the floor jack w/ the stands. you will be happy w/ it.

11-23-2003, 08:30 AM	#8
ImprezaVA Scooby Specialist Member#: 32846 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Elkton, VA Vehicle: 1998 Impreza L-SOLD Arcadia Green	I have two Craftsman Floor Jacks (3 1/2 & 2 1/4 Ton) with four 3 1/2 Jack stands, but if I had it to do all over again I would have gotten the speedy jack. I was playing with one last night and with only two pumps she's at full height. I think this one was a Larin in Sam's Club for $79. As if it matters, but here's another vote against scissor or bottle jacks. -Charles-

11-24-2003, 03:55 PM	#10
Captain Ned Scooby Newbie Member#: 36144 Join Date: May 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Vermont, USA Vehicle: 2010 Legacy2.5GT Ltd Graphite Gray Metallic	The Sears 3.5 ton is a great floor jack. Plus, its handle makes a real good cheater bar for those really tight nuts, like lower strut/knuckle mounts.

11-26-2003, 02:41 PM	#11
SocialButterfly Scooby Newbie Member#: 36253 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bahston	thanks for the replies! i think i'm going with a 3 1/2 ton michelin jack from sams club and 4 6 ton stands. i know, 6 ton stands? but its gotta work with my parents' suv. also, plywood square for the base to prevent them digging into the driveway right?